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  • Asked by
  • Jérôme D.
  • |
  • July 6, 2011
  • |
  • 1 person also has this question

What lighting should I use for culinary photography?

Hi Yuri,

I'm a French photographer and I like "microstock's economy," but I'd like help from you regarding some questions I have.

With regards to culinary photography, what type of lighting works best in a shoot containing food?
Do you think my budget of (26 000€) will allow me to invest in more lightning from Profoto,or not?
Also, I have seen your oldest portfolio and you have different images...what is your history?

Sorry for my bad english!

Regards
Jérôme D.

Official Answer

  • Answered by
  • Yuri
  • |
  • July 6, 2011
  • |
  • 1 person likes this

Hi Jérôme

Thank you very much for some excellent questions.

Food shots and still life shots are all about the reflection. Unlike humans, who do not reflect light very well, most objects you take pictures of have a very mirror-like surface. This means that when zooming in on the image you will actually often be able to see a very detailed reflection of the studio in the surface.

This creates a very inconsistent and odd-looking reflection, so you really have to think about this when shooting food.I always shoot with 2 very strong stripes almost beside each other, one stronger than the other (main light and bounce), and this controls the reflection so that it is vertical. The stripe lights are actually mostly only used for still lives, and sometimes with beauty shots as well.

I'd recommend that you take a look at my other website http://www.arcurs.com, because here you will be able to find a lot more information about the specific lighting equipment.

Whether you should invest your money in Profoto equipment or not is a very tough question. I only shoot with Profoto equipment, but I also have the money for it, and it is very reliable equipment. But I agree that it is certainly not cheap. If you are just starting out I would recommend that you used two or three Nikon flashes, with a Tamron battery pack, and then a pocket wizard to synchronize them. This would go really far.I actually often only bring this to certain shoots, because I really don't need more than that.

Regarding my "history", I'll refer you to the 'About Yuri' section of the site. I'm sure you will be able to find answers to this more general question here. :)

Best Regards
Yuri

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  • Erica | November 15, 2022 | No one likes this yet

    Culinary photography is a specialized field that requires both professional training culinary programs and a keen eye for detail. When it comes to lighting, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to capture the perfect shot. Natural light is always the best option, so if you're able to take your photos near a window or outdoors, that's ideal. If you're shooting indoors, try to use soft, diffused light instead of harsh fluorescents. One way to do this is to set up your shots near a window with sheer curtains that will diffuse the light. Another option is to use professional lighting equipment designed specifically for culinary photography. These lights emit soft, even light that mimics natural light and helps bring out the vibrant colors in your food. With a little bit of planning and the right lighting, you can take stunning photos that will make your food look as good as it tastes.
    For more ideas you can check out Goodycs food product images
    here's the link: https://goodycs.com/en/professional-training

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