Food Photographer | Columbus Ohio

Blog Crossover Series
with Hounds in the Kitchen

In this series, we're visiting with local food bloggers to share experiences, snap photos and hang out with the wonderful individuals creating food-related stories we just can't help but read!

Most recently, we visited Rachel Tayse of Hounds in the Kitchen! Rachel shares a variety of stories on her popular blog; everything from urban gardening, book reviews, week-long meal plans, local events, recipes, and her fam. She's a constant source of information! Rachel teaches cooking classes in kitchens around the city, most often at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Check out her events schedule here.

I spent the afternoon with Rachel, her daughter, and her intern, Keara. There were many activities, including, coloring eggs with all-natural dyes, feeding the chickens, playing with the pups and baking a "Dutch Baby." Rachel will be posting some each day during her egg-themed week, including recipes, at the links below!

http://houndsinthekitchen.com/2011/04/18/blow-out-eggs-photo-kitchen/
http://houndsinthekitchen.com/2011/04/19/making-and-using-natural-egg-dyes/

Want to learn more? Check out www.houndsinthekitchen.com for the rest of the Blog Crossover, and to read her latest posts! You can also follow her on Facebook.

Edible Columbus | Photographer

Here are a few shots from the Spring Issue of Edible Columbus, and a few extras that didn't make it in the magazine! Check out their website.

Central Ohio Yoga Model Photographer

This is the first time a photo of mine has been turned into a real sketch! Jeremy Gau is quite talented! Not to mention Natalie Kristine of L-Yoga Flow, the model in the photo!

Food Photographers | Central Ohio

Blog Crossover Series
with Karma in the Kitchen

With this new series, we're visiting the homes of local food bloggers to share experiences, compare photos and hang out with the wonderful individuals creating food-related stories we just can't help but read!

Our first outing was with Tracy from Karma in the Kitchen. Tracy and her husband are facing an interesting challenge for the next few weeks. They are adopting a restricted diet in the hopes of diagnosing some of her husband's food allergens. Tracy talks more about their Elimination Diet on her blog.



I was curious to find out what she'd decided to make in light of all of their food restrictions and was excited to see some familiar foods put together in new and inventive ways!

The main dish she chose was Chard Rolls Filled with Winter Vegetables. The fragrant and spicy smell of the veggies as they were cooking was intoxicating. The dish made for great comfort food: not too heavy, perfectly juicy, flavorful and healthy to boot!



Food bloggers are experts at juggling boiling pots and inventing creative substitutions in a pinch. But it is certainly challenging to make a meal while trying to photograph it at the same time! The appetizers start to gets cold, your family starts to grow hungry and the dessert starts to burn, all while you try to set up "the perfect shot" to showcase your hard work!

As a photographer and soux chef, I had the luxury of setting up the "perfect" shot without sacrificing the meal. I also had the opportunity to get action shots that most bloggers can't, since they usually work alone!

I ended up taking over 100 photos, as compared to Tracy's 10. Some might see this as cheating, because the odds of me getting the perfect shot were greater. But Tracy herself said, "If I took 100 photos, they'd all look exactly the same." As a photographer, I'm compelled to keep shooting in hopes of capturing a spontaneous moment or a unique angle. I could take 10 pictures, but if I did, I might miss the most important photographic element: the ability to catch the moment and not just the ingredients.

Take a look at the photo comparisons below. What do you think are the biggest differences between my shots and Tracy's?


Here is a side-by-side photo comparison of the Swiss Chard.
(Tracy's photo is on the left. Photo Kitchen's on the right.)


Here is the veggie mix simmering on the stove.
(Tracy's photo on top. Photo Kitchen's 2 photos below hers.)



The finished dish was perfectly shiny and juicy.
(Tracy's photo on top. Photo Kitchen's photo below hers.)


The final plated dish.
(Tracy's on the left. Photo Kitchen's on the right.)

As I was busy snapping pics of their two adorable dogs and happily washing dishes, Tracy whipped up these Maple Butter Bars in less than 10 minutes! I'm not a huge fan of maple-flavored things, but I loved the chewy texture of these bars. The maple wasn't overwhelming and eating them warm was a comforting treat.


Maple Butter Bars, freshly cut.
(Tracy's photo above.)


Bars in the making: pre-oven, just out of the oven and just before eating.
(Photo Kitchen's pictures, above.)

My guy & Tracy's neighbor, John, stopped by to try out the veggie fare. As a meat-lover, the fact that he didn't try to feed his share to the dogs means it was a winner!


(Sophia didn't seem to mind the idea of a veggie meal either; she was right up in John's face begging for him to share!)

I always enjoy watching Tracy cook. Her food is unique, adventurous and vegetarian friendly. She cooks mostly from scratch, she has a compost pile and she values locally-grown food, as evidenced by her CSA share with Sippel Family Farm. My favorite part of her blog is that it isn't always about the food, but often about her love for her family and friends.

You can find the recipes, more photos, and Tracy's take of the day in her post, The Diet: Day 2.



Bottom line, I'd be thrilled to cook along side Tracy again. She's easy going and engaging, a pet lover like me and a food enthusiast. What more do I need out of a kitchen mate? (I can't help adding this last photo of Tracy, who said "Hm, you didn't say anything about taking pictures of me!" Yet she was kind enough to let me.)

P.S. Check in for the next in our Blog Crossover series with Lynn from But You Can Call Me Crazy!

Commercial Food Photographer | Columbus, Ohio

Bleu & Fig | Food and Flowers

I had the distinct pleasure of working with Bleu & Fig a few weeks back! They are a full service catering company here in Columbus, but before you jump to conclusions, they are not the stereotypical catering company! They DON'T have one menu you HAVE to order from, they DO care about how their food tastes, and they AREN'T above doing small soirees.


Mini Crab Cakes | Pear Tart | Butternut Squash Bisque

Candied Bacon | Shortbread Lemon Bar

Veggie Wrap Boxed Lunch | Rosemary Garlic Chicken Pot Pie

In fact, they love the small jobs. Oscar Night, Valentine's Day for two, St. Patrick's Day gathering; whatever kind of party you want to throw, Bleu & Fig would be more than happy to help you come up with a unique menu to fit. And to make party-planning even easier, they also have 20 years experience in florals, and provide those services, as well.

Take the time to meet Regina and Brooke of Bleu & Fig, these ladies are kind, professional, creative and talented!

Photography Matters, No Matter Your Business

Why hire a professional photographer? This is a question I here a lot, especially since the rise of digital photography. I recently found two articles (not written by photographers!) that explain how the use of quality photography is integral to your business.

This first excerpt is about hiring a professional photographer for a political campaign, though it could apply to any business's advertising and marketing endeavors.

Photography can be the key to a successful direct mail campaign. When it comes to direct mail, you get approximately five seconds of a voter's time between the mailbox and the trash can so you need to make those five seconds as eye catching and powerful as possible. In a misguided attempt to save resources, many campaigns skimp on one of the most crucial aspects of direct mail--photography. It's akin to building your dream house on a dirt foundation. All of the work you put into your mail program--the research, writing and strategy--won't be as effective if the piece is dragged down by low resolution, amateurish, overtly political photos taken by a well-meaning volunteer.

A picture is worth a thousand words, especially in political mail. A compelling and unusual photo can leap out of the rest of the clutter in the mailbox and get you those precious seconds of voter attention. A few tips on getting the right image to make your point:

Hire a professional photographer, not your neighbor who has a new digital camera (unless he or she is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer in which case I hope they have better equipment). Spend the money on a real shoot with a real photographer....

Chadderdon, Liz. "Don't Skimp on the Visual - It Seals the Deal." Politics (Campaigns and Elections). May 2010.

This second excerpt is about using photos that best illustrate your brand.

The right picture truly is worth a thousand words. It can tell your story, showcase your products, and intrigue, interest or excite your audience. But the wrong picture--well, there's a whole other phrase that describes that: Not worth the paper it's printed on. Problem is, how do you tell the difference?

A good photo or illustration communicates more quickly and leaves a longer lasting impression than words alone. It's the old left brain/right brain thing. There is an emotional and a rational aspect to every communication, and you want to enhance both. The right picture can make people read the words. The right words can make people internalize the message. The visuals you use will create a perception of your (company) in the minds of the people who see them. Make sure it's the perception you want.

There's no way to tell you exactly how much you should pay for professional photography, since so much is dependent on the specifics of your job: How many pictures? Of what? Where? When? Even where you are located geographically makes a huge difference in photo costs. The best advice is to check around. Look at photographers' portfolios, find a few whose work you like, and get several quotes. Often photographers negotiate based on use.

Before you send any image off to a publication, ask yourself if that image would stop you, engage you, interest you. Then answer yourself truthfully.

The bottom line is, the better your photos, the better you'll look. It's worth the time and trouble to get it right.

Muhleman, Janet. "Picture Your Brand." Franchising World, February 2005.