Food. Farms. Chefs. - Food stories in New York's Hudson Valley, Brooklyn and beyond from photographer Jennifer May

Lentil Soup from Scraps

Posted on March 31, 2019by Jennifer May

I spent some time in the kitchen photo studio and cooked a lentil soup made from scraps. This is not so extraordinary… until you learn that reducing food waste is the #3 recommended solution to reversing carbon emissions. This is according to Project Drawdown, which is a comprehensive plan to reverse global warming.

The soup was inspired by some left over coconut milk we had in our fridge from last night’s dinner, and a half lemon I had placed in the “eat me first” bin in our fridge.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to blog more about my efforts to reduce food waste in our kitchen.

Kitchen Photo Studio of the Hudson Valley

Kitchen Photo Studio

Posted on January 30, 2019by Jennifer May

Kitchen Photo Studio Hudson Valley NY

Kitchen Photo Studio Upstate NY

Kitchen Photo Studio Catskills NY

This year, I built a kitchen photo studio on my property in the Hudson Valley. It is such a relief to have space to move. Our own house is very tiny, and it has been challenging, over the years, to do my work based out of it. I can now move around freely in 800 square feet of open space, amidst tons of great natural light. As well, I have ample storage for a collection of props, linens, and surfaces I have been collecting over the years.

Cookbooks

Joe Beef Cookbook

Posted on January 24, 2019by Jennifer May

The second Joe Beef cookbook has been published, and it was an incredible experience. Over the space of a year, I gave the book about 30 shooting and travel days. Plus maybe another 15 days doing edits, organizing, prepping and sending files. That is a lot of days on one cookbook shoot Most cookbook shoots I get are budget around 7 days for photography.

On most of our shoot days we started in the morning, shot through the entire day, into the evening, and ended well into dinner service. The goal was to capture everything – but of course, when working with people who create new ideas as quickly as you can document current ideas, it’s a constant game of catch-up. When I work with Fred, Dave, Meredith, Marco, and the rest of the Joe Beef family, my mantra is: ‘Keep up, and don’t f*** it up’. Below is a short preview video I made to splash the book on social media. And, a sample of my favorite photos from the book.

Cookbooks

Japan Cookbook

Posted on January 20, 2019by Jennifer May

Announcing the Japan Cookbook that I photographed and that was published last April. This is clearly an overdue post, on an overlooked blog. Japan was written by Nancy Singleton Hachisu and published by Phaidon. The props were picked by Barb Fritz, and the food was cooked and styled by Hannah Kirshner, with the help of her assistant Saori Kurioka. We borrowed handmade pottery from potters in Brooklyn and San Francisco. And Hannah called on specialty farmers she knew across the country to send us unusual Japanese produce. An enormous team produced this book, I only wish I knew everyone’s names to note them all personally.

Product Photography

Lail Ceramics

Posted on September 16, 2018by Jennifer May

I spent a day with Lail Ceramics, a potter based in Woodstock, NY. In the morning, I drove over to the Kingston Farmer’s Market and picked up beautiful in-season produce. Then, we photographed the new color lines and plates. These dishes feel so good in the hands, and absolutely everything looks beautiful in them.

Restaurants

The Amsterdam Restaurant

Posted on May 28, 2018by Jennifer May

I have been making regular visits to photograph the chef, staff, bar, and menu items at The Amsterdam Restaurant, in Rhinebeck, NY. As usual, with restaurant photography, the shots are used on the restaurant’s website, printed matter, advertorials, and through their social media channels. Here are some recent shots.

Butchery & Meat

Applestone Meat Co

Posted on May 1, 2018by Jennifer May

I dropped in at the Applestone Meat Co for some new meat shots. The Applestone team took care of cooking all the meats. And Barb Fritz was on hand to deliver the props and style these pretty moments. Small team packing a punch.

Magazines & The New York Times

Edible Westchester Magazine

Posted on April 16, 2018by Jennifer May

Edible Westchester Magazine

The second issue of Edible Westchester Magazine features a photograph I took of Chef Chris Vergara. He took me on a foraging walk through some public lands in Westchester County. We looked for ramps, wild onions, and mushrooms. While squatting in the bushes, to get this shot, I also kept my eyes open for ticks and poison ivy. I love photographing in nature, but I am a little bit obsessed with the pests and hazards.

Jennifer May Photographer

And, here is a shot Chef Vergara took of me, from my perch behind a log.

Awards Magazines & The New York Times Video

Eddy Award Finalist – Iron Cross Cooking

Posted on January 30, 2018by Jennifer May

A video I made became a top 5 finalist for an Eddy Award. It’s not a win, but it’s not a loss! (The Eddy Awards are brought to us by the people who put together the family of Edible magazines.) I made the video during a cover shoot for the premier issue of Edible Westchester magazine. Chef Christian Petroni, co-chefs and friends gathered to cook a local lamb using an Argentinian style of cooking. Petroni had a steel cross, of sorts, fabricated by a steel-worker, and he lit a fire underneath. They spent the day stoking coals, watching the meat get “more and more sexy by the minute.” Check out the video, above.

Eddy Award Edible Westchester Chef Christian Petroni

On the Road

Happy Holidays 2017

Posted on January 18, 2018by Jennifer May

Happy Holidays 2017!

I am writing this in the early days of 2018. The holidays have come and gone, and we are all marching forward into the new year. I am reflecting on the year behind me, and looking ahead.

In 2017 I joined a gym. I have never thought of myself as a gym person, but things change. As I peddle and push I watch TED talks and music videos. Sometimes I imagine myself as a super hero, and I am always glad I went.

This December, we traveled to Hornby Island and spent time with my family. My brother and some friends charged into the frigid Pacific Ocean on New Year’s Day.

For the year ahead, I look forward to collaborating on exciting photo projects, quality time with my 5-year-old, and laughs with my husband. After today’s TED talk at the gym, I am inspired to spend less time browsing social media, and more time turning the pages of books.

Video

Swoon-Worthy Swirls

Posted on December 15, 2017by Jennifer May

The Fearless Baker wanted to show her followers how to make swoon-worthy swirls. We got together and made a video. Cake & swirls by Erin McDowell, video & editing by me.

Bread & Baking Video

How to Prep a Double Crust Pie

Posted on November 17, 2017by Jennifer May

How to prep a double crust pie… look at it! It looks just like the ones my grandmother used to bake. Erin Jeanne McDowell, the Fearless Baker, shows you how to prep that dough, so you can make one, too. We made this pair of pie videos in the week prior to Thanksgiving. Although, there is a whole season of pie-appropriate holidays to come. I’m definitely going to see if I can make one to match Erin’s.

Bread & Baking Video

How to Prep a Single Crust Pie

Posted on November 17, 2017by Jennifer May

If you have ever wondered how to prep a single crust pie, here is a very clear demonstration. Erin Jeanne McDowell, the Fearless Baker herself, and I made a video showing you how to do it. This video shows the step between making your dough and filling and baking your pie. This shows the very crucial rolling out, trimming, and crimping of a single crust pie.

Look at all that butter! No matter how many times I work with Erin (and I have worked with her a lot, both when I hire her to make food for my photoshoots, or when she hired me to photograph her baking cookbook) I am always surprised by the butter in the dough. One day I will get it right, and stop over-mixing mine. One day.

Cookbooks

The Fearless Baker Cookbook

Posted on October 25, 2017by Jennifer May

The Fearless Baker Cookbook was published yesterday. My friend and colleague, Erin McDowell, wrote it and I photographed it for her last summer. Erin wrote a beautiful story about the process for Food52, complete with lots of behind-the-scenes pictures I took for her. Check it out for a sample of her terrific writing. And here are some photos of recipes you will find in the book. As Erin writes: 200 recipes, 1000 photos later, The Fearless Baker is born…

In My Kitchen/Garden Video

French Apple Tart Video

Posted on October 5, 2017by Jennifer May

My friend, Kendra McKnight, came over to my house and she baked the most beautiful French apple tart. I made a little movie about it.

Product Photography Video

Stop Motion Animation

Posted on September 4, 2017by Jennifer May

A stop motion animation for Maille mustard. I get a lot of calls to create content for Instagram accounts. This one, for Maille, was particularly fun. I staged, shot and edited the entire thing, with just a very small crew.

On the Road Video

Tulsi Tincture Video

Posted on August 2, 2017by Jennifer May

This summer I spent the better part of July on the west coast of Canada. It was a work trip combined with a family trip. One of the projects I worked on was this short video, which demonstrates how to make a fresh tulsi tincture.

Tulsi, also called Holy Basil, is a sacred plant in India. It has been used for thousands of years for detox, to help alleviate stress, and to increase stamina. My sister uses tulsi in her Ayurvedic practice. My brother grows the herb in his greenhouse at the Earth Lab on Hornby Island. I photograph food stories. We put our passions together and this is one of the projects we created.

Advertising

Editorial Style Product Photography for PepsiCo

Posted on June 16, 2017by Jennifer May

I got a call to do some editorial style product photography for PepsiCo. The shoot was to be at their Research & Development headquarters in Vallhalla, NY. This is the center of the world, as far as PepsiCo goes. I am situated in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley, and so much seems to be right down the road from me. These images will be used to promote two new products from PepsiCo: Pepsi Fire and LemonLemon. Food styling was by Laura Kinsey, with prop styling by Kristine Trevino.

Butchery & Meat On Assignment

Edible Hudson Valley Magazine Cover

Posted on June 1, 2017by Jennifer May

For its summer issue, Edible Hudson Valley Magazine ran a special feature called “The Women of the Hudson Valley.” I am thrilled to have a portrait I shot of Barb the Butcher on its cover.

Edible Hudson Valley Magazine cover by Jennifer May

Hudson Valley Restaurants

Canoe Hill Restaurant in the Hudson Valley

Posted on May 31, 2017by Jennifer May

I recently visited the Canoe Hill Restaurant on assignment for Hudson Valley Magazine. The restaurant is owned by Michael DelGrosso and his wife, Lauren Lancaster. They are Hudson Valley transplants, via Brooklyn, where Michael helped create the aesthetic of many of Manhattan’s and Brooklyn’s most beautiful restaurants. I only wish he would bring his eye to Woodstock. I would be a regular.