Professional food photography has the power to give diners an amazing culinary experience, one that they’ll want to come back to enjoy time and time again.
If you’re someone who constantly captures food shots and you want to improve your food photography skills, there are a few essential dos and don’ts that you should never forget. Let’s take a look.
The Dos of Food Photography
1. Use Natural Lighting
Lighting is the number one game-changer behind amazing food photography. Having bad lighting for your photoshoot will only make your photos look bad and unprofessional.
Use natural lighting as much as possible, whether it’s light from the sun or cafe lighting. Natural lighting will add extra color to the food you’re shooting without all the hard shadows that come with using artificial lights.
If you shoot outside, always pick a spot that has ample shade. Harsh, direct sunlight will also create unwanted shadows and spots in your photographs.
2. Use Shots From Multiple Levels
When you capture your subject from different levels, you’ll have more options to choose from. This is essential if you’re doing a photoshoot for a restaurant’s menu, they’ll want to have a variety of photographs to look at before selecting the one they like best.
There are three main levels in the world of photography: master, medium, and close-up. The master shot will capture the food that’s served as well as the brand and story of the restaurant. This shot will also include different objects such as dinnerware or a menu, etc.
The medium shot is a bit closer up than the master shot. It will mainly center on the food with small details that include the branding, such as a plate or the menu.
Lastly, the close-up shot focuses entirely on the food. This shot needs to be as genuine as possible. Don’t waste time posing the food, rather let it speak for itself, like cheese bubbling on a hot pizza or butter melting on a pile of pancakes.
3. Use Software to Edit
Editing is an integral part of photography, but take care not to overdo it. Simply give your photographs a little brush up to improve them and give them a more professional feel.
Use decent photo editing software to gently bring out the natural color of the food, and your shots will look mouthwatering. Enhance your photos using Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to take your food photography to the next level.
4. Use Different Angles
Don’t be afraid to be creative and explore a range of different angles. The particular food or dish you photograph will decide what angle is best. You need to experiment with different perspectives to get the best possible shot.
For example, if you want to capture a large cheese platter, it’s best to take the picture from above. When it comes to something like a burger or a sandwich, it’s best to take the photo from the side.
The Don’ts of Food Photography
1. Don’t Over Clutter the Shots
There’s usually a selection of different extras and props in food photography, like cutlery or a chopping board. However, the trick is not to get distracted by these props.
Consider if the extra item fits into the scene you want to create, and if it does, add it in. But if it doesn’t make sense, it could wreck the whole photo. Don’t distract the viewer from what you’re trying to show them.
For example, if you want to showcase fresh fried fish alongside hand-cut fries, then forget about silly extras like wine glasses or napkin rings. This will only add unnecessary clutter.
2. Don’t Use Your Camera’s Flash
Nothing can beat natural lighting when it comes to excellent food photography. However, one of the most common mistakes photographers make is using flash to take food pictures.
If you choose to use the flash on your camera, especially in a dimly lit area, it will make your photographs come out both overexposed and underexposed.
This is an important note to always keep in mind; don’t use the flash! Never use it unless you’re taking your photos inside a studio. If not, stay away from the flash, as it’ll only result in ugly shots with harsh lighting.
3. Don’t Work With Stale Food
Only photograph food that has been freshly made. Do you know anyone who looks at a photo of a salad with mushy tomatoes and wilted salad leaves and still wants to eat it? Probably not.
When you take pictures of food, every ingredient needs to be in mint condition. Otherwise, you’ll end up giving yourself extra work when you have to come back and do the shoot again.
Schedule a time that you can meet with the chef or the cook, and then choose the menu items you’ll photograph. Once the preparation is complete, the photoshoot can take place immediately.
Don’t let the food sit around for too long. If you make that mistake, a piece of steak will end up looking dry, or a cheesy pizza will look stale and unappetizing.
4. Don’t Forget About the Narrative
Your photos need to tell a story if you’d like them to have a lasting impact on someone. You want the images you take to add depth, so go beyond expectations and let your creative juices flow.
Whether you’re trying to tell a simple story or a complex one, the photographs you take need to conjure up emotions from the audience.
For example, if you shoot a family recipe for a traditional Thai Tom Yum soup, keep it authentic. Present it in a genuine Thai dish or bowl and add in a soup ladle, a wedge of lime, and some chopsticks.
Your Food Photography Can Look Delicious and Enticing Every Time
You’ve visualized what you want your photographs to look like, but it’s tough to take photos of food that constantly look beautiful and delicious.
It’s tricky to find the correct angles or lighting, and sometimes your photos can end up looking terrible and off-putting. You’re supposed to encourage viewers to eat the food you capture, not lose their appetite.
Food photography is complex and not as simple as you might think. Take care to remember these dos and don’ts, and you’ll end up with the results you’ve been aiming for.
