Cake Ball Photos (Food/Desserts) C&C!

[jondraperr]

These are some of my first photos that i've ever taken of food for my girlfriend who does a lot of wedding and event catering with gourmet desserts. Go check them out at my website at www.JonDraperPhotography.com.

Sorry I don't have photos to post on here... but you can check them out at my site.

C&C Is welcomed! Thanks everyone!

[d2creative]

Not bad for a first go.

I like to get up close and personal with food. I would get much closer than you did with most of these, more like the close shot of the colored ones. Lighting is also KEY with food. Typically lit from the back and reflected back at the front with reflectors. Or natural light in a window and using reflectors and flags. Food likes lots of contrast and specular highlights. These are a little on the flat side. Color balance could probably use a tad warming up. And the angle at which you are shooting... food tends to look better from lower angles vs the angle of someone standing or even sitting at a table. Think more like when you were a little kid and your face was almost level with the food. The angle, distance and wide open aperture you used created some funky shallow depth of field IMHO. Almost looks like the blur was created in post the way it happens so quickly. If you get close and low you can shoot at a much higher aperture and still get crazy DOF, but it will look much better.

Hope that helps! :)

[jkderby]

Study the food photos of Dennis's on his web site. Great work. Right way to do it.

[rhoffart]

Originally Posted by jkderby

Study the food photos of Dennis's on his web site. Great work. Right way to do it.

+2 Dennis ... you are my new hero.

I have been studying food photography and food styling for a few months (there are some great books at B&N).

For the first few ... your depth of field is too shallow for the distance of the shot. If you are going for a shallow DOF bring the food in tighter. I would not have used a plate with designs, the food has to be the star.

I really like the first bride and groom one with the dark background. This one is my favorite.

The girl holding the box a few things I noticed – maybe a platter rather than the box – she is outside in very casual attire?

Also, one thing I noticed in my studies … most food is lit (main light) from rear left or rear right, with a fill light in front.

Just my unprofessional cc :)

[jondraperr]

Thanks guys.. I am not really trying to be a food photographer really.. I just was taking some photos for my girlfriend.. and the photo outside with her holding the box was just right before she made a delivery a few days earlier. Thanks so much for the C&C! I am more of a contemporary wedding/senior photographer than food. Thanks!

[stephges]

OMG I love cake balls!!! :-)

[LauraM]

I actually have more experience as a stylist than as a photographer, haha. So stylistically speaking, I would have done these on a different plate. You want to put them on something nice, like a tiered dessert stand or pretty platter, or something that you would actually see at a wedding. Not just on a random kitchen plate. Plus, the one you used is distracting from the product. If a display piece isn't available, you could always opt for a non-patterned plate. Then on the bride and groom ones, I would have used a colored fabric under and behind them to add some interest... maybe a subtle damask. (pink on pink or turquoise on turquoise...) With the warm gray background, they kind of blend in. Ignoring my crazy ramblings though, you still did a great job. :) I love the DOF on the last one and the frame filled with the colored ones.

On a completely random note, I just made 150 cake pops (the ones on sticks) over the holidays and I have to give your girl mad props. She has to have the patience of 100 people to make those for a living! They look great!