"A photograph is like the recipe - a memory of the finished dish." Carrie Latet

Hello everyone! How are you this fine morning?
Well, day one of our photo shoot went swimmingly and right off the bat, I need to thank Harry's dad for letting us use his house for the shoot!! We somehow managed to get 6 shots done in as many hours! (Thai rolls, carrot & sweet potato soup, cupcake, butter tart, matzo ball soup, bowl of strawberries) When I've worked on other food shoots, 3 a day seems to be the norm. Mind you, most food styling sessions are being done for a company and that's when things get slowed down! Each shot will be studied by the company representative in the photographer's studio to make sure the photos properly represent their product. Next, it will be emailed off to an editor to deny or confirm. Back and forth, back and forth while slight changes are made to the shot, until a decision is finally made. Hence, 3 shots a day... Let me tell yah, it's great being left to our own devices!

So, yesterday I styled 6 different food items, while Dana Gils was in charge of the props and Harry Gils, the photographer. The props person, or props stylist, is most important! It was fantastic to have Dana there! Being a painter with experience in props design at Holt Renfrew's, she did a great job setting up the shot for Harry! She would choose the colour scheme and play with the cutlery, bowls, plates, napkins and tablecloths until it all meshed. Then, I would give Dana a mock up of the food item so Harry could figure out the angle and lighting. After much fiddling, the mock up is replaced with the styled food item and after a bit of further adjustment, Harry takes the shot. We make a good team, that's for sure!

Today we are back at it! 4 more items to go! (Hamburger, oysters, pizza, mac & cheese) The hard one is going to be the pizza... Hot and drippy cheese only stays hot and drippy for so long! I have a frantic vision of myself running from the kitchen, pizza fresh from the oven, into the dining room. Dana's waiting for me at the table with her wooden lifter, ready for me to slide the pizza into position. Finally, she digs her lifter under the slice and pulls up slowly, while Harry takes as many shots as possible until the hot, stretching cheese hardens... And of course the perfect shot is taken, so we don't have to do the whole scenario over and over again! Oh gosh, I hope it goes that easily! Wish us luck for today and I'll let you know tomorrow how it all works out! Fun times!!