Tips to make - Location based shoot successful

Every Shoot is unique and interesting. 70 % of my shoots are location based. Here are few tips to make it successful.

1. Master Lighting Techniques

• Artificial Lighting: It goes without saying .. Artificial lighting is best and most preferred set up for consistent and cohesive looking images. It's portable, consistent, and adaptable. I use modifiers (soft boxes and scrims) to mimic natural light. If shooting in uncontrolled environments (e.g., restaurants or small kitchens or sometimes board rooms, or warehouse), mastering artificial lighting for food photography shoots has helped me to adjust to any conditions.

2. Preplanning and Preparation

• Shot List & Creative Brief: I create a detailed shot list and mood boards. Include props, backgrounds, and reference images to align with the brand’s vision. A thorough preplanning step eliminates guesswork on location.

• Props and Gear: Transporting gear and props can be cumbersome, so I pack efficiently based on the shot list. It is needed to bring only what's essential to avoid overwhelming the space.

• Location Scouting: I would highly recommend to visit the location ahead of time to identify the best lighting, angles, and possible challenges. Know where you can set up your equipment and identify potential distractions. There are often situations when location visit is not possible, I always ask my clients to send me a video of the location ahead of the shoot. It helps me to visualise the place and plan the set up ahead of the shoot.

3. Tethered Shooting for Live Feedback

• Tethering: I would highly recommend connecting your camera to a laptop or monitor to offer live views of the shots. This ensures real-time feedback from clients, allowing them to see the image develop and make adjustments on the spot. I use the industry standard tethering software Capture one pro .

4. Food Styling Essentials

• Simple Kit: Bring in essential food styling tools (tweezers, brushes, sprays) to maintain freshness on-site. plus props needed based on the brief.

• Quick Kitchen Access: In cases like bakeries or restaurants, ensure you have access to a small kitchenette for any last-minute adjustments or prepping.

5. Approval and Collaboration

• Client Collaboration: Keep the client involved in the creative process by showing them shots as you go. This builds confidence and ensures the shoot meets their vision.

• Post-Shoot Approval: Once the shoot wraps, I get confirmation from clients that they’re satisfied with the key images to avoid reshoots.

6. Backups and Troubleshooting

• Backup Gear: I always bring in extra batteries, memory cards, and lighting gear. Technical issues can arise, and you don’t want to be caught unprepared.

• Space Management: Be mindful of the space available for setup, especially in tighter locations like boardrooms or small kitchens. Choosing appropriate lenses / light modifier and angles helps to maximize the space and create the look and vision you are after.

By following these strategies, your location-based food shoots will not only solve logistical issues for businesses but also will deliver high-quality, professional results.

Here are some examples of Food Photography images created on location shoot with detailed styling.

Creating a mock kitchen set up with two lights and  using tiled background on location shoot.

Using two lights to create bright and airy image for big banner and posters 

Mimicking sunlight for cold drinks photography  using  just bare bulb with out any modifier.

Using soft box as a modifier to create heavy shadows 

Using  a large printed poster to create patio entertaining set up  and using two lights to create this image

Creating nice bright images for summer entertaining  using soft box and a scrim.

Creating a dark and moody image with one artificial light with soft box as a modifier.

Creating lifestyle images on location using artificial studio lighting 

image created on location using Soft box and a scrim to diffuse light 

Love to hear from you . Let me know if you have any interesting food or product photography shoot coming up and I am ready to take it to the next level. Contact me for detailed discussion and helping you with your creative vision.