food retouching

[mschwartz]

I have been concentrating on portrait retouching. I mainly use D&B and softlight layers for correcting and even skin tone. I just got offered to go on a food/interior shoot and help retouch the food photography on location. I am wondering what are the basic things that you try to correct when retouching food photography? For example, when retouching skin I focus on creating an even tone, keeping pore detail, and removing highlights. Are the same technique used when retouching food photography (D&B, softlight)? Any advice is welcome.

[pixelzombie]

it's been my experience that working with layers is very important as the art directors go in one direction while the actual client may want to go for a different look so be prepared for many rounds of corrections...

[Insensitive.]

Can i see a picture, if possible?

[pixelzombie]

i'll see what i can find when i get home, i made the mistake of not keeping some of my more intricate work...

[KR1156]

color is usually top priority, in my experience. make sure everything looks natural, tasety...don't go overboard with the vividness or sharpness. (ex. don't make a plate of pasta, or fruits look nuclear by pumping up the reds too far!)

d&b is used across the board on all retouching as a non destructive method. i use it on clothing, product, packaging etc. don't be afraid to use it.

-in my experience, i also had to do a lot of rearranging of objects, removing of distracting ogjects, lots and lots of cloning. pay attention to the natural lighting of objects if you have to move them, lighting should match up across the board, as well as where shadows fall.

[mschwartz]

Thanks for all the great advice. I would be really interested to see some of your food retouching Pixelzombie.

Does anyone know of a high-end retoucher or studio that specializes in food or product retouching so that I can learn more from their before/Afters?

[cainam]

There is some food on my pbase (...if you consider fruits to be food).

http://www.pbase.com/mvc/food

Most of it was for packaging and had to be a bit illustration-like (where there is no before photo, its actually completely illustrated). So I doubt if it will be of any help.

There is of course a difference if you retouch food for packaging, a cookbook or other applications.

[Nanls]

Originally Posted by mschwartz

Thanks for all the great advice. I would be really interested to see some of your food retouching Pixelzombie.

Does anyone know of a high-end retoucher or studio that specializes in food or product retouching so that I can learn more from their before/Afters?

I work with a very good products and food photographer. I can send you a before-after of food I retouched for him if you send me a private email. If you go on the shoot be prepared for a looong day.
~Nancy

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www.PhotoArt123.com

[JavierT]

I agree with Nanis, loooong loooong day. Often it takes more time preparing a food set for shotting than a beauty make up for magazine cover. I remember a shooting in which we spend a completly day for one picture (panoramic, but only one).

I am a still life photographer and, sometimes a have shotted food. I think it depends the kind of the product. Well done stilist work=less hours you spend in front of your computer.

If you shoot meat, be careful with color cast. At the moment, digital backs are working quite well in this situations but, sometimes, meat doesn´t look very good, more noticeable with read meat or Jam (Spanish red Jam). I know many photographers going to be crazy with that matter.

Good luck and.... pacience.

[Nanls]

Originally Posted by mschwartz

I have been concentrating on portrait retouching. I mainly use D&B and softlight layers for correcting and even skin tone. I just got offered to go on a food/interior shoot and help retouch the food photography on location. I am wondering what are the basic things that you try to correct when retouching food photography? For example, when retouching skin I focus on creating an even tone, keeping pore detail, and removing highlights. Are the same technique used when retouching food photography (D&B, softlight)? Any advice is welcome.

My mail bounced back from the address you gave me. I sent it twice but not sure you got either.
Let me know.
~Nancy

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www.photoart123.com

[Hello_taipan]

Don't get to work with an empty stomach ! i lasted only 15 min before i went outside to order chinese food yesterday... and yes i was retouching asian food. XD

[Nanls]

Originally Posted by Hello_taipan

Don't get to work with an empty stomach ! i lasted only 15 min before i went outside to order chinese food yesterday... and yes i was retouching asian food. XD

Wow I have the opposite experience. There is always too much food on the set lots of snacks and both breakfast and lunch.

~Nancy

[PixFixGuy]

Hi, hate to say this but you don't know what has to be done until you start working with that particular photographer and client. With food, in general it has to look inviting and appetizing. That range of "looks" can be quite wide. It's hard to tell you what to do because you really don't know what they are going for. Pay attention to how the set-up is lit and what the photographer is saying to the client and vice versa. Pick up clues and go with it. I would do a rough (but nice) of the first shot and get an opinion from the photographer and client if it's OK. Then you'll know what to do. See, it all goes back to the weight of experience. I can tell you that food can be difficult. As for the extra calories, better believe it. I did a job with chocolate once so when we were done, so was I. That was a nice day. Some RT jobs are better than others and Nancy knows what I'm talking about.
Arnie

[bloodygeese]

HI, First post! Here go's

I have been a london based food retoucher for 3 years now, and the only advice I could give that hasnt already been said, is to not go to over board on the cleaning. Only remove what is distracting, the cleaner food is the less tasty it looks, and thats the aim, a tasty looking picture not a perfect still life shot.

hope it helps.

[PixFixGuy]

Hi Mr. Bloodygeese;
You nailed it. How many times have you seen heavy handed RT that makes everything look artificial and ugly. Easy does it. Knowing what that means is my whole point to what I really believe in. Ya' gotta' have patients and get the experience to know when it good. Each thing (food, cars, jewelry, architecture, etc.) have their own basic requirements. Ya' gotta' put in the time to make a dime. What can I say, I'm a poet.
Arnie
PS: Nice name, reminds me of home. Long story. A.