Photography by Jerry, LLC

This has been a tiring week. A new client with 52 product shots plus styled food shots,  and I can honestly say that I am working for peanuts…specifically, Bakers’ Southern Traditions peanuts. I never had blister fried peanuts before and boy, were they good. I’m glad that the client sent lots of them so, I could sample them as I went along. The dark chocolate covered peanuts were outrageous. (I know – I’m not allowed but, I couldn’t resist tasting just one.) The Cajun peanuts on the other hand, were much too hot for me.

My stylist and I had to prepare and shoot a peanut soup for a package and then style some of the products. Creativity was running wild as we selected backgrounds and plates. The peanuts looked marvelous but, you can’t style 13 products in 3 or 4 sizes and have each and show every product container, alone and in groups  and expect to do it in one day. So I put together the “product shots” with the white wood background that the client requested in one day and did they styled beauty shots the next. Now comes the editing. 

What was motivating me to keep going was the knowledge that I get to eat these delicious peanuts when its all over. Like I said, I’m working for peanuts. Bring on the pecans 🙂

I was quite surprised when I got an e-mail from a jelly and jam manufacturer from Maine-Lost Loon Farms. But, jellies and jams are great to photograph…so many possibilities and was excited about the job. And, what great packaging – I loved their jars.

As it turns out, this is a family business and the family came from New Jersey and moved to Maine. One family member has moved back to New Jersey and was my contact. What a great family to work with and working with my food stylist Michael Giletto, we got some great shots. Oh – according to my wife – the jams are delicious (I still can’t believe that since I am diabetic I rarely get to eat what I shoot.)

I challenged myself to photograph something mundane so that it is recognizable – but barely. Let’s play “What is it?”

Please leave a comment and tell me what you think it is. (Try clicking on the photos to see them larger.)

Orchid at the Philadelphia Flower Show

After meeting Chefs Geoff Johnson from Copper Fish on Broadway and Matthew Zappoli from Tre Amici at James Beard House with Team NJ, I friended them on Facebook and kept in touch. It was through Facebook that I was invited to the Copper Fish on Broadway in Cape May to see a demo by Chefs Johnson and Zappoli. Cape May is about two and a half hours from my home so my wife and I decided to make a mini vacation.

The vacation started at the Philadelphia Flower Show followed by an evening in Atlantic City and the demo the following night. The flower show was crowded and taking photos was difficult but, the flowers were beautiful.

Chefs Johnson and Zappoli Playing with Liquid Nitrogen

The demo was absolutely amazing. We had a fantastic time. They used liquid nitrogen to make a sorbet out of pomegranate juice, tequila and elderflower liquor. WOW. The rabbit agnolotti, branzino with jicama slaw and the braised beef short ribs were absolutely amazing. The chefs were entertaining, funny and the food was phenomenal – what a great way to spend a Friday night. The three and a half hours went by in no time. To top it off, they made a tiramisu using liquid nitrogen to make a mascarpone cream. What a great event. We can’t wait to go to another. You can see more photos at http://orders.photography-by-jerry.com/CopperFish

Tiramasu

As usual, I lost in Atlantic City – what else is new?

Today I finished a shoot for Team USA athletic wear. This was something very different for me. I usually shoot food and products. This was a product, but done with models…actually athletes, wearing uniforms. It went very well and we got some really nice shots. The models were extremely cooperative and professional. Actually one of them (see football uniform below) does model professionally.

I used white muslin for the test but decided that I would use a white vinyl seamless for the actual shoot since we had to go down to the model’s feet in some shots. Boy, what a difference. The wrinkle free vinyl background worked great.

We finished up with a lay down of some of the items that were missed. Everything had to be silhouetted and that took much longer than I expected – silhouetting around hair is much more time consuming than around a simple product. I’ll know better for next time.

Our first photo together. I loved the wood grain in his bar.

A bartender on LinkedIn was advertising a couple of days after my food stylist said that I should hook up with a mixologist for portfolio work. What a coincidence. The coincidences don’t stop there. I contacted the bartender – George C. of Private Bartender NYC and introduced myself and asked if he would be interested in getting together.  He would prepare drinks and I would provide photographs. He jumped at the idea and we worked out a day to get together. I then found out that he lives in my town…just 10 minutes from my home. Great!  Not only that, but lives on a street with the same name where I used to live in the next town – built by the same builder – and even the same model. Kizmet!

Dirty Martini - you gotta love stuffed olives!

We did the shoot at George’s home yesterday.  He has a beautiful bar in the basement. But, it is a basement with very low ceilings. I couldn’t get a softbox from above and the reflections from the softbox on the side were much too hot. I needed a solution and I found the solution in my problem. I bounced the softbox off the low, white ceiling and ended up with nice soft light from above.

What a fun day that was. George was great – really great! We had a blast and came up with some great photos. If you ever need a bartender in the NY/NJ area – contact George C. and ask him to see some photos of his work.

I asked the Jersey Shore chapter of the ACF if I could make a presentation to their members. They were very happy to oblige. At their meeting  they were going to present the dishes they are preparing for Winterfest 2011, a charitable event. Then, they had an idea that I can do a demonstration of how I photograph food by shooting the dishes. They could then use the photos on the website to promote Winterfest 2o11 to raise more money.  I thought this was a great way of introducing myself to the group and help them raise money so I agreed.

The meeting was last night at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, NJ. So, I loaded up the car with all of my equipment because you never know what you will find. The meeting was in the mess hall and the troops were still eating and cleaning up when I arrived – not exactly the venue I envisioned (like I said, you never know what you will find.) I set up my seamless, laptop, lights, cameras, business cards, portfolio, and even my ipad to display my work. The meeting started and as they were ready (without any notice), the chefs brought out their dishes. Considering the conditions, the time allotted and the fact that there was no food stylist, I thought that the photos came out quite well. I hope that the photos help them sell tickets for this worthy cause.

The chefs were eating their dinners, which included salad. Then, someone placed a salad plate on the table where I was set up. I did not know that this was the salad to be shot…I thought that they were offering me something to eat. Thank goodness that I decided to use the salad to get my lights and camera ready. I shot the salad and then noticed that the plates were a little nicer than everybody else having dinner. Just to make sure, I took a couple of extra shots of the salad. I’m lucky that I wasn’t hungry that night.

If you can be near Point Pleasant, NJ on February 27, 2011 at 3:30, buy a ticket – no, buy a couple of tickets – for Winterfest 2011, and have a great meal. If it tastes half as good as it looks, you’ll be in for a treat. See you there!