Photos make a book real, even when said book’s existence is limited to a rough word doc. At least that’s how I felt at Vie on Saturday after an all-day photo shoot. It was the first shoot for Paul’s cookbook, the first attempt at capturing the visual side of the story. Considering that I hadn’t turned in the manuscript yet, we had a lot to decide. What look were we going for? Rustic but not cliché. Easygoing but cheffy. Cool but not too cool. Whatever all that means.
Fortunately, we had help: Jeff Kauck, the book’s photographer, his wife, Susie, and a photo assistant, Aaron. The photography team unloaded gear and set up shop in the restaurant’s entrance (it offered the best natural light). Sue set out antique plates and bowls that she generously loaned us for the shoot.
Paul wheeled in on his ten speed and started gathering mise en place for the shoot: the season’s first asparagus from Growing Power, wild garlic mustard found growing in a patch near Vie, farm eggs, Wisconsin trout, pea shoots, and ramps. Lots of ramps. On Saturday morning, one of the first warm days of the season, we were all about spring.
I helped on the content end, trying to ensure that dishes were evenly distributed between chapters and that the photos stayed true to the recipes. It sounds obvious, but it is easy to make a change while plating a dish that completely alters the recipe. Sometimes these decisions are good. We added a new cracker recipe because of a cheese-and-crackers shot. And we adjusted a recipe with baby leeks to better highlight the delicate spring vegetable.
As we worked, I snapped a few photos of the team in progress:
Ramps ready for their closeup: Jeff Kauck working on ingredient shots.
Sue’s array of antique plates and flatware
Would you drink a beer with trout, pickled ramps, and morels? Absolutely.
A stunner–and maybe my favorite plated dish of the day: wheat berry salad with pea shoots.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Kate, It was such an honor working with you and Paul on Saturday. Looking forward to many more great days working on this cookbook together!
Thanks, Susie! It was a great experience all around.