Behind the lens

A photographer and filmmaker based in Cornwall, southwest England, Kate Kirkman specialises in genres including food, weddings, portraits and boudoir. She is one half of the Kate and Brent Kirkman creative partnership, which specialises in storytelling solutions for a variety of clients. The duo are both Sony European Imaging Ambassadors and Rotolight Masters of Light.

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What first attracted you to photography, and how did you get into shooting food?

I needed a hobby to save me from the Groundhog Day of small children and I was attracted to photography because I love painting and it seemed a much faster way to be creative. Plus, I had two small children on hand to practise with.

I didn't set out to become a food photographer - it happened quite naturally as part of my work capturing weddings and events. I was asked more and more to photograph the food, and from there, I realised it's a speciality in its own right and I enjoyed the styling side of it, too. Compared to working with people, it's calmer and more controlled - but the human element still finds its way in, particularly when the project involves chefs or restaurant teams, which I also love.

As your career developed, what was your most important breakthrough?

The biggest breakthrough for me, especially in terms of confidence, was understanding how to use additional lighting. Initially, it was all about using flash in as natural a way as possible, but recently I've moved towards continuous light. Food shoots can take hours so you need to create a lighting set-up or environment that can remain consistent over a long period. Once I understood how to shape and control light, everything changed. I also recognised the importance of developing a consistent style - clients are essentially buying a product, and they need to trust that what they see is what they'll get.

What has been the best thing about your career to date?