What was the concept of the shoot?
I had wanted to do a shoot about steak. Most shots of steak tend to show it in a dark and moody setting. While I do love the occasional moody shot, I tend to gravitate more toward colorful and bright images and wanted this work to reflect that. This image was a collaboration between myself and food stylist, Lauren Dellabella. We picked fun and colorful props to create a summery vibe.
What setup and lighting did you use to get the shot?
I used a Godox AD600Pro strobe with a 7-inch reflector to create that summer sun look. I had positioned a gobo between the light and food to create that dappled light effect. The gobo was made from a piece of dollar store craft board, with random shaped cut out of it. I shot this using a Nikon D850, with a Tamron 24-70 G2 lens, tethered to a MacBook Pro, into Capture One Pro.
How did shooting tethered help you achieve the shot you wanted?
Shooting tethered is game-changing! Seeing the set-up live on a bigger screen allows for much more precise styling of the scene, where a few milliliters can make a shot go from tempting to awkward. The ability to apply overlays live helps ensure that shots work well for the ever-important Insta 4×5.
What was your biggest challenge?
Any time you work with food, you have a narrow margin of time when your hero looks its best. Fully styling the scene and getting the lighting right before the food hits the plate, helps, but there are often tweaks that must be made once the food is plated. Seeing the tethered image helps to get the most out of the limited time you have before the food goes south.
What type of post-processing was involved?
The image was edited in Capture One Pro for global adjustments and Photoshop for more detailed things, like stray crumbs.
What was the logistics and/or gear needed to achieve this shot?
Listed above
- Godox AD600Pro Strobe with 7-inch reflector
- DIY Gobo made of craft board
- Nikon D850
- Tamron 24-70 G2 lens
- Tether Tools TetherPro Cable
- Tether Tools Rock Solid Tripod Roller
- Capture One Pro
Who was involved and how did they play a part in the shoot?
I was the photographer and set/props, stylist. Lauren Dellabella was the food stylist and had input into the prop choices.
About
Larisa Niedle is based out of the New Jersey and New York City area and is well known for her work as a commercial food photographer, content creator, and stylist. Larisa’s background in corporate consulting and her PhD in psychology can be witnessed in her photography, conveying story and emotion through her work. Connect or find more of Larisa Niedle’s work below.
