Food Styling for Photographers

BURGERS, SANDWICHES, AND BEYOND

Using a non-hero package you should practice and get

comfortable with bun handling before addressing bags

that may contain hero buns. Th is exercise will also get

you into the mode of handling the buns carefully. With

scissors, cut the plastic packaging covering the buns so

you can lift the top layer of buns out of the package. Slide

your hands under the top layer of buns and remove them

from the package. Be aware that some bakers use a tech-

nique that causes the buns to connect slightly. If the buns

you’ve purchased are attached, you will need to support

the entire layer while removing it from the packaging.

Place the layer of buns on the work surface and, using a

serrated knife, gently separate the buns. No squeezing the

buns, please!

Using sharp scissors, trim the portion of the bun that has

overlapped along the precut edge. Hold the scissors at an

angle matching the precut edge angle. Th e scissors will be

parallel to the fl at surface of the bun. Trim away the excess

bun edge. Make sure you cut a smooth edge that looks very

straight and natural. It may be necessary to trim the edges

of both the top and bottom of the hero buns. When this

step is completed, place the top hero bun, resting cut side

down on the paper plate, back into the Ziploc bag. Place

TRICKS OF THE TRADE Once hero buns are identifi ed, they

need to be protected. Buns are easier to manipulate and heroes are

more easily viewed if each bun is on a separate paper plate. The

plate and bun assembly will slide into a gallon-size Ziploc bag.

Carefully inspect all of the heroes and mark numbers on the plates

or bags to indicate #1, #2, #3, etc., in order of hero preference. This

technique provides a quick reference when building the hero, so if

anything happens to damage the hero during styling, the next

contender can be quickly identifi ed. Remember to save some of the

non-hero buns so you can practice bun treatments later and for

stand-in purposes.