Location and Set

Just like how equipment, props, lighting, and composition matters in photography, location does too; if chosen correctly, it creates a certain atmosphere that represents a product in a visually appealing and unique manner. That being said, in preparation for my final photoshoot, I am not only starting to think about where I want to shoot my images but also any possible issues I may face during the process.

Location #1 (Hoshi & Sushi asian Cuisine)

NOTE: I did not take the following images as I have never been to the restaurant before—THEY ARE FROM GOOGLE IMAGES!

Why I picked this restaurant over others:

1. BRIGHT LIGHTING: Good lighting conditions will create unblurry pictures and will make the photography process easy. I may not even need to use artificial lighting!

2. PHOTO-WORTHY DISHES: The dishes are plated nicely, which will ultimately attract more attention to my photos.

Issues

1. NOT BEING ALLOWED INTO THE KITCHEN: Even though I most likely want to take photos of the chefs in the kitchen, I may not be granted permission!

2. BUSY SETTING: If the restaurant is crowded, it will be hard to conduct my interview as the chefs would be busy and may not have time to answer my questions.

3. HARDER TO CONTROL: When cooking at home, it is very simple to control the appearance of dishes: I have the freedom to plate a dish how I want. However, at a restaurant, the dishes are already plated, meaning it is hard to change aspects of dishes.

4. NOT BEING CREATIVE ENOUGH WITH BACKGROUNDS: I will have no other option than to photograph the dishes on a table, meaning it will be tricky to create creative backgrounds.

Factors to consider

1. PERMISSION: I will need permission from this restaurant to interview a chef and take photos of them cooking.

Factors i don't need to consider

1. ❌ WEATHER ISSUES: Thankfully, as this location is not outside, I won't have to worry about any weather issues that would prevent me from conducting my final photoshoot (e.g. rain)!

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Location #2 (my Home)

As I will be photographing food for my final photoshoot, I would like to pick a location with quick access to culinary supplies just in case anything goes wrong and a dish needs immediate fixing. I also want a location where I won't struggle to move my prepared intricate dishes around my house, especially since I will be photographing food that will all be prepared and plated in my kitchen. Therefore, I think it will be convenient to conduct my photoshoot in the same place where my products are being prepared—my kitchen.

As previously stated, I will have to decide what type of lighting I will use depending on how much light there is on the day of the final photoshoot. However, the choice of lighting I end up using will directly impact my location. In fact, if there is a proper amount of natural lighting, I can shoot my images on my kitchen table, directly exposed to the sun from the kitchen's windows. On the other hand, if the natural lighting isn't as good as I want it to be, I can shoot my images in a photography light box, directly exposed to its artificial light.

Photography Light Box (Artificial Lighting)

Issues

Although my kitchen is currently being remodeled, I don't think it will cause any issues during the photoshoot. However, a minor issue I may run into is described below.

1. NOT BEING CREATIVE ENOUGH WITH BACKGROUNDS: As stated before, I will most likely use a light box as a source of artificial lighting, in which my dish will be photographed against matte, monochromatic backgrounds. However, I worry that this tool may not allow me to be creative enough with the backgrounds of my photos, especially since there won't be any appealing elements besides the actual dish.

   1. On the more positive side, this tool could create a strong focal point on my subject, creating fewer distractions and allowing the viewers to truly focus on the dish.

Factors i don't have to consider

1. ❌ WEATHER ISSUES: Thankfully, as this location is not outside, I won't have to worry about any weather issues that would prevent me from conducting my final photoshoot (e.g. rain)!

2. ❌ PERMISSION: As this location is considered my private property, I definitely won't need to acquire permission from anyone.