We all snap away taking lovely shots but however ‘nice’ they are, we have to listen to what other people think.
When I flew to Vejle, Denmark, all expenses paid for 5 days as one one of the two British exhibitors I felt I knew my market pretty well and generally liked what I saw on my website. Let’s face it, it’s not everyday I’m collected in a top of the range Porche by a 26 year Danish girl!!
However, during the exhibition & demonstrations, chatting away to photographers & art buyers from around the world, not only did i see and enjoy different styles of food photography but one Dutch art buyer’s comment really stayed with me. She liked one food photographers folio but was also highly critical of his work. She said it was ‘beautiful but isn’t food all about sharing and he didn’t have any human element in any photo?’ I can still remember her bewildered face as we waited for our planes to take us all home.
During my flight home, inspired by brash photos from NY and other wonderful images from around the globe, I thought, ‘I have a beautiful folio with high res post production BUT I need to add the interaction with people’.
Food is about sharing, it can be beautiful but shared with friends and family. My wife isn’t a foodie, although she appreciates a good meal out, she prefers talking to friends.
I have now introduced people in the folio and really enjoyed shooting them, both in sharing the food and also in the preparation.
