As a commercial photographer, you come across many different opportunities. But most clients put you in one niche - they’ll always call you for the same type of job. Mostly that’s due to only two reasons: that’s all that they actually need, or that’s all that they think you can do.

I have a lot of experience with different types of photography, I just don’t get the chance to use all of my skills all the time, or my vast knowledge of photography.

But my favorite clients are those who think, “We need a picture of this [whatever it is], let’s call K.S.N. Images.”

For those of you who know me more personally, you can tell I like food. Food photography is probably one of the most technically challenging types of photography you can do. I had the great opportunity to photograph the new menu of the Cove Steakhouse & Raw Bar at the Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino.

I remember the first time I had the opportunity to be involved in a food shoot. I was working in a catalog house back in New York. I really don’t remember exactly what the product was, but I remember the food stylist going through a bag of potato chips looking for just the right potato chip to put on the plate.

I also remember the time we had to photograph popcorn pouring out of the popcorn tin. We basically had to spray rubber cement on the popcorn to make it stick exactly where we wanted it to. And then another photographer’s boyfriend walked by, grabbed a handful of popcorn, and stuck it in his mouth. Totally a mixed-emotion moment. I was upset that I had to reset the shot I was working on, but I was laughing that the guy had a mouth full of rubber cement.

I like to think I can do most kinds of photography. I have a photographer I hire when people ask me to do aerial photography. I’ve never done underwater photography. But if you give me a few weeks, I can probably go to a YMCA and learn scuba diving if you ever need a shot of something in the ocean.

At the core of my like of photography is creating something out of nothing, or making something more exciting than the ordinary.

So to all my friends and clients out there, just remember, if you need a picture of something please don’t hesitate to give me a call. (Plus a few weeks’s warning if it’s underwater.)

If you’d like to see the whole layout from the Cove Steakhouse & Raw Bar’s menu shoot, here’s the link:

https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-philly/restaurants/the-cove#.VQBWrlrmInU

- Kevin S. Nash

Photo details: Cove Steakhouse & Raw Bar new menu photo shoot, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack, Chester, PA.