Ice Cream - America's Next Tough Model

There’s nothing sweet about photographing ice cream. Michael Ray, a professional food photographer, says ice cream and “pizza pulls” when a hot slice is pulled from a pie are the toughest models to shoot. Ice cream melts quickly and the cheese from a pizza can get real stringy, so both are very stubborn subjects.

Ray says food photography is much harder than it looks. Getting a good picture can take all day, as stylists are constantly rearranging props and dishes during a shoot. “Meticulous lighting” is also crucial.

Though he enjoys shooting steak, lobster, or scallops – especially if there are leftovers – Ray tries not to eat on the job. He once unknowingly ate a handful of grapes on set that were sprayed with crystal clear lacquer for shine. It took him hours to get the nasty taste out of his mouth and now he’s much more careful about nibbling on his models in the middle of work.