The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that over half of all professional photographers are self-employed freelancers, and that the world of professional photography is quite competitive. Whether you’re a professional or an amateur, though, learning how to take gorgeous photos of food can help you launch your photography forward, as food-based blogs and magazines are becoming more and more popular these days. These six food photography tips will help you take more appealing food photos:
1. Cut out distractions
Food photography should focus on – what else? – the actual food. Other items in the way of the food can be distracting and take away from the beauty of your photography. Cutting out the distractions means cropping the photo in close to the food and keeping the surroundings simple. If you do have any props in the photo, make sure they’re related to the food and the experience of enjoying it, as unrelated props will just detract from your photo.
2. Use a lower angle
While we usually view food from a high angle as we sit above it at a table, your food photography will look better if you shoot from a lower angle than you think you should. Get right down on the level of the food. This will make your photos look more interesting, and will also help show the details of the food better. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule; when you’re photographing soup, for instance, you wouldn’t be able to see anything if you took the shot from a too-low angle.
Photo by Adrian Hoffman
3. Choose the right lens
Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, having the perfect lens will make your food photography stand out and give you the capability to get better effects during your photo shoot. A macro lens is the best bet, since you can use it to get in tight to the food. If you don’t already have a macro lens, you could check online for the best credit card deals and sign up for a card that will let you buy a new lens for your food photography. It can be a good investment, especially if you’re looking to make money by shooting food for magazine spreads or even a blog that brings in some extra cash each month.
4. Use soft, natural-looking lighting
As with any sort of product photography, the key to great food photography is to use natural-looking light that won’t leave harsh shadows. Flash photography will distort the colors and details in unpredictable ways. If you can, shoot the food in natural light. If this isn’t possible, you can make your own natural-looking lighting by bouncing bright utility lights off of a pure white sheet hung from dowel rods.
Photo by By ShironekoEuro
5. Show the details
Great food photography is all about making the viewer feel like they are sitting at the table getting ready to try that gorgeous food. It’s about texture and color, so you need to make sure you get those things in your photo. Zooming in close to the photo can help, as can using a shallow depth of field. If the background is a bit fuzzy, the details of the actual focus of the photo will seem all the clearer.
Photo By Sharon Mollerus
6. Brighten food up with oil
One trick that professional food photographers often use is to make the details stand out even more with a very light coating of brushed-on vegetable oil. It can make foods look hot or moist like they’re supposed to be. Keep in mind that if you use too much, though, you’ll end up with photos of food that is obviously greasy, which is not a good thing! Experiment with oil on different types of food to see where you get the best effects.
These six tips come from professional food photographers who shoot for blogs, magazines, and other venues. Whether you just want your blog readers to see how enticing your chocolate chip cookies are or you’re shooting photos of exotic foods for a local magazine, these tips will make the food in your photography look more appealing.
