ANCOATS-based food and drink photography specialists STM recently gave Confidential a tour around their new and improved studio following a hefty £100k investment.
That big slop of sauce from top to bottom doesn't do the dish or the chef any favours
The Manchester firm - which has previously worked with clients such as Aldi, Masterchef and Starbucks creating packaging, marketing and cookbook images - has recently beefed up their operation with multiple lighting and kitchen upgrades, alongside additional studio space for extra capacity and image capture, software and storage systems.
The highly-experienced STM team - including Director Phil Marshall and Lead Photographer Darren Hickson - invited the Confidential food writing team in for a crash food photography course (by order of Gordo) and to pick-up a few nifty tips.
The tutorial would have proved hugely useful for our writers, except STM, who put on a lovely spread, pumped us so full of wine that it's been washed from our noggins.
However, for all you food snappers and Instagram-addicts, here's the bits we do remember:
- NEVER, never, never use a crappy flash to snap food in a restaurant - for one everyone will think you're a Dilbert, secondly the flash of light front-on will flatten the dish and likely make it look gross.
- LIGHTING - natural light is best when you don't have a studio to hand. Lots of it too, coming from the back left or back right ideally, to unflatten the dish. Use a white napkin or plate (empty one, of course) and hold it to reflect the light for a booster.
- SHUTTER SPEED - If you're struggling in low-light conditions then slow the shutter speed to allow more light in. Equally, if there's too much natural light then up the shutter speed.
- ANGLE - choose a good one; some food looks better on the angle, some from above, others upside down. Use your noggin, it's your call. Try to vary angles too.
- FOCUS - try to focus on the most appealing aspect of the dish and let the rest blur a little. It works, trust us. You can use a macro setting for this.
- DECLUTTER - if you want the glass of wine, cutlery and napkin in the shot, then include them. Do it carefully, mind. It's better to keep only the things you need. Food, mainly. And remove that chewing gum wrapper from the table you oik...
- CLEAN the plate with your napkin, that big slop of sauce from top to bottom doesn't do the dish or the chef any favours.
- SAUCE/OIL - if you have some sauce/oil then spread it lightly over the dish for that extra glisten.
- IF ALL ELSE FAILS - then, like us, you may have a handy little Canon star button that we've never seen before but seems to remedy everything.
During the tutorial, Lead Photographer Darren Hickson, told us: “It’s a really exciting time for us at STM Photography. We are now equipped to work with more diverse clients than we could previously, and have the facilities to provide an even better service, with complete flexibility.
“With so many successful food, drink and hospitality businesses based around the North West, there has been a growing need for specialist photographic facilities and a team with the experience and know-how to work with food. We’ve always offered a leading service, but this recent investment will really allow us to get the best out of the latest technology and our talented team of food specialists.”
MD Phil Marshall, added: “The new studio aims to offer unrivalled service and results from a dynamic team whilst retaining value for time and money. We are sure our solid experience and creativity will continue to build our reputation, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more clients to the studio."
