Editorial Food Assigment for Plate Magazine

Some recent work for Plate Magazine for an article on the mother sauce: Sambal. This is the Masak Kicap, beef cheek with sambal at Azalinas which is a 4-course tasting menu restaurant here in SF.


So much hustle goes in to photographing one item! For a simple editorial shoot where I’m photographing a dish or two, restaurants usually have an hour or less for me to set up, photograph, break down, and get out of the way before they need to set up for service. Even with only a simple one-light set-up, I’m working fast the whole time.

There were many details here that were on my side, the table and plate ware were a nice matte finish so I didn’t have to spend time problem solving reflections. The elements of food on the plate are a variety of shapes, textures and colors, which look appetizing and interesting in a photograph. Also Azalina and her staff were gracious and able to take the time away from their prep to help with the food styling.

Even with all the hustle I love editorial work, it’s so much fun! I love discovering new spots and meeting people who are doing work worthy of being recognized. And so I get sent home with food. I didn’t get to eat this dish, but Azalina sent me home with a little container of sweet crispy lotus root to snack on while I drove home.

The second image is the final layout of the dish. I am always amazed how the version in a magazine’s layout is like an alternate interpretation of the image I took. I love seeing this dish up close and in a double spread!

See more of my food and lifestyle work here.