Blog Submission Tips

Below are some tricks and tips for submitting to the blog.

* Be The Benchmark is the name of the blog and that should translate to the submissions. 

While it is great that your account had a summer picnic, unless it is a picnic that meets the definition of "benchmark" it will probably not be posted. If that picnic included grilling fresh corn, giant outdoor grills, grilled desserts, smokers with whole pigs...then GREAT! If you make it a benchmark event, then it will be posted on the benchmark blog.

* Be sure that your picture showcases your event. Far away photo shots of long buffet tables don't show the detail that is put into your promotion. 

* Plates should be clean and garnished.

* Your submission should include the who, what, when, why of your event. If you have a special recipe, please submit that as well.

* Be mindful of what is underneath and behind your "subject". Plastic tablecloths or stainless steel do not show well. Instead use a white cloth, black cloth napkin or a colorful counter top. Also, dish machines, sani buckets or trash cans shouldn't be in the background.

* Culinary submissions aren't the only subject that can be submitted. Feel free to send diversity activities, safety initiatives or wellness promotions (keeping smoothies and hydration submissions to a minimum because they should be standard).

* Staff pictures are awesome. Smiling, proud, engaged staff are always welcome on the blog.

* Any pictures of residents or children must be accompanied by permission of that subject. No form is needed, just a note that you received verbal permission.

Below are some tips for taking better pictures.

Think before you shoot: you are the one taking the photo, not just the camera. The point of being the photographer is to capture the world as you see it and share your unique perspective with others. So it’s important to visualize what you want your photo to look like before you take it. This means taking time to consider what’s in the frame, and coming up with the best composition. When you look through the screen or viewfinder in your camera, examine every single thing that’s showing. For a photo to have impact, there should be no distractions that cause a viewer to look at something other than what you wanted them to see. Are there any water bottles or random objects that should be moved? Have you cropped off the top of someone’s head? Take some time to consider it.

Backgrounds: Let’s face it, no one wants to see your messy dish room or kitchen in the background of your pretty blog photos. It’s just not all that pretty and appealing to the eye. Use staff members, a decorative dining room wallpaper or white linen catering display. If you have to, grab yourself a piece of plain white poster board and set it up as the background for your photos. Remember that when you’re shooting from above, what’s under your subject is even more important than your back drop. Color balance is key. The food isn't the only thing in the frame: using plates and linens in complementary hues helps your dish pop. In particular, brown foods benefit from a hit of contextual color; they look especially lovely against blues and purples. If you are serving the food on a white plate, place the plate on a black linen napkin that spans the whole photo space. If you are using colored plates, a simple white linen will show enough contrast. 

3D: Take the food off the table and emphasize its homey, made-with-love feel by having someone present it to the camera. You might not naturally serve chocolate-chip cookies piled in a vertical column, but stacking them -- or any flat food, like pancakes, fritters, or onion rings -- is a great way to show off texture and create visual interest.

Show the process: Part of the fun of looking at food photography comes from seeing how a dish is made. Spice up your images by showing the way a food item is cooked, prepared, plated or garnished. The added action will make the photographs more dynamic. It will also make viewers feel like they are there with you, in the kitchen making the meal alongside you. It adds a welcoming, homey feeling to your series of images. When styling a completed meal, consider adding in some of the ingredients or tools used in making it as props around the dish. These add interest both in visual composition and content of the image.

The first bite always tastes best: Add dimension to your food photographs by showing what that first bite looks like, holding the fork or spoon above the main plate. Your plate doesn't always have to look like it has just been set down by the chef. Dive in, nibble at the meal, and you might find you take more interesting photos.

Garnish, garnish, garnish: It's the little things that matter, and garnish is an important little thing that makes all the difference when photographing a dish. Take a photo of a prepared meal without garnish, then add some garnish such as a bit of green herbs, or an edible flower, and take a second photo — you'll see right away how much adding just a little something provides the extra flair that makes a food photo successful. This is especially true with foods that are monochromatic, like a hummus or broth, or foods that you can't exactly tell what it is. Garnish can be herbs, or it can be side dishes such as toasted bread next to a bowl of soup, or a bit of salad next to a main dish. Something that adds color, texture and interest to the dish will make all the difference.