Time To turn Pro Part 5 – All About You

Equipment list

Much of my work involves 45-60-degree angle shots or ‘flat lays,’ namely overhead shots, usually featuring ingredients or fully laid out tables. My go-to lenses tend to be my Nikon 50mm f/1.8, 60mm macro f/2.8, 85mm f1.8 and 105mm f/2.8, while something wider like a 35mm f/1.8 might also be packed in case it’s needed.

The lenses are complemented by two Nikon DSLR bodies, my D850 and my D810 as a back-up, but lately I’ve been finding the mirrorless Z6 and Z7 are fast becoming my go-to cameras.

Tripod wise I’ll work with something like my trusty Manfrotto 055, where it’s possible to move the centre column to a horizontal position, which is ideal when I’m looking to produce overhead shots.

Lighting-wise things can start to get a little more complex. I’ll either be working purely with ambient window light and bounce cards or I’ll be supplementing the light with colour-balanced continuous lighting and soft boxes.

My golden rule is to always shoot tethered into Lightroom since this gives me a good indication not just about the obvious things, such as focus points and lighting, but it also enables me to see the final capture more in the context of a larger format. Additionally, itgives more professional feedback to the client who may wish to then interject with any styling changes or prop adjustments.