This was a most unusual photo shoot. I was contacted to photograph tableware for a contest. I am always up for a different kind of photo shoot so I took my camera bag to a restaurant where I worked with one of the biggest teams to make these photos happen. Before this I was always hired to photograph the actual food. This time, the forks, knives, and plates! That’s why in these photos you will see the food mostly out of focus, but a fork in focus. The chef’s creations were the background for these photos. He didn’t seem to mind at all! Being a commercial photographer in Albuquerque, New Mexico allows for a wide variety in photo shoots!
UberEats sends me about one or two food photography assignments per month, after doing about 30 when they first debuted that service 1.5 years ago. This time I went to Carraro’s in the UNM area of Albuquerque. UberEats wants natural light from a window in the restaurant, and fill light can be added by using a reflector, which is what I used even for this hero shot. I propped the reflector against the table with my camera bag, stood on a chair, flipped out the screen on my Nikon D750, pointed the camera straight down, and boom, hero shot! It took me a few tries to align the food who I liked and to make sure none of the plates overlapped. Just using a little natural light, and my own natural balance to get a professional food photo!
Back out on another food photography assignment for UberEats in Albuquerque, New Mexico this morning at Buen Provecho. This restaurant is run by the very friendly Katia and features Costa Rican food and photography! It is a very small space in the new El Vado, with outside seating only. However, as you can see, there are big meals and very tempting desserts. In fact I got to take home the 3 leches and flan! The 3 leches in particular will have me back soon for more!
My latest UberEatsprofessional food photography assignment took me to Yasmine’s Cafe near the University of New Mexico. The shoot began with a very well plated vegetarian platter including hummus, falafel, and wrapped dates. While I waited for the other dishes I enjoyed the view out onto Route 66 through the large floor to ceiling windows that provided great natural light for all the photos, as UberEats requires using only natural light (I supplement that with a silver reflector).
A wood table by a large window with great natural light is always a good sign when starting a food photography shoot in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Such was the setup that greeted me as I entered The Cellar Tapas for an UberEats food photography shoot. Of course having great looking food is key as well, and owner Gabriel and his staff had all five meals ready to go when I arrived. I liked the presentation of the vegetarian platter in particular right on a thick, wooden cutting board.
Over two long days of food photography in Santa Fe, New Mexico, I got to know El Paisano Supermarket and its owner Miguel pretty well! I spent nearly 10 hours in total photographing the food, aisles, and piñatas in this unique market. Featured here are a selection of foods from the restaurant and carniceria. In rapid succession meal after meal was brought in front of my lens. Miguel even helped out holding the reflector for many of the shots to help things go as efficiently as possible during the shoot. Really, all the staff pitched in during these two marathon shoots which lead to the great results you see below.
I am not sure where pizza would rank in favorite foods in the U.S., but I would be surprised if it was not in the top 5. But, how is pizza to photograph? For menu shots like the photographs you see here which is what the client wanted, the trick is showing enough of the pizza to give an overall impression, without showing the entire pizza which can then end up just looking like a bumpy circle on a plate. There was no opportunity for a glory shot with a spatula lifting a gooey slice off the pan or anything like that, but nevertheless I always try to be as creative as possible, even if just making shots for a menu like I did at Brickyard Pizza in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
