Posing
The plate is the subject, so 'posing' means composition and styling decisions made in seconds while the food is still at its best.
In short: The plate is the subject, so 'posing' means composition and styling decisions made in seconds while the food is still at its best.
Room for the eye to move, and space for text if it is a menu or an advert.
Whatever is green and fresh should be on the lit side.
The thing being sold sits nearest the lens and sharpest.
Parallel lines look catalogue; a slight angle looks like a table.
Depth and context without competing.
The most effective single addition to any food frame.
Direct flash, which turns sauces into mirrors. And photographing after the food has sat for ten minutes — food has a working life of about two minutes for hot dishes and it is visible in the photograph.
Shooting under restaurant ceiling lights, which are warm, dim and overhead. Using a flash. Photographing every dish from the same angle. And letting the food arrive before the light and the background are set.
Begin with plate slightly off-centre, then move into garnish facing the light once everyone is comfortable. Finish with a hand about to take something, when expressions and movement are usually least self-conscious. The sequence matters more than copying a fixed shape: each pose should give the subject a simple action.
The 6 setups in this guide are enough for a varied gallery. Each setup can produce a full-length frame, a three-quarter portrait and a close detail without changing the idea. It is better to develop a few useful setups than rush through a long list that never settles.
Give the hands a job: adjust a cuff, hold fabric lightly, touch another person, carry a prop or let one arm move during a walk. Keep fingers relaxed and avoid pressing a palm flat against the body. Mariya directs these small changes during the session, so there is nothing to memorise.
Direct flash, which turns sauces into mirrors. And photographing after the food has sat for ten minutes — food has a working life of about two minutes for hot dishes and it is visible in the photograph. The practical test is whether the position can breathe and move. If it only works while held rigidly, it will normally look arranged rather than observed.