Food Photography

CHICKEN CUTLETS
Four baked chicken cutlets ready to serve
Hot Muffins
Hot muffins straight from the oven cool in their pan on a wire rack.
Cheeseburger
Delicious California Cheeseburger
Pizza Slice
Pizza Slice wth vegetable toppings
Lemon Dip
Bowl of Lemon Dip garnished with lemon wedge and mint
Roasted Potatoes
Roasted baby red potatoes on navy blue plate
Hungarian Goulash served with rice
Hungarian Goulash served with rice
Lobster Salad
Lobster salad with lobster claw on square plate
Backed Salmon
Heart Healthy baked salmon with tomatoe garnish on green plate
Super Seafood Smorgasbord
Lobsters shrimp clams oysters and scallops on double decker tray
Broccoli Lasagna
Broccoli Lasagna Heart Healthy dinner
Apple Turnovers
Heart Healthy home made apple turnover on blue plate
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I’ve made Food Photography for advertising and editorial projects since the early Eighties.

Folks often ask how we make the food look so delicious. Do we use motor oil and soap suds for that perfect mug of beer? How about mashed potatoes substituted for that delicious scoop of vanilla ice-cream? The answer is simple-

The truth-in-advertising laws were enacted in the Seventies when companies got caught dumping in extra product into their ad photography. The FTC came down on them pretty hard and now new laws forbid cheating on portion sizes or contents. That’s why “Serving Suggestion” is printed in tiny type on many food illustrations. It IS legal to use substitute foods like mashed potatoes in an ice-cream shot if it’s not specifically referencing an ice-cream product since potatoes are edible.

Back then we used 8×10″ sheets of film to photograph food because the slightest grain or distortion would ruin the appeal of the dish. I have a fantastic and talented stylist I like to work with, Harry McMann, out of Baltimore, and we’ve collaborated on projects for The American Heart Association making five or so recipes for their magazine every quarter.

Unlike most food assignments where the beauty and uniqueness of the dish is paramount, we have an additional challenge  with “Heart Healthy” dishes. Harry pulls out all the stops to make these recipes look attractive. We must measure all the portions and there is no margin for error.

I use the tremendous line of Tilt and Shift lenses from Zeiss/Hartblei optics in Germany and the fantastic TSE tilt/shift lenses from Canon.

I am the only American photographer endorsed on the Zeiss/Hartblei website in Germany. They think my work is “tops” and I hope you will too.

Zeiss/Hartblei Optics Germany

Have a dish you need photographed? Please give me a ring.

Bon Appetit!

609-870-6727

Click Here to E-mail Gene

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