Portrait Photography of Arnold Palmer for WHIRL Magazine in Pittsburgh, PA

Three and a half years – the time I spent working in the food industry at a local country club in Western Pennsylvania. It by far wasn’t the worst job. I got to see the sunrise every morning as I restocked the beer cooler,  preheated the hotdog grill, and brewed the first batch of coffee as I waited for the early rising golfers to round their way to hole 10 by my stand. On those days, I would have laughed in my own face, thinking that everything would come full circle and I would be in the presence of the king of golf himself, photographing him for a cover of WHIRL magazine.

Ever since I really got into food photography last year, I have spent countless hours in front of the computer screen and Barnes & Nobles book store aisles, researching and admiring other food photographs. The money I have put into my magazine collection could have probably got me into retirement at this point. Nonetheless, what I have learned is that as nice as Pittsburgh’s food and restaurant scene has been lately, there are only so many head shots of the same chefs I can use in my portfolio.

So I decided, a little last minute for most people, to go on a road trip. Not just any road trip though, a food photography extravaganza road trip. And what better place to photograph and taste the best food in the industry is the one and only New Orleans, LA. Alright! So maybe I used this to my advantage to visit the infamous Bourbon Street to have some fun as well.

I decided to take the time and share with everyone some of my favorite southern culinary photographs from my trip. The first stop of the trip was Eat New Orleans, a quaint and airy restaurant right in the heart of the French Quarter.

Next stop was Booty’s NOLA. The rustic industrial interior was a unique twist to the southern restaurant scene than I was anticipating, but the menu matched perfectly and I was not disappointed.

The ending of my weekend southern food photography escapades in NOLA landed me at Cochon Restaurant, in the Central Business District. 

I hope no one is sick of looking at food photo’s yet, because my trip didn’t stop in New Orleans. I continued the road trip (with a few detours on the way) to Atlanta, GA.

Not that I am one to pick favorites, because I love all food equally, but the amount of things to photograph at my first stop in Atlanta was endless. I started bright and early the next morning at a bakery called Cakes & Ale. But the options of what to eat and drink doesn’t stop at just cake and ale, they served muffins, lemon bars, croissants, coffee,and that doesn’t include the lunch menu.

All those delicious bakery items opened the sweet tooth black hole in my belly, so I couldn’t leave the Atlanta area until I got to stop at Sublime Donuts. This was my first time in Atlanta, so I had asked around from locals about places to visit. Not to often when the question of where to eat in a city does one get the answer to be a donut shop. I won’t question their opinions anymore.

However, this is really only just a small preview of the photos I took while on my trip. Keep your eyes open for my website update. And if you don’t yet, follow me on instagram.

A couple months back a Chicago based magazine, Forward, got in touch with me to photograph the CEO and president of Allegheny Technology Incorporated here in Pittsburgh, PA.  

I can honestly say that I still get nervous anytime I am asked to go into a a business office and do corporate headshots. I mean how creative can you get in a 3×3 cubicle space or in front of a messy office desk. Colors and scenery can sometimes be a bit boring. 

But as I was walking through ATI’s office spaces, i saw it. The color I wanted. That not-so-bland wall.

And we did a couple alternatives in the board room.

Sometimes its the nerves that help make some good photographs. 

I just thought I would add some of my favorite shots of the food that I have been working on this past couple of months. 🙂  

*Star Anise!

*Mashed Potatoes!

*And lastly, an assortment of appetizers from local Pittsburgh restaurants.

What better way to end this year?? My first WHIRL Magazine cover!!

..and to top this exciting cover..another one for Edible Allegheny.

I can’t believe how much I have really been enjoying photographing food lately. Especially, when I am able to do it in studio and I get the time and opportunity to play with the lighting and styling of the image, instead of going to a restaurant and quickly working with the very little options that I am giving! 

So, here is another photograph from the current issue of Edible Allegheny! Who would of thought cheese could be so fun to photograph??

Once again, one of my photo’s made it onto the cover of Edible Allegheny for their October/November 2012 issue! And I am just in LOOOVE with it!! Go pick up your copy for more great photos!!

I hardly ever update my blog with some tearsheets from the magazine I shoot for. I thought it was time to show you how the photos look in the magazine. Which of course, I suggest everyone to go pick up a hard copy if they haven’t already! 😉