A New Focus on Food

Curtis Newborn, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Obscura Companies, with brands that include Curtis Newborn Photographic & Obscura Studios, announces the recent merger of FoodPhotoStudio.com into the family of Obscura brands.

“I believe that the combined resources and talent possessed by the team at FoodPhotoStudio.com strengthens and enhances the creative and marketing services that our company can offer to businesses throughout Chicagoland”, said Newborn.

Al MacDonald, the founder of FoodPhotoStudio.com, is bullish on the future of this growing group of companies. "We believe that pooling the expertise of our companies will greatly contribute toward expanding our product offerings and creative services”, stated MacDonald.

FoodPhotoStudio.com is a full service photo studio specializing in food + product photography. With studio space in Schaumburg, Illinois, they are conveniently located adjacent to Woodfield Mall and just off I-90. The 5,400 square foot space includes an office area, client lounge, conference area, massive prop room, studio space, plus a full kitchen and a set wall storage area. The studio space is one large bay capable of easily handling 4 sets. Access for props, sets and supplies is made easy via an overhead drive-in door at the rear of the studio.

The combined staff consists of Curtis Newborn, photographer; Al MacDonald, photographer; Renee Zomaya, Art Director, prop stylist and set designer, and Doug Benson, Sales & Marketing. Additionally, the Obscura Companies bring with it a fantastic partner network of talented food & prop stylists, assistants and set builders, as well as marketers and creative people.

FoodPhotoStudio.com specializes in digital food photography. Our photography team exemplifies the best of innovative visual problem solving, and values strong relationships with top stylists and writers. Our experience with diverse food + product clients gives us the ability to offer you full service capabilities, for both established businesses and new product concepts. FoodPhotoStudio.com is your one-stop source for a broad range of custom visual communications… everything from recipe development and video production, to design and sourcing of retail food packaging.

For more information or to schedule a studio tour, please contact us at info@foodphotostudio.com or call our studio line at 630-283-0038.
 

Photography Trends Taking Shape in 2017

As we’re now getting settled into 2017, I thought it would be a great time to recap some of the interesting trends I’ve been seeing and reading about across the photographic landscape. As a business owner, and a creative professional, knowing the current trends in photography is crucial to staying on top of your game and helps when consulting with clients on developing compelling imagery.

Our professional AND our personal lives continue to merge with technology, which keeps evolving and transforming our society. We’re seeing that the top photography trends are all about creatives interacting with technology. Equally important, many of these trends seem to embrace a new, inclusive and global society. Concepts like diversity, gender roles, and age get coupled with the influence of social media and mobile photography, causing new territory to be developed and refined.

So if you or your creative team would like a glimpse of what kind of photos to produce this year, read on for a recap of what we’re seeing as the top trends for 2017 in the photography space.

TRENDS WE'RE SEEING:

Natural Design

The contrast between real and digital continues, with natural looks offsetting tech-driven styles. The natural design trends are authentic and raw and directly oppose the exact, sharp-edged compositions of tech-driven design. The top components last year included:

• Organic Texture: Rich and timeless patterns found in nature, from tree rings to marble swirls.
• Tropical: A feel-good trend inspired by vivid colors, lush vegetation, and exotic fruit.
• White Texture: Adding a 3D feel, this trend can be sharp or reflect the patterns found in nature. It is the embodiment of minimalism, offering a clean yet bold backdrop to any design.

Vivid Color

Vivid color is making a significant comeback. Thanks to advances in the past year to smart phone editing technology, it's become increasingly easy to apply filters to personalize snapshots. Introducing bold, colorful tones with a high contrast is sure to generate a shock factor, so let 2017 bring a splash of color to your work!

Global View

The world is getting smaller every day. Technology and mobility enable content creators to capture scenes from all corners of the globe. Whether it’s everyday scenes from an idyllic farm in the countryside or vibrant moments from some exotic beach,  photographers around the globe are creative amazing perspectives of nature. 

Equality and Diversity

The controversy surrounding politics and government around the world has given rise to protests and millions of ordinary citizens have become outspoken advocates for equality and diversity. We expect to see even more of this interaction captured by photojournalists and creatives alike, and expect it to continue to impact how many of the world’s brands market themselves.

Machines and Connectivity

We expect to see images of technology enabling all aspects of our lives, from self driving cars to smart refrigerators, to providing convenience and connectivity while on vacation in the most remote places of the world. 

Drones for Everything

Drones are not new technology anymore, and we’ve seen them shooting movies, taking pictures, surveying agricultural fields and even providing wireless internet. The time when your pizza will be delivered by a drone and you won’t have to leave a tip is really close. We’re still wondering if they’ll ever be used for delivering newspapers. Now that would be interesting. Drone photography and virtual reality are creating a completely new view of nearly everything on the planet, and they are genuinely exciting. We can’t wait to see more.

Wearable Tech & The Internet of Things

Becoming increasingly cemented within popular culture with major brands releasing smart shoes and emotion sensing wearables. Home appliances also give way to voice recognition technology and instant connectivity from anywhere in the world. How these competing platforms and trends behave together will be the big question going forward.

VR

Over the past 12 months Virtual Reality devices have become a popular photographic influence. Most commonly used by gamers and entertainment geeks alike, technology and interaction now play a big part within content. This game-changing trend is one that is set to impact our social media platforms in the near future. 

Technology-driven Generation Z

The tech-savvy kids brought up in the age of social media certainly can’t imagine a world without technology. Generation Z can be defined as open minded, socially conscious and technology dependent. They’re the new target audience for many marketing campaigns yet to come. Looking forward to the future, it’s inevitable that they’re part of the new trends.

This Is Just The Beginning...

I'd love to hear from you about what trends you're encountering, or perhaps even starting!  Share your comments here, or tweet me: @CurtisNewborn

5 Must-Follow Food Blogs

Choosing which food blogs to follow can be overwhelming. Scrolling through all those recipes and mouthwatering photos would take eons. And deciphering nutrition fact from fiction and personal anecdotes from expert-backed advice is no easy task. That's why in today's blog post I'm highlighted some of the most helpful, beautiful, and professional-level sources on the Web.

As a food photographer, I often find myself researching trends and new dishes as a means of guiding clients when planning a shoot. But these blogs can also be helpful in making us healthier, which in turn can lead to personal and professional happiness. The blogs that I've linked to below contain out-of-this-world recipes, insightful posts on nutritional trends, and realistic, easy-to-use tips to help you eat smarter—whether you're vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or just happen to love food.

So here’s a look at some of the top blogs out there that foodies will find delightful:

My New Roots

A self-taught cook, Sarah Britton started blogging in 2007 to share her knowledge of holistic nutrition. (She attended the Institute of Holistic Nutrition in Toronto.) She's passionate about whole and vegan food—and creates mouthwatering recipes that prove it. You'll find everything from chunky chocolate buckwheat granola to sweet potato noodle soup. I love that you can also pick recipes by season.

Minimalist Baker

Few things are more disappointing than finding what seems like the perfect recipe only to click and learn that it has more than 20 ingredients, several of which you've never heard of. True to its name, Minimalist Baker keeps things simple by sticking to 10 ingredients or less and limiting cooking time to 30 minutes at the most. And a BIG bonus is that the recipes are anything but boring! From General Tso's tofu stir fry to spicy buffalo chickpea wraps to toasted coconut pancakes, this culinary duo really knows how to pack tons of flavor into simple and oh-so-delicious dishes.

The Full Helping

In 2015, Gena Hamshaw changed the name of her blog from Choosing Raw to The Full Helping. Now she posts recipes that are less extreme, although she is still inspired by her raw food background. Check out her gluten-free plum and blackberry crisp or her totally addictive creamy cashew carrot dressing and quinoa bowl. She's a certified nutritionist, and brings lots of nutritional wisdom to the kitchen. She is also candid about being in recovery from anorexia and orthorexia and uses her site to encourage others to heal their broken relationship with food (often through plant-based diets).

Running on Real Food

Raw almond chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin spice latte granola, vegan tofu and cashew fried rice—workout fuel has never looked so good. Written by an avid triathlete and certified trainer, Running on Real Food covers nutritionally dense foods and fitness in a relatable way. Best of all, the author's healthy-eating philosophy is an open door: "There's no right or wrong way to eat healthy... We're all different with different nutritional requirements; however we all need to eat whole, nutritious foods. Start there," states the author. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Sassy Kitchen

Julia Gartland combined her passion for photography with a quest to heal her health on her blog Sassy Kitchen. Due to digestive issues, she experimented with raw and vegan diets before landing on one that was gluten-free. Now she's on the lookout for gluten-free versions of everything, like this raspberry cornmeal muffin recipe. We love that you can search her recipes by diet needs (there are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options), as well as meal type and season.

Let me know if you have any favorite food blogs out there... post a comment here or tweet me @CurtisNewborn

Photography & Imagery... Imagined for the 22nd Century

Take a look at yourself in the mirror and notice how your eye fixates on the mirrored image of yourself? Now stop looking at yourself and look at the glass because this is the future! Photography has come a long way and through its many developments one thing has always stayed true – the camera... but what would happen if the camera was taken away? Would you still call it photography?

I believe in the future there will be a decline for the need for a photographic print. As technology increases and the tech savvy teens of the future rely on digital technology for everything, we may very well see the humble printed image appearing in another form. More on that later though,  let me take you to the future now…

The 22nd Century Abode

Imagine a house in 100 years, compared to our existing hardened clay structures it would be far more advanced. Picture a house made of glass, not just any glass though. Imagine a glass house where the roof or walls would become see-through... and with a touch, gesture or voice command you could make an image appear from floor to ceiling, essentially creating a non-see-through wall. The one large panel (and entire house for that matter) would be touch sensitive, you could let your children write on the wall without causing any dramas. Everything would be linked to your universe (bigger and more connected than the current cloud) so whatever you share, write, touch or even record would be stored in your universe. You would even be able to change the texture, color and imagery which appeared on the wall without having to paint. There’s no doubt my house would include a feature wall of a slow-moving waterfall scene. What would yours feature?

What's This Have to do With Photography?

Okay so I got side tracked, what does this have to do with photography, you ask? Well, with all this surface space in our “future abode” our photos wouldn’t need to be carried around with us any longer. A human would only need to walk to a piece of glass (aka “a wall"), touch it or talk to it to sign in and presto, their digital life is literally in front of them. With current developments of Willow glass being produced by Corning, it seems it’s a stepping stone in this direction. Willow glass is so flexible it can be manufactured roll to roll, opening up quite a few new possibilities. Recently, a fascinating profile about the possibilities of this innovative material was published, and you can read it here.

What Do YOU Think?

I love contemplating the future, and all that it holds in terms of challenges, innovations, and yes, fun… let me know your “future thoughts” on any subject, whether it be photography, marketing, design or simply how we’ll make our own fun in the 22nd century!
 

Tips For Finding a Great Food Photographer

I recently completed a merger with one of the finest food studios in Chicago, and we're all very excited about the expanded capabilities this brings to our roster of clients. So I thought it would be a good time to post some thoughts about the best ways to source food photography.

If you own or manage a food-related business like a restaurant, candy company, or even a bakery, sooner or later, you’re going to need some food photography for your marketing. And if you don’t mind your photos looking like every other item out there, you might be able to buy stock photography online. But if you want truly unique photos to promote your business, you’ll want to hire a high quality, professional food photographer.

Hiring a food photographer can be an expensive endeavor and if you haven’t done it before, the process can be a bit daunting. Being a photographer, I’ve seen this process a hundred times, only from the “other side”. That’s why I’m taking the time here to share my experience. I’m hoping that I can help educate you and maybe relieve the anxiety associated with buying food photography for the very first time.

There are several things to consider when hiring a food photographer. The main thing is, you want to understand the type of food photography you need and you want to find a photographer that actually does “food” and has a portfolio to show you. Additionally, there’s that pesky thing called a budget to consider.

Type of Food Photographs Needed

Before you get too far into your search, you’ll need to give some thought as to what kind of food photography you actually need. Do you need photos for a magazine spread, for a billboard, or maybe some photos for your menu or packaging? You will want to give this some thought because it will determine what kind of photographer you look for.

Photographic Style

If you haven’t hired a food photographer before, you may not realize that there are different types of shooters. Most food photographers are usually either editorial shooters or advertising specialists. While some food shooters will be able to create photos of different styles, you might want to look for someone that naturally shoots in the style you’re looking for. You will be able to tell a lot by looking at the photographer’s portfolio. For example, if you’re looking to do some packaging photography and all you see on the photographer’s site, are “directly overhead" photos, maybe they are not the best person to shoot your packages. That particular photographer might shoot mostly magazine spreads, but wouldn’t have the first clue about shooting for advertising purposes.

Food Shooter’s Capabilities

If you need to shoot at your restaurant or at some location, any food photographer that has the style you need, might do, but if you need to shoot in a studio, you’ll need a photographer that has a studio. Sounds pretty obvious, but that’s something to consider.

Using the Internet to find a Food Photographer

Just because you “Google”, “food photographer Chicago”, doesn’t mean you’re going see a list of the best photographers that shoot food in the Chicago area. What you will find is a ranking of the photographers with the best SEO in the city. It will give you a way to find related web pages, and will give you a good place to start, but I have an even better suggestion for you to make your search time more efficient. Go ahead and Google that same phrase, but instead of looking through all those websites, click on the “images” option at the top of Google’s returns. Since food photography is a “visual” thing, you will be able to see hundreds of food photographer’s images. Simply click on the photos you think best match your needs, and that will take you to the photographer’s webpage, where you will be able to see more pics. It’s a really good shortcut.

Making Contact

Once you find the food photographer that best suites your needs, you’ll want to contact them and discuss your project. A little warning here. You’re going to want a price of some kind, but the photographer is going to need the answers to a lot of questions. Most food shooters end up charging for their time, in one way or another, so the photographer will want to determine how long the shoot will take to complete. Besides time, there may be other expenses involved that may sway the price quite a bit. Here are some of the questions you may need to answer:

* How many and what type of food photos do you need?
* What type of backgrounds and props will you need?
* Will there need to be a food stylist involved in the shoot?
* How will the photos be used?
* Where will the photography take place?
* Do you have a budget number you need to work within?
* How soon would you like to shoot this?
* Who will supply the food?
* Will there be an Art Director?
* Are there any existing layouts?

These are just a few of the questions that a quality food photographer will have for you. Because of these variables, most food photographers do not have a set “per shot” price, so each individual estimate will be different and based on your specific needs.

In Summary

Finding the right photographer for your food photo needs is not going to be an easy task, but with a little patience and a little hard work, you should be able to find someone that’s a great fit for your project. If by chance, you like what you see in my portfolio and you’d like to chat, drop me a quick note here.