Bob-O's Cheesesteaks
What a fun shoot this was! Bob-O’s Cheesesteaks contacted me a few months ago to discuss a restaurant photo shoot that would encompass:
photos for food delivery apps
Insta-friendly images of food
images for use on their website and in promotional materials
They loved the look of food on white with hard shadows for the food delivery apps, but wanted more of an editorial approach for the rest of the images. The creative director assembled a mood board and detailed shot list which we reviewed in a phone call; because the shot count was so high, we decided a team approach would be the best way to go about this so we could be done before the lunch rush.
For larger photo shoots like this, I work with Christina Nuzzo of Life Mosaic Photography; her editorial-style food photos and portraits are stunning, and pair well with my more studio-driven imagery to cover any and all bases. And because cheesesteaks, while delicious, aren’t the most photogenic food around, we completed our team with Darcie Hunter, a talented food stylist I’ve worked with many times.
It’s so important to have a team that runs like a well-oiled machine for photo shoots, especially when time is of the essence (as it always is with food). I put together a detailed shot list and timeline specifying who’s photographing what and when, and what the stylist’s priorities are. If we can re-shoot the same item in different ways, all the better for the kitchen, so that’s always a consideration. On the day of the shoot, we were ready to roll: While Darcie discussed food prep, styling and timing with the kitchen, I assembled my studio-on-site and Christina started shooting environmental images and portraits. As everything started to come out of the kitchen, we adjusted as necessary to capture the food while it was piping hot and looking its best.
Our approach worked well, because we wrapped up just as the lunch rush was starting! We broke down everything quickly and cleaned up before grabbing sandwiches to go. I’m happy to report that their food was every bit as delicious as it looked, and highly recommend it; stop in if you’re near Ridgefield Park, NJ, and enjoy!
