I am a semi-pro photographer and was looking to expand my photography. Food photography from what I've heard is an advanced art. But this book covers too much basic photography and not enough on how to shoot food.

The chapters on food and prop styling where good. The chapter on composition was also good with lots of examples from the bad shots to the keepers. The lighting chapter was a joke with no real advice on how to best light food. His description of lighting ratios was less than half a page and didn't explain how to setup the lights to achieve the ratios.

His Photoshop retouching examples are very-very basic. The last chapter on "Getting into the Business" has very general and basic business advice.

If you are new to photography and looking for your first photo book, this book could be helpful. Amateur and advanced enthusiast photographers should look elsewhere.

This is THE book to get when you're starting down the path as a food photographer. Lou Manna is a New York-based shooter who also offers workshops every other month or so in his studio (see: [...]). Lou's comprehensive book covers not only photography, but also such important factors as: how food photography is used (editorially, in marketing and on packaging), the role of the food stylist and the role of the prop stylist. His no-nonsense talk about food photography covers gear, composition, lighting, retouching and how to get in the business.

This book is a must if you are looking to do what most people buying 'subject' specific photography books do, that is have someone shorten the learning curve with really USEFUL tips/short cuts. In particular, I believe it is chapter 6, Composition, where this books earns 5 stars; instead of just telling you how to do what 'should' work in-theory, Lou Manna teaches the essential skill of problem solving by process of step by step refining of the previous shots. This is by far the definative book on Food Photography, by a very well seasoned professional TEACHER. I look forward to more books from Lou and continued learning from a great photographer!

Some good tips but as I shoot only RAW format, I disagree the basic method.

Lou Manna does an excellent job giving out the food photographer's "secrets" to making the food look good. I will be taking his food photography workshop in May 2008.