Hi All
As a professional freelance event and corporate photographer operating in Edinburgh, I like to keep my eye out for new challenges and different genres of photography and after a bit of a break, I am about to embark on some food photography in a week or two, so I thought it would be a good time to give you some top tips for food photography. Although food photography can very complex, I have decided to keep it simple for this blog and will concentrate on basic photographic set-ups.
1. Try to use natural light and a reflector. For instance in my Just Eat photoshoots, they don't want you to use flash, so I position the food at the best location using natural light, and or the internal tungsten lighting. If you use studio flash keep it small an portable and try and use one light, you are often photographing in kitchens and there is not much room.
2. Take different angles. Directly above lighting is always a good one, but take shots from all angles.
3. The cutlery, plates etc are also very important for authentic shots.
4. Make sure the plates/surface etc are spotless.
5. Try to get some steam showing with hot foods and pay attention to the layout of the food.
6. Use a macro lens for some of the shots to get that level of detail.
7. If time permits, you can cheat a little ie spray the fruit and veg to give it that shine.
8. Use a tripod, the slightest bit of camera shake will ruin a food shot.
9. Try and get some shots with people in them ie chef or diners enjoying the food.
10. Suggest that you eat the food afterwards, otherwise it is just going to get chucked out. This one is just a bit of a joke but nevertheless it is a waste if nobody eats it.
Hope that helps.
Until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin Wright
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Hi All
As you may know the Supercar photography season is upon us and I recently photographed a very enjoyable two day event in Fife. What I am going to talk about today, is the ability to mix genres in photography. I do a lot of day to day event photography for supercars, in addition to weddings and corporate conference events in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland. I always keep an open mind, especially for outdoor commissions. At all times I carry my infrared camera, usually the small Lumix. If the sun comes out there will always be a quick opportunity for an infrared photo. This also means I am approaching the infrared photography genre from a different point of view, a more unconventional angle for instance. Infrared is not all about white or coloured trees. I have taken a lot of infrared photos at supercar events and the outcome is a unique contrasty photograph of the cars, with that infrared look on the metallic car surfaces. I have also taken my infrared camera to football games, with trips to the park with my children, on architecture photoshoots, the scope is endless. You just need to keep an open mind and be aware that there are no limits. Photography is about being different as much as it is about being very good. As long as the sun shines and I am still alive, I will take infrared photos.
Anyway, until next time.
Kind Regards.
Colin Wright
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Hi All
I will be getting my gear ready for another supercar motorsport photography event before friday. As a professional photographer operating in a number of different specialist areas, I am often asked whether to specialise or to photograph a number of different genres. I am a specialist event and corporate photographer, operating around Edinburgh, but I also sell fine art infrared photography prints and I photograph sport and weddings. Now I never really intended to photograph so many different types of photographic subjects, it just kind of happened and the opportunity was presented to me and I went with the flow. I am not really a studio photographer, preferring uncontrolled environment photography but if I was presented with the opportunity to do studio photography - who knows. I never regarded myself as a motor sport photographer, but having photographed Supercar events for around 3 years now, i am regularly contacted by the operators of these events. What you do tend to do is move toward areas you enjoy. I love photographing conferences and fine art infrared and landscape and it is in these areas that I have most success and tend to gravitate towards. At the same time it is OK to have a regular bread and butter income from an area of photography which is very different from your main specialism - hence the Supercars for me. Of course you may also get the opportunity to mix two different genres, like in this infrared photograph I took at Fife Airport during a Supercar event.
Anyway, the message is just go with the flow.
Until next time.
Kind Regards
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com
Hi All
As a professional photographer operating around Edinburgh and the Lothian area, I am about to embark on the summer conference and event photography season in Edinburgh and Scotland and at this moment I thought it would be relevant to have a short reflection on how the photography at these events has changed since I first started to do them approximately 15 years ago. Here is a list of areas I think have changed fairly dramatically since I started:
1. Camera equipment, especially digital has advanced considerably, less flash is required as most high level DSLRs can operate without flash indoors to a certain extent.
2. Nearly all location lighting now is wireless, with large battery packs for portrait shots on location. Small flash systems on camera are also more powerful.
3. You are expected to do more for your money now, due to digital capabilities ie you may do candid images, speakers and formal portraits all in the one event.
4. Candid reportage photography is required more and more these days, thankfully, as it is my specialism.
5. There are more photographers operating on their own now, due to costs and day rates, which make it difficult to employ an assistant at an event.
6. There will inevitably be delegates and guests taking photos with their phones, in addition to you as a photographer and this is something you have to get used to. Sometimes you can have a laugh with them with the phones.
7. The equipment is smaller and lighter, which is great for us event photographers, especially since the introduction of mirrorless equipment.
8. You need to process and deliver the images quicker nowadays, even on the day by wifi on some occasions.
9. Most clients, especially non-wedding photography want to receive the photos by digital transfer.
10. Social media is an integral part of displaying the images and promoting yourself.
Hope this helps.
Kind Regards
Colin
https://www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk/
https://edinburghphotographer.com/
Hi All
As a professional commercial photographer working in Scotland, today I would like to reflect on how different seasons of the year effect the work of a professional photographer. I suppose the answer to that question lies with the type of photography you do. A studio or product photographer, for instance probably has fairly steady consistent work all year round, whereas an event photographer has to deal with hugely different genres and markets for their photography. My infrared photography work is very seasonal. Whilst it can be done in the winter, you need sunlight and for the more dramatic images, foliage is required, which tends to be absent after autumn. Landscape photographers can shoot all year round but the images are vastly different and extreme weather can often prevent you from taking your time, especially shooting landscape photography in Scotland, with our unforgiving weather. I am an event photographer, photographing mostly in Edinburgh, most of the conferences take place in the winter and they are indoors, in the spring and summer I am outdoors, photographing supercars, infrared and landscape, so you can see the different skills required, one needs attention to detail with flash, often studio lights, the other, in an uncontrolled environment, is wholly dependant on the weather.
So you are probably wondering what my point is and the main message is that most photographers are either controlled environment (ie studio, still life and the indoor aspect of weddings etc) whereas uncontrolled environment photographers (myself included) prefer the unpredictability of the light and landscape, the excitement of the storm etc. A controlled environment photographer, if he/she is good should be able to determine in advance exactly the kind of light they want for the photoshoot. Outdoor photographers, especially in Scotland, know that the weather can change by the minute, so we have very little control and we like it that way.
Anyway, its something to consider. Until next time.
Colin Wright Photography
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
www.edinburghphotographer.com