There are some actors or models (called “talent” in the business) that gain a reputation for being difficult to work with. It’s a stereotype really — the hard-to-please diva that could turn on the project in the blink of an eye. If you think people can be temperamental, food is even worse! Food photography and videography are some of the most difficult disciplines within visual media. That’s because the visual quality of food and drinks deteriorates quickly. When you want to produce quality food photography, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Here are some of the most common problems.

It Takes Too Long to Plate and Dress the Food Before Shooting

Time is of the essence when it comes to taking photos of food and beverages. However, to get the food looking its best, you need to allow for plating, and styling. Any time spent between when the dish comes out of the oven, or the drink is stirred, or the milk is steamed — that’s time that the visual quality of the food is likely declining. You need to have every element of the shot blocked out before the dish arrives in front of the camera.

You Don’t Have Enough Backup Food Items On Hand

You rarely get the best photography with your first shot. It takes time to see the subject, adjust your shot and optimize the final visual. When time is so short with each individual dish, it’s imperative that you have enough backup food items available so that you can take another crack at it.

You Don’t Have a Proper, Controllable Light Source

This is important for any photo shoot, but especially if you’re shooting beverages. Liquid distortion, ice, and the glass that the drink is served in all play a factor in how a beverage image looks. Beverages are tough, so the least you can do is have a reliable, controllable light source at the ready.

You Shoot the Incorrect or Incomplete Food Item

Being accurate with food and product photography is vital. You want to show people what they’re getting. However, in the rush to get the shot, you may forget some crucial component. Maybe the garnish is missing, or the red peppers don’t make it onto the plate. You don’t want to wait until you’re looking at the options to realize that an incomplete or incorrect food item was photographed.

Hire a Professional to Make Sure Your Food Photo Shoot Goes According to Plan

This is why working with a professional is so important — especially when it comes to valuable marketing materials. If you’re shooting photography for a big campaign or your website, you need the food to look nothing short of mouthwatering.

Hire Doug Davis to help execute your next food photo shoot. Doug has over 20 years of experience and he’s worked with some major food and beverage brands. Doug has the workflow knowledge and technical expertise to help your shoot go smoothly. For booking information and examples of food photography, contact D-Squared Studios in Dallas, TX at 214-746-6336 today.