Why test prep food shoot is essential ?

A test shoot is absolutely necessary before any actual food shoot, especially for location-based work like mine. It helps prevent technical issues during the actual shoot and provides a thorough understanding of the client's brief and lighting requirements. With limited time on the actual shoot day, a test food shoot allows me to experiment with light positioning.

For this particular shoot, the brief was to capture a morning light look for a breakfast scene. I created a few gobos in my home studio to test the lighting and placement, aiming to achieve the effect of light streaming in through windows. Using a three-light setup, I practiced the scene beforehand. On the actual shoot day, this preparation enabled a seamless process of setting up the lights after scouting the location and rearranging some furniture.

Here is scene from the actual shoot in progress

To summarise it helps with

Technical Preparation: it helps in preemptively identifying and solving any technical issues, ensuring that the actual shoot runs smoothly.

Client Understanding: Conducting a test shoot allows you to fully comprehend the client's vision and requirements, particularly regarding lighting and other specifics, which helps in aligning your creative approach with their expectations.

Efficiency: By troubleshooting potential issues during the test shoot, you save valuable time on the actual shoot day, which can be particularly beneficial if you’re working with tight schedules.

In short, taking the time to set up and test your lighting can make a big difference in the quality and impact of your final food photos.