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Giveaway: Food Styling for Photographers
Thanks for entering, everyone! Random.org picked #20, which is Anne! Drop me a line and let me know where to send the book, Anne!
Because the chicken pox put a serious damper on my time and blogging options, here’s a giveaway! What a novel idea! I’m giving away a copy of Linda Bellingham & Jean Ann Bybee’s ‘Food Styling for Photographer’s’.
I have the book myself and it’s a really fun read. Don’t expect miracles and let me tell you upfront that I find some of their techniques highly disputable—that kind of styling has nothing to do with food, in my humble opinion. Substituting ice-cream for colored Crisco is not food styling. I don’t care how much bright light you have to work with, that’s duping people. So is brushing motor oil on barely cooked meat or chicken to make it look prettier!
But you’ll definitely be able to find a few tips and tricks in this book filled with beautiful photographs and handy photography tips, to give your own food styling a slight push in the right direction.
To enter, answer the following question:
“How would you like to improve your own photography? Better lighting technique, styling, composition—what’s your weakness?”
Only one entry per person, please, and no entries after Monday September 6. Winner will be announced later that day!
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Better lighting definitely!! I have no photography lighting at all, so a spotlight or two + a diffuser would have to help my little point + shoot camera out surely! Of course, having a digital camera that’s *not* a point and shoot would probably help as well, but I’ve taken some great shots with mine :)
I think my main weakness is lighting. I never know how to make the best use of that. Though I’m sure not having a DSLR camera makes it worse. Basically anything I shoot inside the house is going to be crappy for me.
I’m saving up for my first DSLR (I’m waiting to find out if the Nikon D7000 is worth buying over the Nikon D90 before I pounce!), so I would like to improve my photography by teaching myself to shoot in full manual. Can’t wait!
Lighting, definitely. I wish I had more natural lighting in my kitchen. I’m often forced to go outside to help since I’m still learning how to maximize my DSLR camera
Lighting every time! I have a very very dark house and always struggle with natural light :(
Katie xox
Lighting is my biggest problem too – seems to be a common theme! I would love to learn how to work with reflectors and filters (make-shift since I only have a point and shoot!).
Tanya
I’m new to photography, so I think composition is still something I’m struggling with – finding the perfect shot.
I’d like to work more on exposure, which I guess falls into the lighting category. :)
Lighting, lighting, lighting! I always have challenges with the lighting! (PS @Carmen above – the beauty of digital cameras is you can take 50 different shots to experiment with composition. I find that gets easier as you go.)
Oooh, I’d love to have that book! Most of my photographs are of my knitting (I’m a professional knitter), but I take photos of food a lot, too. I think this book would help with both! :) I hope everyone is feeling better at your house!
The magic combo of lighting and composition.
My photo’s just never really wow me.
Better styling. I sometimes got stuck to style the foods.
I need help with styling.
I need help with better lighting. I’ve used the trick of putting aluminum foil on a binder to help re-direct light….but I need more help then that! I also want to create photos with more creativity!
Lighting is ok, tripod helps a lot, composition – I’m geting there, but styling – I helpful. Take a look and get some tisues at hand ;)
More than anything I’d just like a better camera so that when I’m taking photos I’m not stuck on the fact that they aren’t very “clear”. It’s a bit frustrating.
The other thing I’m really looking at is keeping my photography looking like it’s something you can touch and feel and not something that’s totally perfect.
Great give away Kay! Have tried so many of your recipes it’s criminal!
I guess I would say styling, but don’t think I’d use any of the items you mentioned above. If the food is not pretty why try to fool people. I think so far most of my photo’s of the food I’ve made look appetizing. I love your site and have made several of your dishes. thanks for the inspiration.
Donna
There’s also a room for improvement, I guess. But I’m really intrigued by cheating techniques, not that I’m ever going to use them, just curious :)
I would have to say styling and composition. My kitchen has decent light but those two points are where I really lack.
I’d have to say styling. I could use a little help in that department.
Lighting for sure. I think my composition needs help too.
My main weakness is lighting . . . my house only gets direct light for a couple hours in the mornings (when I’m usually at work), so I’m usually cooking in a dark kitchen. I have a lovely external flash that I have grown to love, but after reading your post on playing with reflections from natural light especially on sauces, soups, and stews, I realized I need to completely re-learn how to use light in my food photographs. I just need to discipline myself to work on it over the weekends, instead of sleeping in, and practice practice practice.
When it comes to food photography, I have a lot of weaknesses! LOL… the biggest one is composition. I’m either too close or the wrong angle or something… I”ll keep working on it though.. practice makes perfect… or if not perfect – then at least better!
I would love this book! 2 of my favorite things in the world…food and photos. I need to improve my use of lighting!
Oh my goodness, I have been searching for this book for months! My weakness is lighting. I’m a poor starving college student, living in a rental with no windows in my kitchen, and dark brown 1970′s counter tops. Everything turns out dark!