How to take mouth-watering food photography
Food photography becomes increasingly relevant with events like Thanksgiving Day or Christmas approaching. Besides your cooking skills, this type of photography also needs some special techniques to ensure the most toothsome results.
Let’s take a look at some of our tips to tickle our users’ tastebuds.
Choose flattering surfaces
Although food is the main protagonist of this kind of photography, you should also carefully choose the surface on which your meals are presented. Each type of food has its perfect match: traditional recipes will look best on wooden boards, and minimalist backgrounds work great with fresh food. On the other hand, high-cuisine dishes are usually presented on dark backgrounds that add a touch of elegance.
Don’t stick to horizontal and vertical angles
Generally, food photography uses overhead shots when presenting dishes. This angle imitates our natural point of view while looking at our meals from above. Some options, like cakes or desserts, look better using frontal shots. However, you can add some dynamism to your pictures by diagonally placing your food instead of going for traditional horizontal or vertical compositions. Avoid filling up your image with elements, and be intentional about which ones you include.
Light your dishes from the side
Lighting is a crucial aspect in photography, even more so when shooting food pictures. As we’ve covered earlier, overhead shots are the most common angles in food photography. Side lighting will bring the best out of your dishes’ textures and volumes. We also recommend you use soft lights to avoid harsh shadows in your meals.
Season your photographs with matching props
You can elevate your photographs with props that match your food through their colors or textures. Cutlery, kitchen equipment, or displaying the ingredients of your meal separately can make your compositions even more exciting and memorable. Inspire yourself with this color theory and choose the ones that best match your recipes.
Edit sharpness, saturation, and brightness
The first rule of food photography is to make your meals look as tasty as possible. Your digital editing should respect food’s natural appearance and texture. We recognize almost every food by its colors, so you should maintain or enhance them, making your recipes look freshly cooked.
Turn the stoves on, start cooking your most delicious recipes, and follow these tips to create drooling photographs. Bon appétit!
