Discover the Secrets to Great Mouth-Watering Food Photos

Food photography is very much in demand. Yes, you heard it right. You can really make money simply by taking photos of your meals! But before you grab your camera and start clicking away, you should first know how to take good quality food photos – the kind that makes your mouth water just by looking at it!

Good food photography is a combination of adept food styling skills and using the right photography techniques. Do you think you have what it takes to make it work? Of course you do! You just need to know the basics and you can start on your journey to professional food photography.

Food Styling Tips

Are you ready to learn how you can turn up with those visually appealing masterpieces? Although working with a professional food stylist can be of great help, you don’t need to be one to come up with nicely arranged dishes. All you need is to know how it works, do a lot of practice, and you’re all set. The following tips and techniques are proven to work wonders so read on!

1. Capture the natural beauty of food. Food photography is all about flaunting the beauty of food so you need to consider what makes a particular dish delicious and take it from there. So, if you’re taking photos of a roasted chicken, highlight its crisp golden brown skin. If the star of your show is an ice cream, focus on its creaminess. That’s how you do it right!
2. Consider your servings. While minimalist food photography favors smaller portions, so-called food pornography advocates lavish quantities of foods. Minimalists think that smaller portions look more appealing while the other camp believes that food photography should create an idea of abundance. It’s really a matter of style so feel free to go with what works best for you.
3. Use simple crockery and tableware. You wouldn’t want to steal the spotlight from the real star of the show, would you?
4. Consider using paper. If you’re going with the minimalist approach, consider using baking paper to soften the lines of your plate and add a visual appeal to your photos.
5. Garnish it. Garnishing your food can help heighten visual interest. So, add a small amount of herb or sprinkle some garlic or chili on top of your dish and see how much better it looks!
6. Use contrast to your advantage. Consider using a white background when photographing vibrantly colored dishes. Take photos of pale dishes on a dark background. You’ll get better, more appealing shots this way!
7. Mess it up a little. Don’t worry about some food spilling over. It adds life and some vibrancy to your photos. And that can effectively turn an otherwise good shot to a great one!
8. Consider taking action shots. You can get some really nice results by taking photos while preparing and cooking the food.

Food Photography Techniques

Now that you know how to arrange and prep your foods, let’s talk about some food photography techniques that will highlight the best in the star of your show.

1. Shoot where there is adequate light. Food styling alone won’t make for a great photo if you’re shooting in a terribly lighted area. For best results, shoot where there is adequate natural light. As such, consider shooting by the window where natural light abounds.
2. Focus on the food. Using a shallow depth of field works best in food photography. It zooms in on the food while keeping the background uncluttered.
3. Consider angles and perspective. Some food looks best when photographed from above while some looks better when photographed at its level. Still others look great when photographed with the camera tilted clockwise or counter clockwise. Try to experiment to see which one will come up looking great. After all, it wouldn’t cost you any extra, would it?
4. Always observe the rule of thirds. Following this rule will give you some strong, interesting photos you can truly be proud of.

Taking great food photos is not an easy job. However, by following these tips and techniques, you are taking your craft a notch higher. So, just keep practicing and soon you’ll be acknowledged as a true professional in your field.

I hope you find something useful in today’s article,

Ray Baker