NATURAL LIGHT DIET

Peter Fenech meets Leonora Brebner to talk food photography, lighting and the power of cocktail sticks and tweezers as pro tools

- Peter Fenech

Food photography, like many genres of product imaging, is rare in its blend of functionality and creativity. Many professional photographers find themselves shooting the same type of images over and over again, as is the norm for the ‘jobbing’ photographer. Clients often have highly specific requirements and there is, therefore, little room for true creativity at the professional level. Certain image styles just work and so there is often no need to venture far from the established photo setups, in whichever area we find ourselves specialising. Any artistic licence you may have has to be channelled within the confines of what is expected from a wedding, portrait or property photographer, for example.

Food is different. Dishes are themselves works of art, crafted by recognised professional creatives. This means that the possibilities for food photography are vast. The photographer is able to shoot images that serve a specific function, but also embrace the full spectrum of colours offered by the subjects. They can also use ambient lighting to the max and capture a tantalising array of textures.

Today, I’m joining full-time professional food photographer, Leonora Brebner, to learn the essential skills needed for shooting food images that ooze atmosphere, while effectively selling the featured subject to hungry viewers.

Leonora Brebner