The Top 5 Tips for Food Photography

Food photography is one of the most challenging types of photography out there. Like painting, you start with a blank canvas and paint it layer upon layer. You construct the photo of your style until you reach the perfect balance of reality and art. Whether it is fruits or homemade pastas, you’re telling the stories of your own.

Here are 5 tips on how to do perfect food photography:

1. Setting Up:

Think of the food beforehand. Its size, shape, height and what is unique about it. Then place the camera where you think best highlights these qualities. Some dishes look great when you shoot from right in front of the food, and others are best suited when the you are looking down from directly above the table.

2. Keep It Simple:

Take out stuff you don’t need. Take out things on the table that are distracting and pair down to just one plate of food. If the food once cooked is unattractive only show a portion of it. Do something with it, get creative with props and cropping and follow the “more is less” rule of thumb.

3. Always Keep The Plates Clean:

This goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. The plates and props holding the food must be absolutely 100% pristine, clean, flaw free. When you shoot close up, like most food requires, any imperfections will show up and look like the dish is messy or incomplete.

4. Modify Your Light:

Light is always important, and acquiring a few tools to help you control it will bring your food photography up to the next level. Making sure that your light doesn’t distract and will help out your food photos big time. Placing a diffusor between the window and your table is first on the list. When working with direct sunlight, a diffusor will greatly improve the quality of light. Softening those hard, dark shadows and bright highlights caused by direct sun light.

5. Color Is Important:

This important tip was to have props that are colorful, but if you’re not careful that colorful prop can easily upstage your food, and grab all the attention. When placing items into your food images, try selecting neutral tones, something that makes the food really pop against it.