Food Photography: 8 Tips

Posted on 08/02/2022 by FTB

If you visit any bookstore and head to the cookbook or food magazine sections, you will be overwhelmed by the variety of books filled with wonderful photographs of the over-described foods. Many times the photos are the real stars of the book, with the recipes or intra-stories taking a secondary role. Are you a Food Truck owner and wish you had beautiful photos of your food? Are you excited about Food Trucks and interested in getting better shots of the delicious food you've tasted at these rolling bistros? If the answer to these questions is a resounding yes, then today's article is for you.

TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING FOOD
- Lighting
The first of our tips for food images is to photograph food as you would any other still life, lighting it as well as possible. Many of the bad examples of food photography we have encountered in researching this article could have been drastically improved with proper lighting. One of the best places to photograph food is next to a window where there is plenty of natural light, perhaps topped off with a flash from the ceiling or wall. In turn, daylight helps the food look much more natural.
- Don't disregard the context
Pay attention not only to the placement of the food as such but also to where you place it, including the surrounding plate or bowl.
- Be quick
Food doesn't retain its appetizing appearance for long, so as a photographer, you need to be well prepared and able to shoot quickly. Otherwise, you run the risk of food melting on you, collapsing, wilting, or changing color. This means being prepared and knowing what you want to accomplish before the food arrives.
- Style it
The way the food is placed on the plate is just as important as the photograph itself. Pay attention to the balance between the food. This includes color, shapes, etc. Provide a way into the shot, using main lines and the rule of thirds to help guide the viewer's eye to the plate. One of the best ways to learn is to get some cookbooks to see how the pros do it.
- Polish your food
You can use a little vegetable oil to polish the food. It will give the feeling of being even fresher.
- Photograph from plate level
One mistake many food photographers make is to take photos from top to bottom. While this may work in some circumstances, in most cases it is better to position the camera at plate level. Your photo will even be better from below, near the level of the plate, or slightly above.
- Macro
Focus on a paradigmatic part of the plate. This can be an effective way to highlight different elements of the dish.
- Add steam
Having steam coming off your food can give you a "freshly cooked" feel that appeals to a large audience. Of course, this can be difficult to achieve naturally. Food stylists suggest adding steam with several artificial strategies. These techniques include, for example, heating water-soaked cotton balls in the microwave and placing them behind the food.

And, voila!

...you have an instagrammable dish.