Tastemaker Huge Galdones

Huge Galdones is a Chicago-based food and lifestyle photographer with such notable clients as Top Chef Stephanie Izard, Tony Mantuano and Rick Bayless. But it’s the career that almost wasn’t. While earning a PhD in Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Huge found himself becoming increasingly interested in photography and cooking, constantly snapping food photos with his iPhone. After buying a “decent” camera, he made the leap to his true passion—and never looked back. Today, national clients keep him traveling and capturing events like Aspen Food & Wine Festival and Cochon555 Tour, as well as the Four Seasons Hotel Brand and Fiji Water. When Huge isn’t working, he is home cooking with his wife Rachel and two kids, Callan and Nora.

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Huge's Food Photography Tips

The Power or Garnish

It’s always great having fresh herbs handy. Whether chopped up or de-stemmed, a little color can go a long way. I also like the use of non-vegetable garnishes (croutons for instance) that may not contribute to the color, but rather elevate the dish's texture.

Offsetting the Color

If you’re creating your own plate to shoot, choose colors that offset other colors. If you have a yellow, find a green. If you have a green, find a red. It’s all about balance.

The Right Light

Try a light that’s behind the subject. Most think you have to have a light on your subject, but I like to use indirect light. When using the flash, you lose a lot of information and dimension.