I love food - and I love photography, so when La Fregate Hotel asked me to photograph a selection of their dishes, I jumped at the opportunity, naturally.

We had set up a table in a darkened corner of the restaurant, near the kitchen, using mostly a two-light setup with a handheld reflector used to fill in any dark shadows. Given the high level of artistry and vibrance in each dish, we kept the set minimal and shot against white, allowing the food to speak for itself.

Each dish was individually prepared and delivered to the set by the hotel’s expert Head-Chef, who already understood the importance of photographing food quickly - garnishes wilt in no-time; sauces spread quickly and ice-cream melts just by being looked at. We had a plan, worked quickly and the next dish wasn’t completed until the last had left the set.

Perhaps the biggest perk to food photography is tasting it afterwards. I got to sample many of the dishes I’d shot and I can honestly say each one of them tasted every-bit as good as they looked. Even the seafood I couldn’t resist trying (I usually don’t like fish) and I could have happily finished the whole dish, although I drew the line at Oysters!

I’ve only included a few images from the shoot here - to enjoy the rest, you’ll have to book a meal at La Fregate Hotel - I highly recommend that you do. My own cookery skills don’t come close to this, but if you need top-quality photography for your own business, please don’t hesitate to contact me.