Social media is a great tool, if you let it be. I met Melanie from Baked in Code on a Facebook group for female professionals in Charleston. She works with restaurants to develop their websites and supports local creatives by featuring them on her monthly blog. We had a good conversation below regarding the intersections of food, art and yes, websites.
What does a chef, a web designer, and a food photographer have in common? We are all creatives which to me is just a modern way of saying, craftsmen.
Regardless of the lingo as creatives, we all understand what it is to have a mindset of “in progress”. You have this mentality if you find yourself endlessly studying new trends, improvising, and experimenting within our area of expertise. However, it all stems from the fact that we are passionate about what we do which is why it is important to collaborate with other artists.
Take for instance food photographer Kate Blohm! She sees the beauty of nature and culture in every dish and aims to bring both of those aspects to the forefront with her photography. Only a true artist can appreciate that! To learn more about Kate Blohm read below for our interview where we discuss her approach to food photography…from a creative’s point of view. Bon a petit!
Q: Do you mostly do food shoots on location or within a studio?
A: I shoot mostly on location. I work a lot with chefs, farmers, and food brands. I want my work to tell stories so being able to capture the details of a workspace/restaurant allows for more unique storytelling.
Q: What is your biggest food styling tip?
A: The most beautiful things are the most raw…similar to life. Radishes with their tops, fresh herbs as a garnish, halved rainbow carrots tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper. The more you can keep the integrity of the ingredients, the more photogenic it will be. It’s also important to think about what you plate it on. White plates are timeless and easily allow for the food to be the star so I always have those on hand. When it comes to actually shooting the food, my #1 tip is to turn off your flash and bump up your brightness when editing. You can learn more tips for elevating your cell phone photography by entering your email on my website (www.kateblohm.com)
Stop Think Chew, Kate Blohm
Q: I noticed that like me you have a case of wanderlust meaning you like to travel. To me, travel and food go hand in hand because food is part of any authentic traveling experience. With that in mind, how do you think traveling affects your photography particularly when the subject is food?
A: I love to travel so much. My itinerary is based around my meals, snacks, and aperitivo. I love seeing how other people eat, set a table, plate a dish, the etiquette, etc. It definitely impacts the way that I style, shoot, and live when I get home. Experiencing other cultures is the most educational thing you can do for yourself, especially as a creative. There’s so many people doing things better than you. Such as mezze platters, aperitivo, and taking 3-hour lunches. Ever since my trip to Greece, I love to shoot (and indulge) tablescapes full of small plates with different flavors, textures, and colors.
Milan, Italy
Q: What are your pet peeves about restaurant websites or their online presence in general?
A: A lot of restaurants do not prioritize their online presence. I love being able to visit websites to see their menu and specials as opposed to always being redirected to the Yelp app.
Q: Please provide the top three reasons why professional photography is the best option for restaurant websites?
A:
Perception is reality. If the first touchpoint is someone visiting their website, the quality of photos will impact the way that restaurant is perceived, whether or not the food is delicious.
It’s a creative collaboration. Chefs are artists and their work should be captured in a professional way.
People eat with their eyes. It’s been proven that menu items with accompanying images increase sales.
Q: What other food industry influencers do you follow online?
A: I follow so many, but I’d have to say my oldest and most cherished food influencer is The Cook’s Atelier. They create culinary magic in France and capture it all so beautifully. They have really impacted my career choices and creative style since 2014. Other ones that I love for inspiration and recipes are Eyeswoon, Mimi Thorisson, Pick Up Limes, and Downshiftology. Some are more for meal prep, some are more for living and eating beautifully.
Thanks, Kate for your time! I love the fact that simplicity is your biggest styling tip when it comes to food photography. This is a tried and true strategy in regards to web design as well which is interesting!
To see more of Kate’s work you can check out her website, follow her on IG, or visit her online store Kate Blohm Prints. Also, be on the lookout for Kate’s Italy collection featuring her work from the La Fortezza Workshops which will launch November 10th on Kate Blohm Prints. And finally for those that find themselves in the Charleston area you can view Kate’s photography in person at the Miller Gallery in an exhibit she collaborated on called Scapes (or shop the exhibit online).
Keep calm and bake on,
I hope you are staying well, and you voted.
Thank you for reading.
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