If you think food photography is only about casually capturing the food subjects, think again!
So much goes into capturing a perfect shot, and food photos are no different. You could be someone looking to sell food photos or a homeowner looking to click photos for your abstract paintings.
Irrespective, knowing certain ground rules and tips will help you capture unforgettable food photos.
So how do you get started, and what things to keep in mind?
No worries – I’m here to help!
As you might know I’m an award winning designer and successful online entrepreneur. I offer one on one business consulting via Zoom anywhere in the world. I love sharing business tools to help people to run a highly successful company.
With this in mind, I put together this quick guide with tips to nail food photography!
Food photography is different from general shots, owing to all the props and subjects. It requires a lot of patience, time, natural light and most importantly right equipment.
You need good quality camera equipment for food photography as it often involves close-up shots or product images. Since you are working on an up-close shot, you can’t compromise on the quality. Especially if you’re thinking of creating your own recipe book, utilizing the maximum out of these tips is a must!
So, always work with a tripod as it comes in handy when shooting long exposure shots.
A high-quality food photograph also requires the right camera equipment. To protect your investment and ensure peace of mind, consider obtaining insurance for photographers. The insurance coverage will prevent damage or loss to your gear, so you can focus on your food photography and make the most of the tips.
As for camera lenses, using a 50mm prime lens is an ideal choice to capture gorgeous food images. Most DSLRs come equipped with macro lenses, which are relatively good for food photography. However, make sure you change the lens to a macro one for close-up shots.
The use of colorful and contrasting backgrounds can add to your photos, making them more attractive. You can also try using themed backgrounds for your shots.
For props, you can use anything related to the food. For instance, if it’s a pizza shot, use pepper and oregano as props to add authenticity.
For props, consider browsing FoxBackDrop. They have a great collection, ranging from newborn photography props to food props.
While shooting food photos, remember not to overdo it by adding unnecessary elements in the frame. Rather, keep your photos simple by just capturing the food.
If you are looking to add something in the frame, then use natural and related props to the food. For example, when shooting a bowl of noodles with veggies, avoid throwing in cutlery unrelated to it. Rather than that, set up a small placemat and chopstick.
Arguably one of the most important aspects to keep in mind while taking food shots is the angle from which you capture it.
Remember, you don’t want to shoot directly from above, as it will make your subject look like a blob instead of a delicious dish.
So, try shooting from a lower angle to make the food look more inviting. You can also shoot from an angle that shows all its ingredients.
Avoid using cluttered or busy backgrounds as it will take away the attention from the food.
For most shots, a white background will work well, especially desserts or products with white/light-colored surfaces. However, you can experiment with colorful backdrops too to depict your pictures.
The last thing you want is to ruin an otherwise perfect shot by playing with colors. To ensure that your picture looks great, maintain consistency in color tone throughout the frame.
For example, if you take shots of apples at different angles, make sure all of them have similar or contrasting hues to avoid making pictures look patchy.
This is the part where you can add that special touch to your images and elevate them.
For food photos, it’s best not to use heavy editing as many people will instantly notice it and think that the product was not original. You can add appropriate filters that bring out colors in a more natural way.
A lot goes into clicking unforgettable food photos. Make sure you keep the above tips in mind and click awesome photos! Good luck.
I love sharing business tools to help people to run a highly successful company. I offer one on one business consulting via Zoom anywhere in the world.
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