Food Photography and Food Styling Workshop
Penelope Beveridge was invited to present a practical hands on workshop at Sydney Institute for the Head On Photo Festival on 23rd May on her area of expertise Food Photography and Food Styling for photographers.
“Flat-food” – Food Photography and Food Styling Workshop, Sydney Institute for the Head On Photo Festival
The group consisted of professional photographers, student photographers, graphic designers, professional food bloggers, chefs and emerging photographers.
As a full time professional photographer, Penelope explained how she selects the best lenses for the style and end result desired, the different format cameras used and advised the instagrammers how to implore similar techniques with their iPhones and Android Cellphones. During the demonstration Penelope demonstrated the way to select props and their relationship to the dish. One of the most difficult areas in food photographing is the use of lighting both natural and studio. This is where most photographers struggle as lighting conditions are not constant and Penelope spoke about how to troubleshoot in difficult situations with different lights in a room and how to overcome these situations. Many food photographers can be “at home” in their own environment understand where a professional stands out is when you are placed into small space and need to overcome the many lighting obstacles. “Its great when you are working in a control environment, like a beautiful natural lit studio, or in our home or any location that you are very familiar with, take the photographer out of that situation and this is when you need to find solutions to lighting problem, this is when you truly need to understand about lighting”. I have had to shoot in the back of cafes, in loading docks of catering companies, in restaurants with huge overhead lights, outdoors in paddocks, in the side of streets this is when having the knowledge and understanding of lighting comes to play”, Penelope explained.
It was interesting to understand food from a photographer’s prospective and not a chef and how both chef and photographer can work and collaborate together. She stressed the importance to look at the shape of the food on the dish and also find out what is the “hero” of the dish. How garnishes should not be hiding the “hero” on the dish and props should not be distracting from the dish. All the participating photographers were in the Ultimo Studios and received individual advice and guidance during their practical session of the workshop. The 3 hours was non stop information witnessing all the photographers writing down lots of hints and techniques that they can use in the future work.
Below are some of the photos taken by theatre and event photographer David Vagg of David Vagg Photography.
Penelope Beveridge Food Photography and Food Styling based in Sydney Australia
Cakes made by Sean Beveridge Food Styling and Food Photography by Penelope Beveridge
Penelope Beveridge Workshop Facilitator and Guest Speaker at Sydney Institute, Ultimo TAFE
Penelope Beveridge discussing food styling techniques for the food photographer
Penelope Beveridge guiding photographers on lighting techniques for food photography
Penelope showing the group how to shoot tethered to the computer. All equipment supplied by the Sydney Institute.
Penelope Beveridge teaching cake styling at the Workshop.
Instagram Food photography tips using your iPhone or Android advice by Penelope Beveridge
Penelope Beveridge demonstrating lighting and camera techniques used in Food Photography.
Penelope Beveridge teaching post production in Food Photography.
Inside the Pink Ombre Cake Food Photography and Food Styling by Penelope Beveridge
