[music]
MARIA: Hey Joanie, it's Maria from B&H!
I heard you were hanging out in your studio, and I wanted to ask you 21 questions. Do you have some time?
You bet! As long as you don't mind that I'm here getting ready, getting set up.
MARIA: Okay, cool! No problem. So, what are you doing today?
Well, today I am waiting for my food stylist to show up.
We are shooting a cookbook. We're shot 14 out of 50.
And so, just getting everything ready to go before we start our shoot.
MARIA: Can you tell the audience what it is that you do?
Yeah! I do commercial and editorial food photography.
So, pretty much if food is involved, cameras are involved, I'm there!
Which, I do both photos as well as video.
MARIA: How have you been dealing with these last few months with the pandemic?
Well, actually, you know, for me personally and my business, it's actually been pretty good
because just the nature of my business and, kind of, how I've created it over the years
I could be a one-woman shop if I need to be.
That, in certain situations--especially when we were really locked down--
that particular clients who still needed food photos for their websites, their social media, marketing campaigns,
that I have the ability to cook the food, style the food, and shoot the food.
And also I have quite a large collection of props and surfaces and kind of everything you need, so.
It's been nice that I've been super-duper busy, despite the current situation.
And now that things are loosening up a little bit, it's a lot of now to have other people back in the studio with me
in that collaborative environment.
Uh, but we're certainly taking all the necessary precautions to ensure everybody's safety.
MARIA: And, what got you started in food photography?
Well, I started, uh, it was mostly the effect of, "Well, I've always loved food" Like that's been, from day one.
Since I was a little kid and watching the Food Network, falling in love with food entertainment.
And so, as I've grown up, I've continued to cook and still love to do that.
And at a certain point ended up with a camera in my hands.
Uh, and I started a food blog back in 2007
And was just taking pictures of that and I thought "You know, I really enjoy this visual medium."
"I have a background in art history."
And so kind of that love of visual work and art kind of paired up with my love of food and figuring out how these cameras work.
It all comes together.
MARIA: And what drew you to food photography?
Well it was mainly the idea of, you know, enjoying the photography process and creating my own content online.
But at a certain point, other people started to take notice and say
"You've got some really great photography here. I really like your shots."
"Can I hire you?" or "Can you teach me how to do this?"
And so that's kind of what really started me down the path of thinking "This is something I could do professionally."
MARIA: What was your first camera?
My very first camera was actually a little pink point and shoot. It was like a little FUJI.
And I thought, "Oh this is, like. This is a fancy camera." 'Cause that was before we had cameras on our phones.
So, that wasn't really an option for me. So, went and got the little pink point and shoot.
It didn't have, you know, the ability to operate manual or anything.
But, learned how to frame shots, and composition, and kind of all those important concepts.
But then, I bought my first DSLR camera in 2009, and that was a Nikon D3000.
MARIA: What's your go-to camera and lens now?
Well, for the last three years, I have been primarily shooting with the Canon 5D Mark IV and the 24-70 f/2.8 lens.
That has been my workhorse, my go-to, my most used. Also love 100mm macro lens.
That's always really great for food and those detail shots.
But recently, I've moved into the mirrorless world.
I also along the way fell in love with Nikon's colors.
And that just feels a little bit more true to me in terms of feeling very comfortable for my tastes.
And so I went with the Nikon Z7.
And I've got the 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens
And that is some tasty glass, I'll tell you!
MARIA: What made you decide to start your YouTube channel The Bite Shot.
And, did you think you were gonna be this successful?
You know... So, The Bite Shot isn't my first YouTube channel.
I started my first YouTube channel (just my name, Joanie Simon) back in 2015, doing cooking videos.
And, I created--oh goodness--about 200-some-odd videos on that channel.
Most of which, at this point, are super cringey and have been unlisted, so you can't find them.
But, I learned how to be on camera. I learned a lot about videography and editing video.
And so, then in 2017, as I was creating more content online, and sharing it,
local food bloggers started asking me to teach them how to do food photography, and I started holding local workshops.
But, I kinda got tired of teaching, like, basic camera settings, in terms of aperture and shutter speed, ISO...
And so, I thought, "You know, let's just create a playlist of the basics to operate a camera in manual."
"So then, I can send them those videos, and then they can show up at the workshop ready to rock, and we can have more fun."
Because to me, the really fun part is the creativity, and styling, and all the things with that.
So, that was kind of how I created those first five videos on the channel.
And, lo and behold, there was an audience there. And people started requesting videos.
And I saw so much more response, in comparison to my old channel, which just really never took off.
So it was pretty mind-blowing and I didn't expect that it was gonna take off that much.
But I should've also seen that coming because that other channel,
I did have one video on how to photograph food in natural light,
and that was by far one of the most popular videos on that channel.
So, in hindsight, if I'd really been paying attention, I should've seen that sooner.
Like, "Oh this is gonna be a really great channel! It's gonna be really popular!" But...
Uh, yeah! Now here we are, three years later.
And it's amazing to know that there are that many people interested in food photography!
MARIA: How did you learn to be such a master of lighting?
[Joanie chuckles] Master of lighting! I...
I don't know if I'm a master. I feel like I'm still learning so much and all the time.
But, I feel like my understanding of light and its application to still life
really took off when I started digging into artificial lighting, which was about, right around three years ago.
Picked up my speedlight. Really started to learn flash photography.
And that's when things really changed. And I also read a lot of books too and watched other people.
I think that I learn the most by reading books, as well as being in the studio with other photographers.
That's why I like to assist other photographers because then I can go,
"Oh! I never thought of using a modifier in that way. Or setting up the lighting in that way."
And I think even too, you know. I'm a food photographer and I shoot still life,
But I think that watching how a portrait photographer lights a person
can really inform and give me some new ideas and fresh take on. You know, so it keeps me from getting into a rut.
MARIA: What's your favorite part of your work?
My favorite part of my work is, you know, for every shot that I take there's a lot of planning and forethought.
Sketching. And thinking about the colors. The composition. The storyline. All those kind of things.
And so then, when I'm behind the camera, after I've put that amount of, like, pre-planning and effort,
and gotten into the work of cooking the food and preparing it and putting it there in front of the camera.
And then, when you get behind the camera to take that shot, and you go, [sighs in relief]
That idea that I had in my head and now I'm seeing it on the LCD, or I'm seeing it in my Capture One.
It's like... That just sends me.
And then you're like "Oh I just wanna take, like, 500 shots of this..."
[laughs] "This one dish, cuz it's just so beautiful!"
And so, those little moments, when your little, you know, that little person inside you
gets just so excited about what you're seeing coming through the camera.
That's what I'm addicted to.
MARIA: Do you have any new projects you're working on or coming up?
I do! Well, like I said, I'm the midst of shooting this cookbook, which is a lot of fun.
Uh, let's see what else we've got goin' on...
I've always got new plans kind of in the back of my mind in terms of courses to offer.
I've got my artificial lighting course, which is a whole lot of fun to teach people artificial lighting for the first time.
Planning some big updates to that in 2021
And also building a new studio, which, currently we are in what will soon-to-be the old studio.
Which has served me well. It's been a great time.
This is actually a patio on the back of our house that we've built in and air conditioned.
But the new, big, fabulous studio. I'm super excited about that. And hopefully it'll hold workshops there too.
MARIA: What are some tips for somebody new to commercial food photography?
Tips... I would say the real thing to keep in mind is that, you know, the success of any photographer, professionally--
Yes, your work has to be good. Yes, the work has to speak to the specific clients that you're pursuing.
But more than that, it's about networking, connections, making friends, serving people.
You know, to me, so much of the success of my business has come out of the fact that I have connected with a lot of people
I'm always connecting with a lot of people.
And that I really build relationships with my clients, which really helps then in the referrals process
'cause they know and trust me and they feel good and confident about referring me to their friends.
MARIA: Tough question: favorite food to photograph?
Favorite food to photograph... I love cupcakes [laughs]
They're so much fun!
And cupcakes aren't as en vogue as they were maybe five years ago, so...
I don't get quite as many excuses to shoot cupcakes.
But certainly, I love it, especially when there's, like, some really righteous frosting piped upon the top
'cause you get just all those peaks and valleys that love to catch the highlights and the shadows,
and, kind of, the sheen of the frosting, and the sprinkles. Like, texture overload!
You can have a lot of fun with the wrapper that they're in.
It's... Cupcakes are a blast.
MARIA: And what about favorite food to eat?
Well, I'm definitely more of a savory person.
Like, if given savory or sweet, I'll always go with--well, almost always--go savory.
But, ever since I was little, I've loved potatoes.
Potatoes in any form: french fries, sweet potatoes, mashed.
But like, one of my favorite things ever is a loaded baked potato.
You know, loaded cup with the sour cream, and the chives, and the crispy bacon bit, and...
[groans happily] That's just livin' right there!
MARIA: Everybody's wondering: do you eat everything you shoot?
You know, I don't.
But, I do try to minimize food waste as much as possible. I am cognizant of that.
There are certainly shoots where we have manipulated the food, and we've sprayed things on it,
and we've touched it up, and it maybe has been sitting there for a long time,
and it's not necessarily appetizing at that point.
But certainly, you know, the majority of the food that I shoot is real food.
We're not really doing the motor oil and the pancakes thing. Or fake ice cream or things like that.
So, most of it is edible and certainly, when it's been shot, and it's not been touched up,
we'll save that and either serve it to my family later, use it as leftovers, especially baked goods.
My neighbors love that, when I've got extra cookies or cakes or bars or things like that to share.
So, uh yeah. Some of it does get eaten for sure.
MARIA: What's the coolest shoot you've ever done?
The coolest shoot? Well one of my favorites was last year, this time.
And it was a cookbook for a friend of mine who's a local food writer here in Phoenix where Iive.
And it featured 50 local chefs and their dishes.
And so, we had a crazy 7 days, like 7 days of shooting, where we'd have
approximately 6 to 9 chefs through the course of the day, each of them had about an hour and a half.
They'd come in. They'd cook and plate their dish.
I had the stylist and the art director on hand, and assistant. Like, we were rockin' and rollin'.
We'd get the dish shot, and then I'd shoot their headshot.
Then they'd leave. The next one would come in.
So it was just so much fun because it was very different because we were working with so many people.
And it was also people who I really admire and appreciate here in Phoenix and the local food industry.
People who I've known for years. So that was a really... That was special shoot.
And so, if you want that cookbook, it's called Phoenix Cooks. By my friend Christina Barrueta.
MARIA: What was the most challenging shoot you've done?
[makes a strained noise, then laughs]
Well, I don't wanna name any names, right?
I would say from a challenging standpoint,
it's always hard dealing with foods that aren't necessarily beautiful on their own or pre-packaged foods.
Things like that, that maybe you have to use whatever came out of the freezer section
'cause that is what the client's product is, and we need to shoot that.
So, in those cases, it is absolutely imperative to have a great food stylist.
And I'm very fortunate to work specifically with a food stylist here in Phoenix who I love and she's incredible.
And she can make magic out of the most sad-looking food.
But it does definitely get stressful when you're worried that the food's not gonna look its best
because that's kind of the point of the image.
MARIA: If you weren't a photographer, what would you be?
Oh... That's a great question!
I wouldn't be a chef. I love chefs, and I love cooking, but I wouldn't wanna do it professionally.
Uh...
You know, maybe a florist. I really love flowers
And I feel like that same sort of discipline figures into still life also translates there.
MARIA: What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
The best piece of advice I've received.
You know. I think that it kind of goes back to that aspect of advice for new photographers.
The photographer Joel Grimes, who probably many of you all know.
Great portrait photographer, who's actually based here in Phoenix as well.
And he said that the best photographers are-- [stumbles over words]
The highest paid photographers aren't necessarily the best photographers.
Right? That it's not necessarily a direct equation of the quality of your work and the amount of money you make in a year.
That it's really all about that, again, connections, marketing yourself, getting out there,
not being afraid to connect with people. That that's ultimately what's going to pay the bills longterm.
And it also kind of takes pressure off of you because I think that we can be our own worst critics.
And so knowing that, you know, just pushing despite, you know, self doubt and those other things that hold you back.
Because ultimately, if you wanna have a successful business, you gotta put yourself out there.
MARIA: Aside from your camera, what's your favorite piece of gear?
[clicks tongue] Oh...
Favorite piece of gear...
Well, I definitely love the Case Relay from Tether Tools. That has been...
A life-saver in terms of having continuous power to my camera
because usually for me shooting in-studio, running a shoot for 6, 8, 10 hours,
I don't wanna be dealing with batteries. And so the same thing goes for my lights.
I shoot with the Godox AD600Pro monolights,
and those are fantastic because, again, we got the AC powered,
so I can have those charging, and I'm not worried about the power going out.
But, if I'm on location, and I'm remote, that I don't have access to the outlets that I can still have that battery pack running, so.
To me, love those lights, and it's all about the power for me.
MARIA: If there were to be a movie about your life, who would play you?
[Joanie laughs] Who would play me? That's a great question.
Lotta people--when I had longer hair, the shorter hair probably throws it off now.
But, when I had longer hair a lotta people said I had a Kristen Davis sorta look.
From, you know, Sex and the City. So, let's say Kristen Davis.
MARIA: And, who should we interview next?
Ooh, great question!
I think you should interview Joel Grimes!
He's fantastic. I've learned so much. I've been to his in-person workshops.
Super inspired by his work, even though it's a different genre of photography.
But, talk about a master of light. That's the truth!
MARIA: Alright, I'll let you get back to work, and not bother you anymore!
MARIA: Thank you so much for answering all my questions!
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by!
MARIA: Alright, see ya!