Here’s something from The Fish House in Stanley Park photographed by yours truly to inspire your leisurely lunching activities. (c’mon, what, you mean you don’t go lunching?!)

So this was a dose (ha ha) of something different into my food and beverage shooting routine: prescription medication! However, Jane & Greg at Living Room Pharmacy were a breath of fresh air. They were recommended to me by a dear and long time client of mine, Sandra of Atlas Cafe & sister restaurant Avenue Bistro, all of which are in the Comox Valley (that’s on Vancouver Island, about mid way up, for all you city dwelling folk).

The main focus of the day was to get some shallow depth of field still-life shots of what happens behind the pharmacy counter, as well as a few lifestyle photos in and around the store. The behind the scenes shots was the fun part, because us creatives on set got to pick out the most colourful, crazy, psychedelic looking pills for the shots…like kids in a candy store (and then we got the explanation of what each one was for!).

Also on this project, and driving Living Room Pharmacy’s re-branding from their previous identity, was Perry & Mandy at Spring Advertising. I’ve been to Spring’s office, and it’s busy, let me tell you. I don’t know exactly what they’re doing, but they’re doing something right because they’ve got some great clients and neat projects on the go. Maybe it’s because they offer to go out and grab a coffee for all those waiting in their lounge chairs like they did for me (or else that kind man thought I was someone much more important than I actually am). Either way, I just hope Perry’s fancy new wheels didn’t get him a speeding ticket on the way home from our shoot that day. Perry: I, too, have new wheels now, so ha.

Find Spring: @SpringAd •  Facebook Fan Page •  website

Find Living Room Pharmacy: website

Find Atlas Cafe and Avenue Bistro: Atlas website • Avenue website • @avenue • Avenue Facebook Fan Page

~ j

photo: © 2009 Danno

I continually get asked by those learning food photography how to shoot better in restaurants with low lighting, or at home in natural light, and without spending wads of cash on equipment. That is exactly what these workshop are all about: simple and affordable solutions that will improve your photographs. We’ll be doing a bit of talking but mostly shooting, so be sure to bring your gear. Not a food blogger, but love shooting your kitchen creations and want to learn new techniques? You’re more than welcome too!

The Details:

• • Guaranteed 1-on-1 time for every student
• • I will teach you step-by-step how to set-up your shots using some specific food & beverage examples, focussing on using your camera’s manual settings
• • I will be sending out some refresher notes before-hand, and some workshop notes for you to take away from the session
• • All you are required to bring is your camera, it’s manual and a tripod
• • I don’t accept more than 10 people to a workshop to ensure that I can give each of you dedicated 1-on-1 time.
• • The last 2 workshops filled up & sold out quite quickly, and payment is required to hold your spot. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!
• • Click here to read info/see pics from previous workshops
• • To register for either/both workshops, please email Jackie and I will send you the PayPal details

The Workshops:

• Food Photography+Food Styling 101: A Workshop for Food Bloggers & Other Creative Types
Taught by myself and my food stylist Angie Martin, we’ll show you how to not only photograph your dishes, but techniques on how to cook for the camera. We’ll debunk myths about using glue, paint & other toxic materials in food photography (hint hint: we prefer the natural way of doing things, though a touch of glue can do wonders!)
Saturday March 27th, 1pm
Venue: Jackie’s studio - 336 East 1st Ave Vancouver
$65 (gst included)
• Food Photography 101: A Workshop for Food Bloggers & Other Creative Types
The focus here will be of course on the technical side of food photography as we’ve done in the past, but also because of all the feedback and questions I’ve received on this topic I’ll spend a large part of the workshop on composition (where does that darn fork go?!).
Saturday April 3rd, 1pm
Venue: The Refinery
$45 (gst included)

MARKET by Jean-Georges has been a great place to shoot. Twice now, and last time I got black truffle pizza AND a nifty banner, so really I can’t complain. Seriously though, Chef David and Communications guru Jill are always so welcoming and professional, and with Jean-Georges’ dishes it’s hard not to have everything turn out delicious looking.

Here’s the shots for MARKET’s ‘certain sporting event’ themed menu…you’ve still got a few days to head over and try them out!

Happy Friday and last weekend of the Olympics!

~ j

@Tina_Inness and I had a great Firestarter session with Danielle LaPorte re: new foodie venture. I am definitely ‘whelmed’ (as opposed to overwhelmed…yup, you got it).

Chatted with 2 new awesome potential food photography clients.

Rocked virtual snowboarding at Live City Vancouver. Let me know if you beat 3300, I’ll meet you for a match.

Toured Sugar Studios, THEY Rep’s great new studio space for photographers in Vancouver.

Continued with organizations for bringing Heather Morton to Vancouver in March for a CAPIC event + portfolio consultations (I’m on the Board, you see). Can’t wait to meet her.

Worked with Robyn to refresh some spreadsheets and review some social media profiles.

Good week.

Adios for now,

~ j

The 2010 Olympics are in Vancouver right now. The city is full of international visitors and bustling. It’s quite awesome when I stop and think about it.

What’s also been happening is that I’ve been refining things; clarifying where I’m going with JCP. Usually over the Christmas holidays is when I do this, and 2009 was no exception, but something was nagging at me that I just couldn’t put my finger on. So, I powered through a busy January but now it’s time to revisit this.

This is what I’ve come down to:

• • Post on this blog twice per week, on Tuesdays and Fridays; don’t stress if I have to miss one here and there. And stop writing in my uber-professional voice all the time! Blech.
• • Get out from behind my computer. Get back in front of my sketchbook.
• • Dig into 2 new exciting markets with my food photography. Pun intended.
• • Launch an information providing online food related venture. More info on that soon.
• • And the personal, lifestyle changes - well there’s a few there too, but they’re, well, personal.

Cheerio for now,

~ j

A team of very creative and collaborative people I’ve had the pleasure of working with on a number of projects has officially launched their new website. Moeski Consulting Inc. is a full service design, concept and consulting firm that specializes in creating marketable and profitable projects within the hospitality industry, lead by two passionate directors: Brett Turner, Restaurant Consultant, and Karin Bohne, Interior Designer.

The website features some of my food photography and interior shots from Amanda (both above as seen on their home page), a talented and dear friend who is embarking on her own architecture & interior photography venture.

Should you require Brett & Karin’s services, here’s how to get in touch with them:

t.  604.629.3400
f.  604.629.3401
e. info@moeski.ca

And congrats on the website Brett & Karin, it showcases your talents beautifully!

Over the past few weeks I’ve been sent this link by a variety of people I know - a designer, my other half, a friend…and it’s made me laugh every time because it’s so very, very true.

Enjoy and Happy Friday!

January found me teaching another Food Photography 101 workshop to another group of great local food bloggers. This one was held at Irashai Grill (follow Irashai on twitter here)with the help of their fabulous PR and social media maven Danielle, and of course we had to stay for lunch after which was delicious, as always!

I love all the food bloggers I’ve met through these workshops - they’re all so curious and eager to learn; it’s so awesome! And check out their blogs:

Ethnic Eats and Degan Beley

Fine Lime Designs

Darryl Hodgins

Daily Unadventures in Cooking

The Reluctant Chef

Shermans Food Adventures

Community Kitchens website and blog

Gourmeted

Victoria’s Food Secrets Follow Victoria on Twitter Fan her Facebook Page

And what happens after the workshop always cracks me up: we sit down to eat in a few of the booths, but out come the cameras, putting their workshop knowledge to the test! You can also see some of the bloggers who posted their pics afterwards.

Just a few days before the holidays my assistant extraordinaire and I packed the car full of gear in the wee hours of the morning and headed over to LOCAL Public Eatery to photograph some food, some drink and some people enjoying it all. Who says you can’t enjoy beer and pancakes at 8.30am? We did! (Oh, not the beer - we left that to the boys). Here are some shots from the day.

LOCAL Public Eatery (belonging to Joey Restaurants) is right on the corner of Cornwall and Yew in Kitsilano (where Malone’s used to be) and their big focus is beer. They’ve got what they call lightweight lagers, middle weight ales & brews, and their heavy weights with more flavour. Their mantra from the kitchen is common food done uncommonly well and they have tons of options for all meals of the day.

A big thank you goes out to Ashley, Chef Chris, and all those people who showed up (for beer and pancakes) that morning!

• To connect with LOCAL Public Eatery: twitter • facebook • website • location •