Painted Tables

On Friday afternoon, I was part of a pre-production call for a shoot the upcoming Tuesday. The art director was envisioning a table surface with certain characteristics which would have been challenging to find in such a short time. I knew I could find 2 or 3 options that were highly distressed, but wanted to have a few others on the cleaner side to give a better range of choices. Since I had the weekend before I needed to present, I decided to make a few surfaces.

I had been given a color range:



The AD also provided me with swatches of surfaces that interested her. As you can see, they varied from relatively clean and even textures to very chippy paint layers, planked woods and solid surfaces. She had no preference, but wanted to review choices on Monday.



Since she wanted the surface to have texture, I didn't want to use new boards. I set out to look for an old table that would have real distress in the surface, and after a few stops found one at a decent price to use as a foundation for my project. In hindsight, I wish I would have photographed it beforehand for you, but time was ticking. I hauled the table home, dismantled it and salvaged the top boards. After a good brushing and surface cleaning, I cut and assembled the boards into a manageable size of about 30" x 36".

Next I gave the wood a good coating of 2 shades of vivid green, let it dry, and then applied a glaze of crackle medium irregularly across the boards so I'd have areas of large cracks and small cracks. When that was completely dry I gave the boards a coat of paint using 2 lighter greens, again waited for the paint to dry, then sanded to blend all together.



I made another surface with a softer pastel wash feel, creating some light areas for copy placement. Below are close ups of the 2 surfaces.



When painting tables such as these, you'll find you are spending as much time waiting for the layers to dry, as actually painting!

Paula

On Camera with photographer Tate Hunt for Studioside: Painted Distressed Table

Simple Glass Jars

One of the challenges of prop styling for food photography is exploring different ways to present recipes. Consider using prop items outside of their intended purpose. I keep a stash of small glass jars in different designs and configurations, and have found them to be really versatile on set.



A vintage jelly jar evokes a feeling of simple comfort: put anything in it and it becomes "homemade". Use them for small desserts, yogurt, or as juice glasses. The lower ones are good options as a small scale bowl. Silver baby spoons make excellent condiment spoons...just the right length!

Jars with pressed glass designs add sparkle, and break up the tone of whatever goes inside.





Old Pyrex custard cups are great to have on hand, too.
And yes, you can still use a jar as a jar! Scrutinize your own pantry for ones to keep when empty. If you have something with great graphics or colors on the label it may be just the touch of color you need. I found the one above at a charity shop, and loved the aging in the paper label, and the faded design. It echoes the tones of the cinnamon crisps in the shot below, where it once again held apple jelly.

On Camera with photographer Annemarie Zelasko: Vintage Jar

Vintage Baking Tins and Tools

Has it already been over a month since my last post???!!! I have been very busy with one shoot after another, long days and weekends. Certainly happy to be working, but it didn't leave too much time for blogging or leisurely prop hunting. I do have a few new things to share with you as I get back to a more normal schedule.

First, I want to welcome all the new followers and readers who have come here from Cannelle et Vanille, and thank Aran for her mention. When I post images of my prop finds, I intentionally keep them very simple and unstyled. They are meant to be fuel for creative thinking in food photography presentations, a start to let you run with your own visions using similar props, in your own style. I am so pleased to be a small part of Aran's amazing vision for her Pear, Hazelnut & Brown Butter Cakes!


To stay in the baking mode, here are some of my favorite vintage pans. I love them for the textures pressed in the metal...like pressed tin ceiling panels.



The pieces above on the left are in a sort of quilted pattern, manufactured by Ovenex Ecko. You will find this design in almost every baking pan form, from baking sheets to cake pans in a range of shapes and sizes. The muffin tin on the right has a great hammered finish. I personally like the pans that have darkened with age. After all, it is the use of these objects that puts the human touch into the prop, and into the photo. Because my work is primarily in commercial advertising I often don't have the freedom of a more editorial approach, so I am also on the look out for vintage pieces that are less used. These are usually more within the comfort range of my food clients.



The above muffin tin, in a starburst pattern manufactured by Crown, is so bright and new looking I thought it was a reproduction when I found it. It was probably never used, and carefully stored, to be in such condition. The nice thing about tin is how it can be found in a wide range of patinas, to suit the personality of your recipe & set.





Vintage kitchen tools have lots of variety in the wooden handles, the ones that still have their original paint help add a touch of color. Get ready, holiday baking is just around the corner!

Paula

On Camera with photographer Stephen Hamilton: Vintage Tin Baking Sheet