What to wear
Only relevant for hands in frame: plain sleeves, no watch that reflects, short clean nails. A patterned cuff in the corner of a food photograph is…
In short: Only relevant for hands in frame: plain sleeves, no watch that reflects, short clean nails. A patterned cuff in the corner of a food photograph is the most distracting thing in it.
Colour. Only hands and sleeves appear, so keep them plain and neutral. A patterned cuff at the edge of a food frame is the most distracting element in the photograph.
Fabric. Matte, close-fitting sleeves. Loose cuffs drag through sauce and appear in shot before anyone notices.
Jewellery. Off. A watch face reflects the light source directly back into the lens and a ring pulls the eye away from the dish.
The thing that ruins frames. Long or coloured nails in a food photograph. They read as unhygienic next to something people are meant to want to eat.
In the bag. Tweezers for placing garnish, a small brush and oil for gloss on meat and bread, kitchen roll for plate edges, and a white card to bounce light back into the shadow side. All of it fits in a lunchbox and all of it changes the frame.