How to do Food Photography

Food photography is definitely one of the hardest niches to master. Not only because of the techniques and creativity required, but also because one can definitely not look at the heavenly food and drool over it. We are here to make at least one aspect better for you. This ‘how to do food photography’ article will guide you through basic tips that you will need to do Food Photography like a professional.

Light

If you read any article on how to do food photography like a professional, the very first thing that will come up is light. This is because the light rules in all kinds of photography, not just food photography. You need to understand how to make light work for you. First, you have to look for natural light. Going for overhead and built-in flashlights is not recommended. They will mess up the shadows and contrast of the images.

Secondly, you need to control the natural light. Too much light is bad for details, therefore, use diffusers. You can even use a thin white sheet on your windows, it will help to soften the shadows on the food. In case that there is less light and the shadows are getting darker, you can use foam boards. White ones are used for bouncing light back onto the surface. Whereas, black ones for minimizing light can also be found.

Photo edited in Lightroom.

The angle of the Image - How to do Food Photography

Food photography is quite tricky because there is not much to work with. It all depends on your creativity. The angle of the image is one of the few things that you can freely control. However, simply pointing and shooting will not work. Worry not, bear with us to understand how to do food photography while controlling the angle as well. The first thing that you need to do is to take a lot of pictures from different angles. After that, you need to carefully go through them and select the one that highlights its features. You can select the angle based on ingredients that can be seen or even to highlight the shape and the size of the food. For instance, burgers are mostly photographed from the side to show the mouth-watering sauces and the patties in all their majesty.

Composition

Other than angle, you also have freedom in composing the image. Keep in mind, the composition is what makes a difference in professional and amateur photography. Any guide on how to do food photography like a professional is incomplete if it does not showcase how to compose images so that they convey the intended story. Of course, the food is going to be the main focus. However, you need to keep an eye on the background as well. If there are too many items other than the food, it will distract the viewers. Also, keep an eye on the zoom. You do not need to zoom in too much, otherwise, viewers would not be able to tell what kind of food it is. A great way to shift focus towards the food is by using a composition technique called lines. You can use the cutlery or even some food items to point towards the main focus of the image. Other than focus, it also makes the image look aesthetically pleasing.

Photo edited in Photoshop

Some Settings Tweaks - How to do Food Photography

Now, of course, this ‘how to do food photography’ guide is more inclined to the techniques that you can employ. However, there are a few camera settings that you need to know to do food photography like a professional. The first thing that you need to remember is to shoot in RAW and manual mode. This will give you more creative and modular control in the post-editing process. Other than this keep an eye on the shadows and contrast. In food photography, the most important thing is that the colors pop and are vibrant. In the editing process, apply the white balance to make the image come to life.

Equipment that will come in handy

There is not a lot of external equipment that you will need to do food photography like a professional. Here are a few food photography tips that will definitely help you in getting better. The very first thing is a reliable tripod. You definitely cannot go wrong with a tripod. You might think that keeping the camera in your hands will give you more freedom. That is true but only to some extent. A tripod with a remote release will give you creative freedom without even worrying about blurring the picture. Hand shake can affect the image quality when you are fighting for the best details. So only a tripod will help you in that situation. When starting, you can practice with a basic point and shoot camera. As you get better, invest in a full-frame and a wide aperture lens. If you know anything about photography, you will be already acquainted with the impressive features of a full-frame camera. Also, a wide aperture lens will give you that depth of field effect.

Photo edited in Lightroom.

Conclusion - How to do Food Photography

Well, we hope that this article on how to do food photography helps you in getting better whether you are a food blogger or shoot for restaurants. Either way, if you are just starting, you need to keep practicing and experimenting. This will help you in finding your style. However, avoid shelling out bucks on props. Your kitchen or even home décor can come in handy for that purpose. You just need to get creative about the whole process. Finally, we hope that you get to play with a lot of divine food.