Food Styling for Photographers

CHAPTER SIX

sense will tell you that hero buns will be on the top of
the grocer’s display. Chances of fi nding a hero bun in a
package of buns that has another package on top of it are
very slim. Prepackaged buns normally have two layers
and are usually presliced, thus the top layer will likely be
the only place you’ll fi nd a hero bun.

As you start to search for the hero buns, keep in mind
that the heroes will need to be perfect on the crown.
Look for buns with smooth crowns or domes that are
blemish free, have no creases along the edges, and have
a consistent golden coloring. When you fi nd a bun quali-
fying as a hero candidate, don’t worry if the edges where
the bun was sliced between the top and bottom bun
overlap a little. Th is imperfection can be corrected later
at the studio.

When you do fi nd a package that looks like it could
contain a hero bun, treat the bag as gently as you would
a newly born baby. When picking up the bag, a process
that works well for me is to pinch the plastic packaging
on two opposite ends of the bag to off er just enough
control to lift the package. Gently place the bag on the
fl at box or paper bag surface in the cart—single layer. Do
not stack the packages!

My rule of thumb for buns is to choose three or four hero
buns for each burger or hot dog in a photo project. Deter-

mine how many bun packages to purchase based on the

number of hero candidates you can identify through the

packaging. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and fi nd more hero

buns in the packages after you open them back at the

studio, but don’t count on it. Th e non-hero buns will be

useful because they can serve as stand-ins or guinea pigs

for the bun treatments. You’ll want to practice all of the

bun procedures on a stand-in and get comfortable with

the techniques before you work on the hero bun.

When you are ready to check out at the market, ask the

clerk not to handle the bun packages. (Yes, you’ll have to

share your story about doing a photo shoot, yada yada.)

Consider purchasing a non-hero package for the clerk to

scan, allowing you to transport the hero packages undis-

turbed to your vehicle—it’s worth the price! I usually

transport the buns in boxes on a fl at surface, for instance,

in the trunk of my car, so they will be less likely to slide

around.

Once you have the bun packages at the studio, be aware

that exposure to air and poor handling techniques are a

bun’s enemies. You are now the keeper of the buns, their

guardian, protector, and their personal bun beautician.

Designate a large fl at surface with good lighting where

you can sort through the buns. I prefer to sit on my God-

given buns while working through the purchased buns

because this process takes time.