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A Focus On Food: Our Tricks And Tips Behind Food + Beverage Photography

Posted on November 19, 2018

Most people don’t think about the way food is photographed – they think about how it will taste! But ask any professional photographer that has worked with food or beverages, and they’ll tell you that there’s a litany of tricks and tips to making food look delicious and distinctive. From Hollywood trickery to spatial geometry – we’ve put together a list of our own to help you capture your next meal with expert-level elegance.

  1. Choosing the right background for the food at hand

Not all surfaces and backgrounds are photogenic. And while others might be beautiful on their own, they still may not necessarily complement the food/beverage at hand. So, what are some factors to consider when selecting a background? Color is a big one. Ideally, you want to avoid overly-bright colors or busy patterns that will distract from your subject. A shiny surface probably wouldn’t be a good choice either. Using neutral or pastel color palettes can go a long way in making your food/beverage ‘pop’- in a similar way that a certain color might bring out a person’s eyes. For instance, if most food contains warm color tones, it might be a good idea to shoot against cool-toned surfaces to create a pleasing contrast. If you want to learn more about how to create ‘color harmony,’ check out this helpful article on the subject, which also includes some useful guides.

You can also use the background to express character, suggest a mood, or establish a sense of place. Here’s a photo taken by Studio 3’s very own David Bell, which showcases a delicious chocolate cake placed in a rustic environment. The flooring suggests farm-style, naturalism, organic ingredients etc., while the rich brown tones in the wood compliment the chocolate perfectly.     

9866 Judy Woods Flavor Right — Studio 3, Inc.

  1. Knolling style – to use or not to use?

You may not be familiar with the term, but you’re definitely familiar with the style. ‘Knolling’ refers to this style of photography:

Screen Shot 2018 11 07 at 12.59.01 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

Bright + even lighting, Birds-Eye point-of-view, and a meticulous arrangement of items. First popularized in 1987 by a janitor who would fastidiously arrange the various construction tools he found around the warehouse, ‘Knolling’ photography has recently taken over Instagram as one of the most prolific trends in recent years – and has also found a strong niche in food/beverage photography. It’s easy to see why: if executed correctly, Knolling photography has a unique way of making any subject look bold and dazzling – even if it’s just some popcorn. Right angles, clusters of color, and clean/crisp lines are the name of the game. An appreciation of image composition, as well as the spatial relationships between objects will help your Knolling photography soar.

  1. Using mist, glycerine, and other fakery

Want that ultra-fresh, dripping condensation look? Simply hit your glass with some mist! Or even better yet, many professionals will use Glycerin to the same effect. It gives your food/drinks a cold, fresh look, which in turn makes them appear more delectable. This is especially true of foods like fruits and veggies. If you see food in photographs looking wet or frosty, then you can bet your top dollar that glycerin was used! Think of your classic vending machine: can you picture those big water droplets rolling off a cold can of Coke on the front image? Yup, that’s either mist or Glycerin.

CW 13672 Imbibe a FD 1500 (1) — Studio 3, Inc.

If your image requires ice, we highly suggest the use of fake ice cubes. Obviously, real ice melts, thus requiring frequent re-sets, which can take time and money away from your project (and also make a mess!). If you happen to be using glass, real ice will also cause significant fogging, obscuring your subject even more. These are just a few of the reasons professional photographers have embraced the use of fake ice and other perishable food prop replacements.   

  1. Styling: Paint, pins, and putty

Screen Shot 2018 11 07 at 1.00.32 PM — Studio 3, Inc.It takes a fine touch. There are countless cosmetic steps food stylists can take to improve the overall quality and composition of your food/beverage photography. Remember, we’re not actually serving the food, so no need to shy away from using un-edible items to get the necessary shot. Metal pins, for instance, can be used to hold food in place if you want to display the perfect balance of ingredients without them falling over. Photographer and food stylists will also use non-stick putty to the same effect, like so:

Screen Shot 2018 11 07 at 1.01.08 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

Ultimately, it’s about arranging and styling your subject to maximize it’s photogenic potential. Is your food stackable, or should it be fanned out, serving style? Does your subject have green stems? Should a side dish be included? What about some unique serving flatware? You can even utilize acrylic paint to boost colors, cover up blemishes, and even create patterns if desired. Get creative here! Like any good dish, there is a lot more to the finished product than merely the sum of the individual parts. It’s about how they all interact!

Here at Studio 3 Inc., we not only specialize in food and beverage photography, but also portraiture, lifestyle, sports, and product photography. Since 1974, we’ve been making your photography dreams come to life! Partner with us for your next creative endeavor, and see just how we stay inspired.

 

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Specialization

The Right Tool In The Wrong Hands: How Specialization and Expertise Make All The Difference

Posted on October 22, 2018

adult business care 305565 — Studio 3, Inc.Shot on an iPhone. Some Assembly Required. Do-It-Yourself

Being independent is good! Nimble businesses thrive on independence, and also talented individuals who can wear multiple hats. That being said, media and marketing is all too often a department where corners are cut, and projects which would otherwise be performed by professionals are either outsourced to ‘one-size-fits-all’ services like Fiverr.com – or handed off to someone conveniently in the office, who may only have a vague understanding of Photoshop. Here’s an example:        

Screen Shot 2018 11 05 at 12.29.34 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

The first image is passable. But the other has that ‘Wow!’ factor, which is so essential to standing out amongst the overload of images we’re exposed to online on a daily basis. And that’s just one of the many reasons why investing in original, quality content always pays off in the end. Working with professional studios/photographers has countless other benefits: They use higher quality equipment, have more experience, work with insurance policies, can work with deadlines – the list just goes on and on!

So why do so many companies still choose to skimp out on their product/brand photography?

For some, it’s a quantity-over-quality decision. Like, more = better. After all, in today’s climate of fast-paced Social Media trends and the 24/hr news-cycle, there seems to be an ever-increasing demand for immediate, topical content. For example, it only took a few days for marketers to seize upon the latest Banksy demonstration, creating content like this:

Screen Shot 2018 10 17 at 9.59.01 AM — Studio 3, Inc.It’s so easy to get caught up in this social media zeitgeist, and feel compelled to post away, every single day – regardless of the quality of the content. But there’s a difference between producing a consistent stream of quality, brand-elevating content – and simply overcrowding your feed with memes and amateur images in a bid to stay top-of-mind. This difference is borne-out in the return-on-investment our clients see when they partner with us time and time again. Here’s a Social Media-minded ad we put together for Leatherman Multi-Tools which did extremely well.

Screen Shot 2018 10 17 at 10.36.08 AM — Studio 3, Inc.

Producing content like this is where Studio 3 comes in! With professional photography, videography, and digital GFX services available throughout the Pacific Northwest, we specialize in helping brands promote and display their products in the most outstanding way possible. We believe in quality – and doing what is necessary to achieve the highest caliber of style / design for our clients. Whether you need product, food, beverage, or lifestyle photography – when you team up with Studio 3, you’ll have your expectations blown out of the water!

Fabric Swatches, Conceptual images — Studio 3, Inc.

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HOW DO YOU HUE?
Three Ways Studio 3 Makes It Pop

Posted on July 30, 2018

When is the last time you were blown away by an image? Why was that? Perhaps you noticed a vivid background, strategically hued font, or impressively monochromatic scheme. You noticed color. Color impacts product integrity, branding, and consumer reactions.

A lot of components go into creating “the shot,” and Studio 3, Inc. handles them all from styling to post production. Our colorful team is here to make your visual dreams pop off the screen.

CW 15583T Pickleball PR 1500 — Studio 3, Inc.

 

1.  On-Set Color Matching

Royal blue textured paper, the precise shade of orange gel, and Craig Wagner’s masterful lighting will get you out of any pickle. Our stylists and photographers address the details on set to ensure color is spot on from project start to finish.

Leatherman Color Up Three Hues — Studio 3, Inc.

 

2. Add a Little Retouching Magic

In addition to phenomenal photography – we have a top-of-the-line digital team equipped with the tools to save you time and money, making your technicolor dreams come true. They are our color wizards: flawlessly color matching, and coloring up your product photography.

Colorful Instagram triptic Three Hues — Studio 3, Inc.

 

3. Set Your Social Scene

It is important to be visible, impactful, and purposeful with social media posts so that potential clients can easily find what they might be looking for. Let us help you content create.

We like to use Instagram as a social portfolio. Our audience can then see that beyond our stellar images, we have an eye for style, beauty, and purpose. It’s important to keep content fresh, colorful, and trendy for your followers and future followers.

Phone Photography in varying Red Hues Monochrome — Studio 3, Inc.

Color psychology plays an important role in your marketing goals. Research has shown that color branding influences 90% of shopping decisions. That is a number opportunity we definitely would not want to miss.

What colors are consumers loving this month? Season? Year?

What does this mean for you? How can we help?

The most exciting part of the rainbow world in which we work is getting to put our skills to good use. Our commitment to client satisfaction and beautiful photography is unmatched in our field. From styling – to shooting – to retouching – to bragging about our clients – we love keeping life colorful. DO HUE?

 

 

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Josh Romberg

Content Eats: 5 Photography Tips to Creating Online Content in 2018

Posted on December 29, 2017

It’s Social Media’s world, we’re just living in it.

As the Social Media Manager for a Photography Studio you would think I’d be set; photos and video content for dayyyz. I wish it were that easy. The truth is everyone works hard at creating enough content to keep the social media beast happy and fed.

Here are a few tips to help you stay on top of your content game.

  1. Production Stills The Studio 3 Team lives for the details of a shoot. Our production team can often be found scouring Hollywood Vintage, in line for Sandwiches at Whole Foods or on set with our sleeves rolled up. These moments are content gold!! Going out to location scout for an upcoming shoot? You know what to do; bring that camera. There are so many moving pieces to a photo shoot, capture them.

 

DSC0285 — Studio 3, Inc. 

  1. Sunny Day List Much like a rainy day list… but for when you live in the PNW. Have a list of Test* ideas at the ready so that if you find an hour or two of free time, your photographers are out creating content!

 

Keen Boots 094 — Studio 3, Inc. 

  1. Plan Ahead Scrambling for content is not fun. Identify your top performing platforms and plan the content for them for the next month. That may seem daunting but before you know it you may have the next 3 months planned (guilty). We use an internal calendar and Microsoft Excel, but this could easily be done with Google docs as well. This allows you to plan internal shoots for specific themes, categories, and special events.

 

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  1. Inspiration Pages Creative block prevention 101. Keep a folder of inspiration images on your desktop, or create a page on Pinterest so when your not feeling at the top of your game you can rely on past-you’s creative genius.

Screen Shot 2017 12 13 at 10.19.10 AM — Studio 3, Inc.

  1. Company Culture Make content a part of your company culture. Outside of work, it’s hard to get through a meal without someone pulling out their phone to “get one for Instagram.” Why not utilize that in the work place? Designate a company phone as the “social media phone” so that everyone can participate in your company’s story.

 RAZ SIMONE 9075T (20 of 38) — Studio 3, Inc.

 

*Testing, testing, one, two, three. When we are not delivering smiles and beautiful photography to clients, we are out creating it for ourselves. You heard me right; we are constantly flexing our creativity—keeping our portfolio fresh and artist souls happy.

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Steaming Cup of Tea and Open Book

Tis The Season For Client Comfort

Posted on December 18, 2017

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season; To-do lists unroll to the floor, coffee is taken through IV drips, and the studio always vaguely smells of cookies.

Tray Of Cookies — Studio 3, Inc.

During the holiday season we understand you would rather be at home with a book and warm cup of Stash Tea, so we have done what we can to bring the cozy here.

Cue the elves (aka Studio 3, Inc.’s production team,) sit back, relax, and let us make your photographic dreams come true.

Holiday2 — Studio 3, Inc.

We have decked the halls, strung the ornaments, and lit the client area with holiday cheer.

The Studio 3 Inc. creative team not only does whatever it takes to make your project a success, we do it while feeding you cookies and telling you jokes.

…We have even been known to have Fashion Santa drop by every now and then (We know him!)

Production Stills 9024VL 197 — Studio 3, Inc.

Our studio is equipped with ample snacks, coffee as strong as our wifi connection, tea, any magazine you could dream of, and a crazy amount of crayons for the kid in you.

There are multiple conference rooms available for those times when you just need to be alone. Client meeting, business call, or impromptu dance party; We’ve got you covered.

Production Stills 9024VL 178 — Studio 3, Inc.

We pride ourselves in providing a comprehensive client experience. Not only can you expect top of the line photography but also a welcoming work environment, great food, and even better company.

Drop us a line, let’s talk photography! We’re here 24 hours a day, it feels like, but let’s say 9-5. We can’t wait to work with you.

Happy Holidays!!

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Nike Athlete Running

Brand Identity; Telling YOUR Story Through Photography and Video

Posted on August 11, 2017

In an era of constant online noise, brand identity becomes quintessential. Customers are seeking not only quality, but also an authentic buying experience; the real people behind the business. They are seeking companies with similar values and lifestyles as their own.

How do you build an unmistakable brand identity? How do you tell your story? Whether you are creating a new ad campaign, or updating your catalogue’s product photography, every image should speak to your customers.

Once you have defined your brand, you can begin to effectively market it. That’s where we come in. Studio 3, Inc. works with you to create personal visual solutions. We show the world how awesome you are.

Let’s take a closer look at how different photos craft different emotional responses. In other words, what your photography is saying about your brand.

1.   Your Colorways; Cool vs. Warm

View over Side of Boat — Studio 3, Inc.

Colors evoke emotion. Cool colors calm, while warm colors educe action—like this photo for Nike that encourages me to get out of this chair and go for a run.

Nike Athlete Running — Studio 3, Inc.

2.   Your Lighting; Studio vs. Natural

Whether your image is sun-soaked or sleekly structured, the quality can’t be compromised.

Glass of Whiskey with Ice Dropped In — Studio 3, Inc.

This beautiful cocktail shot for Seattle Magazine is captured with a splash! Inspiring thought on what a customer should do next (hint: buy some whiskey). Need help deciding? Here are Five new Washington Whiskeys to Try.

Two Smiling Women Drinking Coca Cola — Studio 3, Inc.

Embracing the brand identity of Coca-Cola, natural lighting was used to flood the scene with a sense of summer. Now that’s affective lifestyle photography.

3.   Your Audience; Outdoor vs. Luxury

Who is your target market? What do they value? Creating environments for your product takes target market research.

Hiker Wearing Danner Boots — Studio 3, Inc.

What better way to appeal to Danner Boot’s outdoor customer, while staying true to the Brand’s value of craftsmanship, than to put their boots to the test in the Pacific Northwest.

“Hold a Danner boot in your hand and you’ll notice the hand crafted precision. Try it on and you’ll feel the difference. Test it against the elements and you’ll appreciate the value of a product that is built to last.”   -Danner, Since 1932

Jimmy Choo Red Shoes — Studio 3, Inc.

However, when your marketing luxury like Jimmy Choo, the environment changes with the contrasting brand identity.

“A 21st Century Luxury Accessories Brand, with shoes at its heart, offering an empowered sense of glamour and a playfully daring Spirit.”   – Jimmy Choo

4.   Your Appearance; Organic vs. Styled

Cook Making Pasta — Studio 3, Inc.

Are you showing a process or presenting it’s end result? As brands and agencies move towards targeting the holistic customer, we see the shift manifest in an increase of lifestyle photography… And that’s in addition to the perfect product shot, 360-degree spin, and detail so good you can almost feel it. It’s a comprehensive marketing approach. You are your brand, and we are your people for all things photography, videography, and retouching.

Plate of Pasta — Studio 3, Inc.

5.   Your Quality; iPhone vs. Professional Photographer

If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, just wait until you hire an amateur… said a brilliant person. After meeting with a client, and doing a little research on their product, we stumbled upon this brilliant blog post that couldn’t say it any better.

“It’s amazing how big of a difference having really nice pictures of your space can make. A few months ago I ran an informal experiment (as research for another project) where I listed my apartment for rent on craigslist. They were both the same price, in the same area. One listing had really nice pictures taken with a high quality dslr and wide angel lens and the other had badly lit pictures taken with my iPhone. The listing with the nice pictures got 10x the emails.”   – Jon Wheatley of Need/Want

Maybe it’s obvious, but maybe not. In today’s digital age everyone has a camera in their pocket, and iPhone 7s are promoted as so good they can be used for magazine covers and advertising (We won’t name names). We are bombarded with mediocre images… like this production still that I took versus Craig Wagner’s beautiful image masterfully finished by digital artist Michelle Smith. See the difference?

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Regardless of the project or scope, Studio 3, Inc. works with our clients, building relationships and crafting the perfect image for their brand. If you have yet to work with us, what are you waiting for? Drop us a line, let’s put our heads together to create something beautiful.

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David-Bell

Something Only an ’80s Kid Would Remember- Studio 3, Inc.’s First Digital Camera

Posted on June 12, 2017

 

Digital Photography in 1993 = Big, Ugly, and Awesome… and boy did we think we were cool. Before the digital camera was the norm, it was enormous!

David Bell — Studio 3, Inc.

 

Take a Hasselblad, attach a HUGE digital back, and add cooling fans, a dehumidifying unit, and a large filter wheel, then you can start to imagine our first digital camera. The digital back was a Scitex Leaf DCB, it was 4 megapixels, and it cost $36,000. All of this was attached to a computer slower than molasses, packing a whopping 8 megabytes of RAM.

To take a picture, you would trigger the camera at the computer. The filter would rotate in front of lens to red and shoot. Then green and shoot. Then blue and shoot. One million years later, you would see the image come up on the computer. By aligning the three layers in the camera software, you got to finally see the finished photograph. Piece of cake, really.

This software really was sophisticated. The early versions had a button that was labeled “Guess”… we didn’t like to click that, but it worked. Later versions changed the label to “Auto,” a little easier to stomach.

The thing they must have hidden in the fine print was how much the lenses would be used. Every time you took a shot, it was actually three shots. Due to the fact that our equipment was being used three times as often we had a lot of lenses going in for repair and rebuild. The local shop got to know us pretty well and would give us the heads up when it were time to retire a lens.

This was the beginning of digital photography in the commercial world. It was a huge investment for the studio, and we where the first to take the plunge. It brings back a lot of fun and crazy memories, not to mention the price!  $2000.00 for a 2gig hard drive… and that was a Deal!

What a ride it has been.

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RAZ SIMONE 9075T (26 of 38)

Stepping On-Location with Studio 3, Inc.

Posted on April 10, 2017

Three weeks into the job and it was time for my first on-location shoot with Studio 3, Inc. I boarded Bolt Bus, a company favorite, and set off for Seattle, eager to see Studio 3, Inc.’s cool studio space in the shadow of the Space Needle.

Screen Shot 2017 04 05 at 12.59.41 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

The day started with Chanel Everett, the studio’s Princess of Production, hand selecting an Adidas wardrobe that interpreted the clients’ art direction. With a mood board compiled of different lifestyle, apparel and shoe photography, we set off for the previously scouted Seattle setting.

Screen Shot 2017 04 05 at 1.01.40 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

Two vintage cars, a cooler, breakfast, lunch, snacks, racks of athletic apparel, dope enough to make any rapper weep, and the slaying photography skills of Studio 3, Inc.’s Trevor Boone—all the ingredients needed for success. I loved the Seattle cityscape, lifestyle photography theme and getting to assist with production stills.

Screen Shot 2017 04 05 at 1.00.01 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

The location was picked to compliment the Seattle rapper’s song “Hometown.” Bringing the urban background of the city into portrait photography, Trevor Boone was able to capture stunning duality that showcased not only his professional talent, but the personality of Raz Simone and an edge to Adidas footwear photography.

Screen Shot 2017 04 05 at 1.00.20 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

Images just came through the Studio 3, Inc. digital team, and we are stoked! Our in-house digital department works closely with our photographers and marketing team—removing power lines, clearing alleyway undesirables, and bringing the client’s vision to life every time. Check out a few of our favorite shots from the day.

Screen Shot 2017 04 05 at 1.00.58 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

We will be dropping more images from the shoot, so be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. When you decide to become a part of the fun, give us a call or stop by one of our studios to talk photography, video and serious retouching skills.

Screen Shot 2017 04 05 at 1.01.14 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

Screen Shot 2017 04 05 at 1.01.50 PM — Studio 3, Inc.

Written by: Eva Goldfarb, Marketing Coordinator @ Studio 3, Inc.

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Marrianne

Creatively Curated: Why Studio 3, Inc.’s Team is Top of the Line

Posted on March 10, 2017

Stylist, trendsetter, initiator, innovator or trailblazer—call it what you want, the ability to curate food and drink takes enviable creative flair. Erika Macias and Marianne Sao are two of the magicians behind Studio 3, Inc.’s mouth-watering food photography. When you work with Studio 3, Inc. one thing is for sure; you are working with the best. We hand-pick our team of freelancers and train them in the art of perfection. 

IMG 4146 — Studio 3, Inc.

Erika Macias on set at Studio 3, Inc.

Meet Erika Macias; Trained in the culinary arts at The Art Institute of Seattle, Macias quickly realized she did not want to work crazy hours in a big kitchen. Following her creative passions, Macias soon found herself under the wing of Studio 3 Inc. photographer, David Bell. Through one-on-one training with Bell, Macias went from bumping into sets to perfecting  them. 

Marrianne — Studio 3, Inc.

Marianne Sao on set at Studio 3, Inc.

Meet Marianne Sao; Similarly to Macias’s story, Sao styling career “just happened.”  After attending design school, Sao began her climb up the creative ladder as a production artist, then a designer, and then an art director. Sao’s love of food eventually led her to the cultivation of her passion, becoming a food stylist. “I cooked and baked … but making it look beautiful on camera took time and lots of trial and error.” The trial and error paid off and over the years Sao and the team have created many masterpieces.

Seafood Oysters Seattle Magazine — Studio 3, Inc.

Shot for Seattle Magazine Photography by David Bell @Studio 3, Inc. Styling by Marianne Sao

 It’s not only beautiful photography that attracts freelancers to Studio 3, Inc., but also the reputation of renowned food photographer, David Bell. “I like working with David Bell because we click creatively,” shared Sao. “He always has great faith in what I do, which gives me confidence to do my best.”

DB 9327T Sardine Dish 1500 FD — Studio 3, Inc.

Styled by Macias, photographed by David Bell @ Studio 3, Inc.

It’s Bell’s great faith that attracts stylists and clients alike. “I love the relationships that Studio 3 creates with their clients,” explained Macias. “It makes it a lot easier for me to jump in and introduce myself, and It creates a safety net for the clients. They know since Studio 3 hired me, I’m going to be good at my job.” 

eden hill new — Studio 3, Inc.

Shot for Seattle Magazine cover 2016 photography by David Bell @ Studio 3, Inc.

Accountability for a high standard of photography, videography and digital production sets us apart from the competition. Not only does Studio 3, Inc. compile an all-star team, but that level of excellency transgresses between clients, freelance stylists, and production hands to create Studio 3, Inc. magic.

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Google Cardboard

Virtual Reality Check with Google Cardboard

Posted on October 17, 2016

Virtual Reality! The future! It’s finally here!
Google Cardboard — Studio 3, Inc.

After decades of empty SciFi promises, the age of virtual reality has finally arrived, in the form of cardboard. Google Cardboard is an at-home virtual reality platform that requires nothing more than your smart phone in order to use it. This low-cost fun machine had been on our minds for quite some time, so we decided to ship a few viewers to both the Portland and Seattle studios.

dscn5852 — Studio 3, Inc.So being the fun, inspirational studio that we are, we’re always up for something new and thought it would just be criminal if we didn’t capture the reactions of our employees playing around with VR for the first time. So, we set up our cameras and recorded people as they watched and explored the age of new media. 

We’ll be posting even more reactions and reviews from our employees this week on our Facebook and Instagram pages, so check them out. The possibilities of virtual reality are just now being explored, and we intend on following its evolution intensely. Swing by one of our studios to try Virtual Reality for yourself. 

googlevr 066 — Studio 3, Inc.

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