Based in Manila, Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a chronicle of the food-obsessed food writer, Lori Baltazar. This website is all about desserts, restaurants, coffee, and the pleasures of homebaking. Read more about me A Foray into Food styling and Food Photography
Thu, January 19th of 2006
10:50 am
I don’t consider myself a food stylist. I just like to make my food look pretty so that I can get a good shot. “Doh, that’s what food stylists do, Lor!” I remember my Bin telling me once. Some time ago, the owner of Wasabi approached me and asked if I’d take some photos of Singaporean chicken rice.
It was my first time to shoot photos for a client. (The only client I usually have to please is myself. Ha!) Now under new management, Wasabi serves authentic chicken rice (P200) during lunch, and it’s also a staple at the restaurant’s Sunday buffet lunch (which is very good, by the way). Soon, Wasabi will have a complete Singaporean line-up in addition to its Japanese cuisine.
The chicken rice comes with a bowl of hot broth, the requisite rice and vegetables, as well as two tiny receptacles – one containing dark sweet soy sauce and the other pure chicken oil, okay fat. Although the owner admonishes me to not mix the two sauces together, I do so anyway with gleeful abandon. I feel that the oil – mercilessly delicious oil – by itself is a bit bland and needed a kick in the pants from the soy sauce. Anyway, you do what you please.
I shot close to 100 photos in two hours. The chicken rice had three “costume changes”:
a rectangular yellow plate…
…a triangular green plate…
… and a circular blue bowl which I liked the best but which the owner dismissed as “unrealistic, but very Singaporean nevertheless.”
You might have noticed that these shots are not characteristic of my usual food-porn style. The owner wanted an overhead shot that would include all the elements that make the dish. He’s the client so I followed orders. What a trip.
Wasabi Bistro & Sake Bar
G/F Olympia Building
7912 Makati Avenue, Makati
8404223 / 8921870
Other Food Styling Posts:
Travails of a Reluctant Food Stylist
White Plates and The Superstar Assistant
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Lori, your photos are scrumptious. I can almost smell and taste the food. If you don’t mind, what’s your photo gear like?
I thought that I’ve tasted all the good stuff at good earth. I have to go back and order “all of the above”!
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Comment by VFusion — January 19, 2006 @ 11:14 am
I’ve always admired your food photography – I think it’s but natural that you go into that sooner or later, to make good of your talent. I prefer your angles, too – the Wasabi chicken comes out flatter than your own personal shots. Way to go!
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Comment by Kai — January 19, 2006 @ 11:33 am
Excellent photos, Lori. It seems like this would have been a really fun project to take on. I’ve never had the opportunity to shoot anything for a client myself, though I have been asked for “suggestions” on more than one occasion. Keep up the great work!
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Comment by Nic — January 19, 2006 @ 9:13 pm
i love singapore chicken rice, walang grated ginger sauce along w/ oil and soy sauce?
another point of dismay: why does there seem to be hardly any chicken skin on the chicken?!?!
nice photos! though i like ur dessert ones better
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Comment by fabian — January 19, 2006 @ 9:44 pm
Hey Lori! congrats on the new sidline. food styling is a very lucrative business. i only heard of a few people who actually do it and those that do, charge an arm and a leg.
i suggest you start building your portfolio for future reference. if it doesn’t pan out- well hey- you got some nice pics
i say go for it!
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Comment by jay p — January 20, 2006 @ 10:04 am
hi
got here through dindin’s site (dinsworld.com)… omigosh your entries are the best 
especially for one who loves to eat :p just wanted to say that i enjoyed reading your posts and your food pics are making me drool :p
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Comment by cris — January 20, 2006 @ 11:10 am
Those are some stunning photos, Lori!
You’re very talented.
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Comment by Ivonne — January 20, 2006 @ 4:03 pm
I’ve been following you blog for a while now and I always love your photos, it’s hard to keep from licking the computer screen! Just wondering if you’ve had any experience or heard of taking food photos where the subject isn’t the actual food? I’ve heard that magazine photos of food are often not the real thing, but fake to make everything prettier and brighter.
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Comment by Natalia — January 21, 2006 @ 5:24 am
Rumor has it that hiring “a famous food stylist” for a TV ad can set back a client by 300 grand PER DAY!
Looks like the industry badly needs an alternative
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Comment by Anonymous — January 21, 2006 @ 3:09 pm
I love all the pictures! I think it would be a blast to be a food photographer/stylist. Check out my post tonight.
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Comment by Cate — January 22, 2006 @ 1:01 pm
Omigod, I better sign a contract with you for a future book before you become justly famous for your food photos…
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Comment by Marketmanila — January 22, 2006 @ 3:59 pm
hello. just dropping by to compliment the loveliness of the food!
the first photo of chicken rice is beautiful. in japan, we will say it is like eating a beautiful dish served to you on a platter. i think the rice ã”ã¯ã‚“, is like drops of rain coming from the sky (air), the chicken ã¨ã‚Šslices, (earth), the cucumber slices and leaves, ã‚„ã•ã„ green like those of seaweed in the ocean (water) and the spicy chili (fire)… i love how it is on a wooden platter. just like how a traditional japanese meal is served!
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Comment by Masako Tanaka — January 22, 2006 @ 6:42 pm
Great job! Who knows where this blogging stuff can lead, yes? On a side note, I’d love to know how you manage the “print what’s on this screen”. Many thanks!
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Comment by Alanna — January 22, 2006 @ 10:07 pm
hi lori!
I’m a big fan of chicken rice, but I would’nt order that bastardized version. I’ve never had really good chicken rice in the Philippines except at home.
cheers.
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Comment by CVS — January 23, 2006 @ 11:00 am
Looks yummy! Great job. I, too like the blue bowl version since the composition brings out the best of each of the ingredients. The chicken looks absolutely tender in the shot, and the mushrooms seem so inviting.
But your shots at L’Opera takes the cake. Really professional.
Any food styling/photography links/sources you can point to?
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Comment by katimugambalon — January 24, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
Lori!!!! Please send me your contact details through my email ad — [email protected] Am interested in doing a project with you and your fantastic foodstyling skills!!!
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Comment by Pam — January 25, 2006 @ 4:35 pm