Check Out Matt Ritscher’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Ritscher.

Hi Matt, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was young, I started working in kitchens. Over the years, I have worked in catering, food production, line work, and fine dining. I loved working with food, but I did not want to make a career out of working in the culinary world.

A few years after college, I got into photography and soon found a friend that let me shoot some of their menu items. After this, I have worked with a variety of restaurant groups as well as Open Table, and Go Daddy to create images for marketing and advertising.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Working in the creative arts is never easy. There is self-doubt, and you have to hustle all the time to get that next client, and then once you do, it usually is a quick turnaround. But I have my methods down, and for my food photos, I can usually get a quick turnaround.

Most people think a cell phone is good enough for their photos, but once they compare it to what I work with, you can see the difference in quality. That is the hardest part about any creative field, many people think they can find it cheaper. But that usually means lesser quality.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I got started in photography, shooting weddings and elopements. This is hard because you have to know what you are doing and there are no do-overs. But this prepared me for working in the commercial photo/video space. I have learned how to work fast and get the shots I need. From outdoor apparel companies to off-road- to food, you must be ready and adaptable.

I like to shoot light and nimble and not have a bunch of gear in the way. For some restaurants, I shoot with a very simple setup, for others, I need to bring a light or two, but usually, it is unobtrusive and not a big show. With food you have to work fast; things melt, cheese looks plastic after a few seconds, and the meat looks dull without oil.

Having spent so much time around food, I know how things need to be worked with and shot.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
You have to adapt. One of the big things that set me apart is the amount of content a client receives from a shoot. The days of delivering 10-20 images are over.

Digital photography is changing everything and is more accessible. I work to provide value for my clients. Multiple images and “looks” of each dish, framed for various use cases. From magazines to billboards to social posts. 10-20 photos might not even last a client a week. So the most significant shift is providing more value for the client.

Pricing:

• Full menu shoots start at $2500 for 6 hours. This is $500 off the hourly rate.
• Otherwise, I am $500/hr. This includes shoot time and editing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.newhopephotography.com/food
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denverfoodphotographer/