Bob McClenahan is a Napa Valley-based photographer specializing in the needs of the wine industry. His goal as a photographer is to make clients look good. He says: Women should look beautiful. Guys should look cool. Events should look fun. Bottles should look perfect. And Napa valley should look idyllic.
Years In The Industry: Almost three
Company: Napa’s Photographer
Instagram: @bobmc
Facebook: Bob McClenahan
Notable Clients: Visit Napa Valley, Napa Valley Vintners. Restaurants: Market, Silverado Country Club, Solbar, Miminashi, Tarla, 1313 Main, Eater SF. Other: The Beer Wench’s Guide to Beer.
What inspired you to pursue this career and what do you love most about it?
I loved the freedom. I create my own schedule. And I get to be creative.
Where did you get your photography education?
Nothing formal. I just study others’ work.
What kind of camera and equipment do you use?
Nikon D810 mostly with about 14 lenses. I try to use natural light when shooting food or mimic the look of window-light with strobes.
You see food trends first hand. What do you think is the next big thing in our industry?
Foam sauces. Kidding. It seems restaurants are really trying to create food from hyper local suppliers. Lots of restaurants have a garden close by.
What food driven magazines and books do you read and draw your inspiration from? Food & Wine, Savuer, and Martha Stewart’s Living.
What would you say your signature style is? What makes you unique?
When it comes to food photography, I like simplicity. For portraiture, I try to capture people being natural.
What is your office/work environment like?
My desk is clean. The studio is a mess.
What is your creative process?
I usually start out with a vague idea of what I want to capture then I spend the rest of my time trying to figure HOW to capture it.
Chefs and restaurateurs are a creative bunch, is it hard to balance their vision with yours?
It’s often difficult dealing with clients. Their ideas are often cheesy or impossible given the budget or time constraints. I still get people wanting that “black and white with just that one thing in color” look. Or “I have 27 dishes to photograph and an hour before the dinner rush.”
What is your favorite project to date and who was it for?
I recently followed a bunch of bloggers around the Napa Valley as they were wined and dined. Every meal – breakfast, lunch and dinner – was crafted by the area’s best event planners and caterers.
Do you travel for your job?
If so what’s your schedule like and what standards have to be met for you to agree to take the trip? I really don’t travel much. I rarely even make it to Sonoma.
What gets a photographer excited at a food photo-shoot?
When the light and the plates are beautiful, I can get some beautiful images.
Name a client you’ve shot for whose food styling and cuisine blew your mind?
Actually, the chef at Pine Ridge Vineyards created some of the most beautiful food I’ve seen. But there are many chefs throughout the valley who are creating some dishes that can be treated as art.
If you could shoot for anyone in the world, who would it be for and why?
Oh, man. That’s tough. I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world… surrounded by some of the best chefs. That said, I’d love to shoot the east coast food scene as a change of pace.
You can learn more about photographer Bob McClenahan at his Chef’s Roll Industry Profile HERE.
