Food Photography for The g Hotel Galway - showcasing ne

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Food Photography for The g Hotel Galway - showcasing new menu in the Restaurant Gigi's

I have been working with The g Hotel & SPA in Galway for many years now and I always enjoy coming back to photograph their food and cocktails. This unique 5 Star hotel with its vivid and modern interior, designed by the famous designer Philip Treacy, allows a photographer to create a very significant feel to the images while making sure they are of the highest standard.

The use of purple and pinks, the glass, the mirrors and silver elements all helped to add style to the photos of signature afternoon tea, casual lunch, fancy drinks and staff working that the client required in previous shoots. The reason I pay so much attention to the hotels interior and atmosphere, is to capture that unique feel of the place in my food photography.

I believe a 5 Star Hotel is very aware of the need for consistency across all branding and that includes photos. I aim to capture a look in my photos that matches the high-end interior and feel of the space. Food photography has to show food at its best. I have been privileged to work with the hotel for many years and I'm happy that my approach meets their high expectations.

This time I was invited to photograph the new menu in their Restaurant Gigi’s. Awarded 2 AA Rosettes, the restaurant offers fine dining and unique culinary experience. Head Chef Jason O'Neill & Sous Chef Andy Lewis and their team created a beautiful range of mount-watering, almost 'too pretty to eat it' dishes. The choice of color and textures, as well as their great attention to detail gave me a lot to work with and allowed me to capture the food at it's best.

My goal with these photographs was to capture the food in elegant and modern way. The colour and feel was chosen to imitate a winter dinner mood - warm, inviting and comforting. The focus is always on vibrant colors and unique presentation, but I like to introduce some elements to the images - blurred lines of the furniture, candles and flowers. I like to use wine as a prop, especially if I can ask a waiter to pour it into a glass in elegant way.

As always, I chose angles that allowed me to capture the background and softly blurred elements of the interior. I was aware of the challenges of photographing on glass tables - it's easy to mess up, believe me. I managed to work the light & angles and used the reflections to my advantage creating dimensions within the photograph. Another element, the 'g' - the hotel's logo, which I had to make sure was in the photo and pointing the right way on the plate. In food photography, it's all about the details!