Most group shots are awful – the people may as well be fence posts riveted to the ground, wooden expressions, no energy. As a photographer I find my role is less and less about lighting and more and more about energising people, after all, with today’s cameras, anyone can light – right? Well, no, but you get what I mean.
This image was a three light set up – two off camera. I positioned the tall bearded chef in the background to block the exit as it was a deadspace and banned the chefs from looking at me, suggesting they look at the twirling romali instead.
In case you think the chefs are natural actors, here is the first photo from the day!
Sydney Restaurant Photography 