Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Benton.
Hi Sharon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a food and product photographer from Atlanta, GA. Before getting into photography, I was a textile artist for several years, selling at local art shows and galleries and teaching art classes. Then we got a chance to live in Copenhagen for a few years, and my camera became my means of artistic expression, recording landscapes, cityscapes, architectural detail, and food. We traveled extensively and have so many amazing memories, especially of food from so many different cultures. Visiting different countries and cultures has definitely shaped me artistically.
When we moved back to the states, I decided to enrolled in a 9-month online cooking course to continue my food journey. We were required to submit photos of our dishes to be graded. That’s when food photography just clicked for me. I started shooting my own dishes and then began shooting for restaurants, bloggers, and brands. I really love taking photos for local restaurants and bakeries and seeing firsthand how photography helps their businesses flourish. (Plus – I get to sample a lot of good food!)
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Before landing in the food photography world, I did some graphic design work for websites and book covers, as well as real estate photography. While neither niche lasted very long, I learned a lot that I apply to my current photography work. The graphic design background is useful in food styling and the real estate photography gave me the experience to be able to shoot restaurant interiors as well as food. I feel like my past jobs have all contributed to where I am now.
In 2018, we moved from Seattle to Atlanta. I started shooting onsite for local restaurants and expanded to shooting in-studio for bloggers and brands. With the help of my handy husband, we created a photography studio with a dedicated kitchen, so I have a great space for preparing food as well as photographing it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in food photography for restaurants, bakeries, and brands. I’ve shot for a lot of local restaurants and bakeries – it’s one of my favorite things. You’re telling their story through your lens, whether it’s a detail of a particularly beautiful dish or a table scape that invites you to pull up a chair and share a meal with friends. And I love seeing my client’s reactions when I present them with images of their food styled and shot in a beautiful setting.
I work both onsite and in studio. Shooting onsite can be challenging, as you cannot always control the environment that you get to shoot in. That’s when you become a problem-solver by bringing in lights and backdrops and helping the chef style a plate for the camera.
Shooting in the studio is where I can get really creative with style and presentation. I have a dedicated kitchen in the studio, which is really helpful when shooting for food bloggers or doing recipe development. I have a pretty good collection of props and backgrounds so I can create a variety of looks, depending on client needs. I love sourcing unique props from local artists and vintage stores!
What matters most to you?
Creating community matters to me. It seems especially important during this time of COVID when we are more isolated from each other to create and share images of gathering over food. It’s my hope that photography will remind us of the importance of gathering for a shared meal.
It also matters to me that my work ultimately showcases my client. I take great pride in my artwork and definitely have a style of my own. But when I shoot for a client, they are the true artists, and it’s my job to make their vision come to life.
Contact Info:
- Email: sharonleebenton@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.sharonbenton.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonbentonstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonbentonstudio/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL8sfih53Ss9yPHK7XmgfEQ
Image Credits
Portraits by Leggy Bird Photography All other photos by Sharon Benton Studio
