Food Photography on the Fly

Recipe for Success

If you’ve been to the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport lately, you know that the Minneapolis Airport Commission (MAC) is pulling out all the stops to keep travelers entertained, well-fed and happy. Gamut One Studios’ Jeff Schmieg, our food shooting specialist, has been part of that project for over fifteen years now.  MAC’s most current promotion is a bi-monthly coupon book called Eat, Shop, Relax. Each cover of this book is an entree image shot by Jeff from a MSP restaurant, such as French Meadow Bakery, Ikes, Axel’s BonFire Grill, TGI Fridays, and more.  Working with Kate Dougherty from MAC Marketing, and food stylist, Laurie Goeman, Jeff uses his years of food photography experience to create mouth-watering images for the featured restaurants with such detail that visitors and travelers can almost taste them!

Food Photography CoversGreat ingredients

Of course, every project has different challenges and this is where Jeff’s extensive experience shines. Whether it’s planning a location shoot at the airport or trying to simulate the atmosphere of the restaurant in studio, there are issues and details that need creative solutions.  Props, backgrounds and table top surfaces are cleverly chosen to enhance each image aesthetic and theme as well as addressing height and size challenges like a horizontal product needing to fit the Eat, Shop, Relax book’s narrow, vertical layout.

“Their creative, professional and detail-oriented approach always produces gorgeous looking photos. One thing that sets Gamut One Studios apart, aside from their vast amount of experience, is the extensive prop and background collection that is available.”     ~ Kate Dougherty, Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport Marketing

Food photography on location

Food related issues are worked out as Jeff, Laurie and Kate communicate with
the restaurants to learn the specific details of each entree and how those will affect the shoot. Is the entree going to arrive par cooked or does it need to be created fresh on set? Do we need some fresh cilantro to top the dish? Working with a flexible and experienced crew helps in creating a tasty and successful image.

Well Crafted

And even with all the preparation, Jeff knows better than anyone that photographing food almost always involves some ‘tricks of the trade’.  Keeping that bowl of soup or mug of beer looking like it is fresh and ready to be devoured can take tricks ranging from food replacements (hint: marbles hiding in the soup) to fast hands bringing in a new batch every few shots.  Gamut One Studios creates top-notch food images with help from food stylist, Laurie Goeman.  Laurie’s eagle eyes and quick hands work their magic while Jeff perfects the lights, angles, and focus for achieving the ultimate fresh food image that fits perfectly into the layouts.  In addition, partnerships with clients like MAC’s Kate Dougherty whose hands-on approach and upbeat attitude, help move a time-sensitive and demanding photo shoot along.

Food Photography Minneapolis Saint Paul

After all that goes into the photo shoot, the final result is an appetizing photo that draws customers into the restaurants. Next time you’re at the airport, pick up one of the Eat, Shop, Relax booklets and see for yourself how Jeff’s food photography looks good enough to eat!

Corporate Portraits: Your Best Image

Crooked tie, shiny forehead, high school yearbook pose … we’ve all seen some unflattering corporate headshots that do no favors to the subject or company. But, since very few people actually like getting their picture taken, and even fewer are naturally photogenic, how does one get a great headshot?

At Gamut One Studios we know that a great portrait is a powerful tool in building a strong image for you and your company.

Gamut One Studios always goes the extra mile to create extraordinary client headshots in a convenient, budget-friendly manner.

And to deliver those easy-going, yet professional shots, trust the unparalleled experience of our four photographers.

We can offer every possible type and style of corporate portraits or headshots. We’ll share our secrets with you on how to combine the subject’s profession, corporate brand image, and usage requirements to get the picture that speaks more than a thousand words about you or your brand.

Convenient Scheduling

Recognizing convenience as an important piece of the puzzle, Gamut One will help you design a schedule depending on how many employees are going to be photographed and their availability. With four full time photographers, we do our best to accommodate your first choice for time and scheduling date.

In Studio

Some clients like the look and structure of photographing on a set in our studio while others will want a specific background such as their corporate facility as the location. Either way, Gamut One Studios will scout all location options and work with you on a suitable plan.

Your Location

Some clients will want to schedule a drop in photo shoot where employees come to the Gamut One studio to have their portrait taken. For other clients, we may go to their offices and schedule employee time slots during the workday.

Do you ever wonder why some people just seem to take better pictures than others? That’s also part of our plan – the Gamut One photographers are experts in putting their subjects at ease to get the most impressive and natural photo possible.

Group time slots

Some companies have to schedule just one-person-at-a-time photos due to time constraints or a preference to photograph new hires immediately. In these situations, we will use a pre-approved set up and employees will stop by our studio, or we meet them on location.

Cost Concerns: In all types of photo shoots, we are conscious of your budget and end goals. The greatest cost savings comes from scheduling multiple people for the same day.

Once we’ve chosen a time and location, Gamut One Studios will also help you consider the ‘little things’ that make a portrait stand out. Your subject’s profession, corporate brand image, and usage requirements (such as annual report, website, etc.) are all taken into consideration and we will design and facilitate the best look for you.

Retouching?

Of course. Photoshop has become a verb. Retouching always makes it better. Whether it’s tired eyes, shiny forehead, or not the right shade of lipstick, we will take care of it. Left your suit coat at home, but need it for the photo? We have even “shopped” that in for a customer.

Our shooters, Bill, Dewey, Greg, and Jeff are also all Photoshop wizards and take great pride in every image to deliver you the best.

When you need a professional portrait to compliment your company or brand, Gamut One offers a clear advantage in portrait photography. Whether updating your website, creating a new sales brochure or just have a new company hire, we will work with you to deliver the best images for your company’s success.

Problem Solving Photography

With an aggressive, long term marketing plan in place,  Medivators’ Creative Director, Sonia Leonard, wanted to capture a variety of images on location including people and environment as well as complex product photography at their Houston, Texas R&D lab for use in an array of marketing applications.  Recognizing that Medivators’ image needs were widely varied in theme, style and final use, Gamut One knew that all images would still need a consistent, finished result from an experienced, versatile photographer.

In order to streamline the process for our busy client (recent merger, new product line), Gamut One photographer, Bill Bartlett, who has over 25 years of expertise photographing medical products and more, helped Medivators set an efficient photo shoot agenda for a rigorous five day shoot.

Bill designed a plan with the Medivators’ marketing team that would create a substantial library of proprietary images in a broad range of themes and styles that could later be used individually or combined in detailed composites to control position and focus as well as allowing flexibility in the future to re-configure the elements for a unique finished image.  This is an effective way to visually create and express a marketing message such as showcasing Medivators’ high level of personal service and detailed product in a single composite.

For example, in the below image, the model, background and product were all shot at different times with their own precise staging structure to ensure the perspective, lighting and composition for both images flowed with one another.

Gamut One Studios and their clients often find exceptional value in this approach for building a client’s internal library that can be used in a variety of applications for long-term use.  The opposite approach, where companies purchase stock images will often result in inefficient spending, lack of personalized images also commonly used by competitors and poor usage options for long-term, multiple uses.  Gamut One Studios’ photographers will always work with our clients to meet all their needs in a carefully planned and efficiently executed photo shoot.

Additional to thorough planning, pre-production meetings and shoot day execution, the final piece of the Medivators’ photo shoot involved Bill’s evaluation and adjustments of images to create an essential compilation of finished, professional images.  Medivators now has a collection of high quality, original images that will be useful long term in diverse applications.

Do you have a photography dilemma or are you wondering if a photo shoot could be in your budget?  It will be worth your time to contact us at Gamut One Studios and we can walk you through the various options for achieving the best value and the highest quality, custom images that your business needs.

Halloween meets Winter Olympics

What do clowns, cowboys, Twinkie the Kid and even Donkey Kong all have in common?
They were among the over 450 participants that raced in the Bedrace for Bridging event on Saturday, March 2nd, 2013. The 15th annual fundraiser at Buck Hill was another huge success and Gamut One Studios was there to capture it all.

Bridging, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the greater Twin Cities, is the largest furniture bank in North America. Providing furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty, Bridging gives hope–and for many–a leap toward financial stability for the first time.

The 15th annual Bedrace for Bridging brought in $80,000 which will greatly help local families and individuals in need!

The event is like Halloween meets the Winter Olympics — a fun, exciting event with everyone in costume racing down the tubing hill competing to be one of the three team finalists. A team is made up of four riders and you must stay on the mattress for the entire ride down the hill or you are disqualified.

There were 113 teams competing to take home a trophy, either for the race or the most coveted honor of “Best Costume.” Cities 97 radio personalities and producers cast the silent votes for the top 3 best Costumes. Brian Oake announced the winners.

Fran Heitzman, founder of Bridging addressed the crowd in the Buck Stone Lodge with an enthusiastic expression of gratitude. He told everyone that “when good people get together, we can do good things“.  Sara Sternberger, executive director of Bridging, is pictured with Fran and of course the Subway Sandwich dude.

The party continued in the Buck Stone Lodge with live music by Meatsauce and The Whalers followed by The Chris Hawkey Band.

G1 Studios’ photographers at this event were Greg Kamin and Jeff Schmieg.  Till next year… think about getting your bedrace team together and help support this great local charity.

A “Raven”ous Crowd at the 3rd Annual G1 Super Bowl Party

It was a great crowd that packed G1 Studios for our 3rd Annual Super Bowl Party. The fans came to enjoy great food, wine, beer and overwhelmingly cheered for the Baltimore Ravens… or maybe it was just against the 49ers (and Randy Moss).

We truly enjoy hosting this party for you: our clients, friends, and family. We are especially grateful for YOUR help and generosity in making this party and benefit a success!

This year we supported the Catalyst Foundation. Whether you donated silent auction items, bid on auctions, bought raffle tickets, or helped with the party — Thank you for helping to make a difference in the lives of so many who are in need.

All together you helped us raise almost $750!

The crowd brought their appetite to enjoy our large selection of appetizers including over 850 meatballs, 250 hotdogs, 100 brats, Cathy’s famous mushrooms, countless desserts and of course the tasty array of chili.

Annual Chili Cook-Off

Greg Kamin took home the Golden Chili Pepper Award this year. It came down to less than 10 votes that separated 1st and 2nd place (Dewey’s Hawaiian Chicken Chili). Greg calls his winning recipe an “homage to Wisconsin” with his Jalapeno & Cheddar Brat Chili. Previous years winners were Dewey (2012) and Bill (2011).

V.I.P Lounge

Many bid, but only a few could win for the coveted seating in the V.I.P. Lounge. Thanks for your support in this fund raiser!

Kristin Baur and family won the 1st quarter seating for the V.I.P. seating.

Photo Booth

We look forward to seeing you back at the next party!
Remember to LIKE US on Facebook to keep up with studio updates.

Super Bowl Teams: You Pick ‘Em Challenge

Which teams will meet in Super Bowl XLVII?

The Seahawks with a rookie from Wis. against
the veteran Manning and the Broncos?
Or every Viking fan’s favorite choice… the Packers?

Take the G1 Studios’ Pick ‘Em Challenge and make your
2 team picks for a chance to WIN your choice of:

AN NFL JERSEY (you pick the team)

OR

A Pack of 5 Passes for All-Day UNLIMITED Rides at
NICKELODEON UNIVERSE @ MOA.

Deadline for entries is 3 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 12th

2 Options for Entry:

Post your Guesses on our Facebook Page
or write in the Leave a Reply box below and click “post comment.”

In the case of multiple correct picks, we will hold a random drawing to determine the winner.
Winner will be posted to our blog after the Conference Championship games.

XLVII G1 – 3rd Annual In-Studio Tailgate Party!

Three years running, and each year the anticipation and number of tailgaters grows.
It’s time to get ready for February 3, 2013. Fun starts at 3 p.m.!

Don’t miss the big game in HD projected on our 35 ft. cove wall. Play games, prizes and bring the kids to jump around in the inflatable obstacle course. Taste, enjoy, and vote on the abundance of homemade selections of chili, as we compete for the coveted G1 Chili Pepper Award.

Help our preparations with a RSVP on our party page.  We can’t wait to see everyone again.  Maybe with a little luck we can cheer on the Vikings this year!

XLVI G1 – Gamut One Studio’s Super Bowl Party from Gamut One on Vimeo.

Give Hope this Holiday Season

Each year we highlight an organization as the focus of our studio Christmas card. The organizations are always something that we feel strongly about supporting due various personal or family connections.

This year, our focus of the card and financial support is the Catalyst Foundation, an organization that couldn’t be any closer to the heart and home of Bill Bartlett .

Bill and his wife Therese are parents of two adopted children from Vietnam, Moya (14) and Nate (12). “My family has seen first hand the dire need for help within the communities of Vietnam,” said Bill about their humanitarian trips to Vietnam.

Catalyst Foundation

The Catalyst Foundation provides hope for Vietnamese children through scholarships, aid in the form of medicine and medical supplies, support programs for schools, and a variety of other humanitarian projects.  Catalyst Foundation was built to help not only children, but also whole communities.

Catalyst, a non-governmental organization (NGO), is fully supported by individual and corporate sponsors.

Catalyst Aid Expedition

In 2006, Bill spent 2 weeks traveling thru the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam where he volunteered as part of the Catalyst Aid Expedition. Areas of assistance included building homes for families in need and participating in a free dental clinic. Many children have never had any previous dental care, much less ever used a toothbrush.

Lending a hand

Sometimes lending a hand can be as simple as listening, playing, just looking into the eyes of child and letting them know that they matter. Catalyst also provides opportunities for kids to be a kid, to play and do crafts and just put a smile on their faces.

“The Children of the Dump”

In Feb. 2012, CNN highlighted the importance of the Catalyst Foundation’s efforts.

CNN anchor, Natalie Allen’s coverage “The Children of the Dump,” tells not only of the heart-wrenching circumstances of these people, but also of the determined efforts of Catalyst Foundation leader, Caroline Nguyen Ticarro-Parker, to help the community fight human trafficking with a holistic approach and hands-on programs that are helping to change the lives of whole families and giving them hope for the future.

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/13/hope-for-vietnams-children-of-the-dump/

How Can You Help?

Catalyst Foundation was founded in 1999 by Caroline Nguyen Ticarro-Parker. Caroline lives with her husband and 2 adopted Vietnamese daughters in Northfield, Minn. Read her full story  at http://www.catalystfoundation.org/our-founder.  We encourage you to visit Catalyst Foundation website, there are programs available for all levels of support.   http://www.catalystfoundation.org/

You can be a catalyst to help the children dying from starvation and the lack of basic medical supplies.

“We truly feel like Vietnam is our second home and having the opportunities to participate with Catalyst’s missions of hope has been a life changing experience for all of us!” ~ Bill Bartlett

Happy Holidays and God bless!

Bartlett Family, 2012.

And the Winner is…

Congratulations to Jena Barch!

Jena is the winner of the drawing for a $250 Apple Gift Card we held at the MIMA
Summit. She is a marketing specialist at Braun Intertec in Bloomington.

When we just called to tell her, she responded “And it’s my Birthday today!”

Thank you to all who stopped at our G1 booth at the Summit
on Wednesday and participated in the drawing.

Meet Jill

A bustling business and steady bookings have led Gamut One Studios to hire Business Development specialist, Jill Oldenburg.

Jill has been meeting, greeting, emailing and calling on new and former Gamut One Studios’ clients all over the metro for a few months now, while G1’s owners/photographers keep focus on their daily shoots.

No stranger to the photography industry, Jill spent over eight years in Los Angeles as a fashion publicist working with over-photographed celebrities and stylish retail products. After the fun and sun had gone to her head long enough, Jill headed back to Minneapolis to raise a family in practical Midwest fashion. After relocating, Jill launched a marketing and communications consultancy to serve the Minneapolis market, which brought her to Gamut One Studios.

When Jill’s not carting around Gamut One Studios’ portfolios or sharing the studio’s latest images with Creatives, she can be found getting active outside, toasting with friends, and getting ‘punked’ by her two mischievous young sons.

Haven’t heard from Jill yet? She’d love to me meet you – please email her: jill@gamut1studios.com, and say hello!

 
 
 
 

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