food & drink photography + motion Jun 2016

Andy Lewis is an accomplished food and life style photographer whose work encompasses packaging, advertising and editorial briefs. Working closely with his clients and teams, he methodically creates beautifully composed and unique results.

Andy is regularly asked 'How a food photography shoot comes together and what do all the people do?’ In response Andy has created a short video to help show what happens on a day's food shoot.

Operating out of his Central London studio, Andy Seymour specialises in food, drink and still life photography.

Visit his website for more information.

Brent Herrig specialises in photography for a range of food and cocktail clients in both the advertising and editorial worlds. He is a seasoned photographer based out of New York City with experience in video, editorial, publishing, advertising, packaging and more.

Brent’s food story started in the Midwest - Iowa to be exact. Growing up, he got to experience two distinct aspects of food: picking sweet corn and vegetables and taking care of animals on the farm, to serving customers as a soda jerk at an ice cream parlor.

On the one side, he got to see wholesome food - farm fresh vegetables grown and sold directly to the community. On the other, Brent got to see people enjoying moments in life fueled by food - how celebration and satisfaction collided in their mouth to light up their faces. This diversity of experiences gave Brent a great appreciation of food, which drives his work today.

Brent enjoys collaborating with clients from concept through post-production.

Visit his website or contact him directly to discuss your next project.

Carsten Eichner specialises in still and food photography and has his own fully equipped digital daylight studio in Hamburg. His studio's main asset is the service of quality professional photography linked with creativity and teamwork in collaboration with some of the best food and prop stylists.

Carsten works for a large variety of PR, editorial subjects and above all advertising across food, still life and interior photography. He has international experience working for agencies and editorial magazines, both on location and in the studio.

Featured in this Spotlight are photos of Carsten's recent shoots for BEEF!, Brigitte/G&J Verlag and WeightWatchers.

His reguarly clients include Burda, Der Feinschmecker, Billa/Austria, Dr.Oetker EDEKA, Hilcona, Lidl and Unilever.

Visit his website for more information.

Inspired by exciting travel stories, Christoph Kern is passionate about shooting delicious food, beautiful architecture and interiors. He recently finished a lead story about Paris for Swiss Universe, the in-flight magazine for business and first class passengers of Swiss Airlines. It will be on board from mid-June onwards.

His clients include IWC Magazine, UBS, a+u, Swiss Magazine, Manor, interio, Migros and Davidoff.

Visit his website for more information and to take a closer look at his portfolio.

Duncan Loughrey has been shooting food for the best part of 30 years. A keen eye for detail, great technical ability and a knack for beautiful lighting have helped build a loyal list of clients over the years.

Happy to shoot in the studio or on location, Duncan undertakes every shoot in a friendly, relaxed manner.

Visit Duncan’s website to view more of his work.

Photographer Melanie Jenkins established Flash Studios in January 2000. The first successful wholly digital large-format studio in New Zealand, the personnel consists of Melanie and her team, including freelance assistants and retouchers.

Specialising in photographing food, product, fashion, beauty, jewellery and interiors, Melanie is always looking for the next challenge and works to produce outstanding quality in all areas.

With the ability to move windows, walls, skirting boards, flooring, etc., the team at Flash Studios can transform the studio for their clients' specific needs. The studio kitchen is well equipped and has plenty of space to allow food stylists and chefs to create their culinary master pieces. Shooting large and medium formats, Melanie also regularly works on location.

Clients include Bauer Media, Fairfax Media, Tip Top NZ, Adrienne, Winkelmann, Chelsea, Bidvest NZ, Worth and Douglas, Moontide, Bendon NZ, Sleepyhead/Comfort group, Draft FCB NZ, AMG Group NZ, This is True, Bobux, Columbus, Random House, Easiyo, Resenes, Healthy Life Media, HB Media, Tangible Media, Interact advertising, Shore City, Periscope and Switch Design/PR.

Beautiful, tantalising, colourful and delicious are just a few ways of describing Gareth Morgans' food and lifestyle photographs. "His images will make your mouth water, and leave you feeling hungry and salivating even if you’ve just had a three-course meal!"

Gareth creates authentic images with attention to detail and care. Clients so far this year have included Marks & Spencer, Slimming World, Badger Beer, BirdsEye, IBIS Hotels, Waitrose and Co-Op.

"We did our first Food Photography Master Class at the top of the Gherkin for the Sony Photo Awards. It was an amazing experience and we loved every minute of it, and had a fantastic response from the press!

The BBQ season is hotting up, so lots of steaks and burgers have been in demand and also lots of fresh spring ingredients."

After 35 years in photography, Huw Jones is one of the UK’s most experienced food and drink photographers. Great technical ability, meticulous attention to detail combined with a flair for beautiful lighting has ensured a loyal client base of some of the biggest names in foodservice and food manufacturing.

Jones has studios in London and Wales, meaning he rarely shoots on location and never editorial - only advertising (and the occasional cookery book). Recently he has also been applying his technical experience and lighting skills to video commissions and has produced several TV ads.

The Wales studio is a unique facility with a full commercial kitchen, walk-in freezers, cavernous prop store, post-production suite and set construction workshop. Along with all the technology and equipment, the studio also boasts a full-time head chef and re-toucher.

Jones specialises in retail packaging, point of sale and foodservice for a variety of major brands, regularly shooting for Bidvest Foodservice, Kerry Foods, Samworth Brothers and Dawn Meats.

Ilva Beretta is a Swedish freelance photographer based in Tuscany. She specialises in food and still life photography, with a predilection for shooting in daylight.

This year, Ilva was a finalist in both the Sony World Photography Awards 2016 and the 2016 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year.

Ilva shoots both commercial and editorial photography and has worked with clients including Giovanni Rana, Rio Mare, Ferrari, Esselunga, Four Seasons Hotels, Havana Club, Philadelphia, Italia Domain Wines, Condé Nast, Sale & Pepe, Alice Cucina, Mat&Vänner and QA International.

She works on location and from her own studio.

Ilva is represented by DVmilano Photography (Italy & Europe) and MFAA (Asia).

Ilya Shapovalov is a commercial and editorial food photographer based in Düsseldorf, Germany. Growing up in the rural provinces near the Black Sea, Ilya enjoyed a farm-to-table experience which gave him a deep and life-long understanding of food.

By the time his passion for photography met this understanding, he had found his vocation as a food photographer. His fresh contemporary perspective brings life and food together in a harmonious way. Creating compositions with a sense of symmetry and fine balance, Ilya always finds a way to delight the viewer.

Combining natural and artificial light to create genuine moments, he works with clients to communicate the beauty, passion and craft that go into every project. His clients include Lidl, Metro, All Bar One, Simon & Schuster Verlag, Elle Girl, Sparkasse, Groupon, Orange and many more.

Jens doesn't take pictures he creates them. Capturing the essence of a subject requires a thorough understanding of the product, its appeal, and what makes it distinctive. These are details he considers before even picking up a camera. These considerations result in the selection of support crew - prop stylists, food stylists, set builders, and effects rigger - and lighting design. The results are images that capture inspiration.

Specialising in product, food and beverage photography, Jens has committed the past 20 years to assisting numerous iconic brands distinguish themselves with compelling imagery. He has added motion productions to his skill set for the last four years. Working with creative clients is what drives him. From Johnnie Walker and Absolut to Pepsi-Cola and Coke, he has worked with numerous brands in a variety of consumer product industries.

Contact Jens today to see what he can create for you and follow him on Instagram.

Joe Pellegrini is a photographer, artist and all-around talent. He loves making photographs and has the soul of a true artist. He has had the good fortune to be a Chicago photographer for over 20 years. Whether it’s shooting a national ad, cookbook, or a packaging assignment, Joe uses every part of his artistic being to create the best photographs he can.

Joe has a creative edge to his work, whether it’s crafting the perfect ice cube to fit in a custom glass, or creating a hand painted background to complement the shot. Clients can always depend on him giving every job his all. He has collaborated with clients including Subway, Coca-Cola and Kellogg’s.

When Joe is not in his studio shooting photography or spending time with his family, he is most likely to be found creating wonderful works of art.

Karen Thomas is a passionate London-based food and still life photographer. Her interest in food precedes her 16 year career as a photographer and also keeps her busy in her own kitchen when she’s not shooting. From editorial to advertising, Karen has worked with some of the biggest names in food including M&S, Waitrose, McDonalds and Nestlé.  A photograph is nothing if the light isn’t right and Karen loves to work with both daylight and studio lighting in order to create atmospheric and beautiful work.

Karen has been shooting Christmas 2016 for M&S followed by their Taste of Summer campaign. She also recently shot the new look packaging for Old El Paso, advertising for Masala Zone and there are two new book projects in the pipeline, along with advertising for Waitrose and editorial shoots for clients such as Sainsbury magazine.

A bio engineer by training, an amateur cook and always in love with photography, as a teenager Luciano Furia started selling photos of classical musicians to magazines. In the past five years he has merged photography with one of his other passions: food!

Building on his personal relationship with star chefs and internationally renowned pizzaiolis, he tries to capture the heat, life, excitement and tension that build up in the kitchens.

He believes that a good food photo is one that makes you …hungry! His photos have appeared in Food&Wine (with several photos accompanying an article by Pulitzer prize winner Jonathan Gold), Australian Gourmet Traveller, New York Times, National Geographic Traveller UK, and in many Italian and international online articles.

He has recently been selected as a finalist at the Pink Lady Food Photography awards 2016 with a picture taken from a book he published in 2015, 'Gli ingredienti di una vita'.

Lukas Kirchgasser is a Vienna-based professional photographer specialised in food and drink photography.

He creates unique and mouth-watering food pictures and mind-blowing images of refreshing drinks, fancy cocktails, liquors and all sorts of liquids. Lukas is always up for a new challenge and experiments with new settings, creative lighting and remarkable perspectives.

Working with top chefs and restaurants, Lukas is used to shooting on location and abroad, always thinking about interesting projects and getting inspired from everywhere he is. His experience in food and drink photography allows him to provide conceptual advice and creative suggestions to his clients to bring out perfect results that stick in the mind.

As a professional food and drink photographer he is open-minded for exceptional projects and loves to think outside of the box.

Email or call Lukas on +43 664 42 59 661 for more information.

Maja Smend has been known as one of London’s most highly renowned food photographers for over 15 years. Her award-winning work ranges from editorial and packaging to advertising, and is published worldwide.

Maja’s work is described as contemporary and fresh with exceptional attention to detail. She shoots primarily with daylight but is equally adept at using flash to create a natural feel in her photographs.

Maja's German roots provide efficiency and professionalism that she brings to her studio, along with the fun and friendliness of a Londoner.

Clients include Gü, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Nestlé, Harper Collins, Ocado, Pan Macmillan and Jamie Oliver.

Mark Zawila is a Dutch-born commercial photographer and retoucher specialising in food, drink and still life. Mark works from his beautifully situated studio in Hampshire, ideally located just off the M4 and less than an hour from central London.

Inspired by his art and design background, Mark has a passion for creating work that has painterly energy and a unique graphical style. He regularly works with chefs and designers on commercial shoots as well making time to work on collaborations and personal projects, which he feels is vital to keep his work fresh and stay inspired.

Mark is hugely passionate and dedicated to every project he undertakes, going that extra mile to satisfy his clients.

Michael Bennett is a San Francisco-based photographer who shoots for clients locally, nationally and globally. Michael’s passion for food began at a young age helping out in restaurants in his home country of England.

When he discovered a culinary life was not for him he travelled to the States and began a photography career which led to shooting food, among other things.

His food clients include Williams Sonoma, Genuine Grub, Tesco, John Smith's and numerous magazines.

Michael’s use of both strobe and natural light, either on location or in the studio, brings a certain quality to the image his clients really admire, and with 15 years in the business he can deliver exactly what they want.

Pankaj Shah is based in Dubai and delights in shooting food photography, not just because he is a foodie, but because his clients value his “meticulous, near perfect images – in camera” with the absolute minimal recourse to Photoshop.

His most recent campaign is for Ta'Moosh '"Ready to eat" Arabic meals. His images are being used on the packaging to launch this new concept.

A list of his clients includes industry leaders like Nestle, Kraft, Kellogg’s, Dolmio, Quality Street, Gerber,  Heinz, Foster Clarke, Pepsi, Lipton, M&M's, Delmonte, Tropicana, London Dairy Ice Cream, Bateel, Galaxy, Tanmiah, Yo Sushi, Nando’s, Mrs. Fields, Papa Murphy’s, Hilton, Sheraton, Le Meridien, Kempinsky, Sofitel, Taj and Oberoi Hotel chains to name just a few.

Pankaj has a fully equipped kitchen in his spacious studios, but is equally at home shooting on location and always ready to travel for a challenging shoot.

Pankaj also shoots people, products and interiors.

Peter Cassidy is an experienced food and lifestyle photographer based in London. He shoots advertising, packaging and editorial commissions both in the studio and on location.

Peter's clients include Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Asda, Dairy Crest, Baxter's, Tilda Bloomsbury, Quadrille Publishing, Kyle Books and RPS. He has shot for Harrods Magazine, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Red, Food & Travel, Good Food, Olive, Delicious and Jamie Magazine.

See his previous Production Paradise publications for more images.

Rita Platt’s photography is clean, modern and current. She is very versatile covering food, interiors, still life and travel.

Clients enjoy working with Rita not only for her talent but also her easy going and accommodating personality, creating a calm and joyful atmosphere on set.

Recent clients include her second Great British Bake Off book, various travel editorials for Condé Nast Traveller, The Guardian Christmas Food special issue, The White Company, Graham & Green and Made.com.

Sigurd Kranendonk is a Amsterdam-based still life and interior photographer who is as comfortable in his studio as he is out on location.

Obsessed with lighting, Sigurd is capable of bringing out the beauty in ordinary objects.

Recent projects include campaigns for Akzo-Nobel, promotion material for Piet Boon Group, food photography for Sanoma Media, and many more.

Stephen Conroy has been showcasing real food with delicious results and attention to detail for many years.

His strong natural images can be seen on all types of media - this year, everywhere: from 'food to go' menu boards, packaging, PR campaigns, to food films.

Be sure to check Stephen's recent interview on Production Paradise blog.

For Theodosis Georgiadis, one of the leading food photographers in Greece, every shoot concerning food and beverages is a new challenge he has to meet with creativity and authenticity. His new passion is food videography, in which he is combining his excellent lighting skills with moving images.

Being an excellent cook himself, he is well aware of the ways to transform a simple dish into a “masterpiece” and recognises easily the essence of every ingredient. So far great companies nationally but also internationally like Lidl, Aldi, Sklavenitis and Masoutis supermarkets have hired him and trusted his unique flair of capturing and depicting their new packaging, posters, leaflets and promotion material. Some of his recent collaborations with Estia, Savikos, Ble, Paliria, Ioniki have brought to life vibrant, bright images of food and beverage, both on his own fully equipped studio and on location.

A combination of his excellent knowledge, cutting-edge technical equipment, facilities catering for every taste and kind, passion for detail and his commitment to perfection and originality can guarantee the best representation of food at their prime.

Recently he received the People’s Choice award of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition for his non-documentary food video for PAX burgers.

Shooting drinks and liquids is a demanding discipline. Catching fleeting moments that only last the blink of an eye with a medium that is always in flux and ever-changing requires both skill and creativity.

For Warren Ryley, the shoots are always exciting and often unpredictable with rarely repeated results. Each new job presents new challenges and calls upon Warren’s 30 years of experience in the industry.

Working from his studio near Tower Bridge, he combines innovative lighting techniques with his wide knowledge of post-production to create outstanding results.

Warren is a dedicated professional who loves working with like-minded creatives on drinks projects, whether it’s an ice cold beer, a warming whisky or a tantalising cocktail. His recent campaigns include Chivas Brothers, Something Special, 100 Pipers, Fosters Gold and Radler.