8 Surefire Food Photography Tips

Last updated on August 26th, 2024 at 10:46 am

Do you look at all of the beautiful food photos on social media, and wonder why your photos aren’t quite as good? If the answer is yes, don’t miss these surefire food photography tips. We want to help you take your skills to the next level!

Do you laugh at people taking pictures of their meal in restaurants? It’s true that most of them are not professional food photographers. Just holding your phone over your plate and snapping a picture doesn’t make you a photographer.

So, what is the right way to photograph your food? Can an amateur take photos of their food that look professional? That’s what we’re going to talk about.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the best ways to ensure that your food photos look as delicious as possible. Ready to create something beautiful? Let’s get started!

8 Surefire Food Photography Tips

Pick Your Aesthetics 

The first thing you need to determine is the style of your image. Are you going with a minimalistic feel? Do you want your picture to look cozy and rustic? Whichever it is, make sure the style you’re aiming for matches your dish. If you use props during the shoot, then make sure that they blend in seamlessly with the overall aesthetics of the image.

Find the Perfect Lighting

Only proper lighting will help you emphasize the shape and texture of the food you’re shooting. Most photographers go with a side light, as it is the most flattering light for food photography. The light itself should be soft and diffused, since stark light produces harsh shadows that can spoil even the most beautiful shot. And this is a no-brainer — natural light is always better than artificial. 

Try Different Layouts and Compositions

While fresh food is more often than not already beautiful in its own right, it’s your job to make it look even better. That is why you need to play with the composition, to find the perfect frame for the plate. Experiment away — try to move the food around, add or remove props, change the shooting angle to find not only the best possible composition, but your signature style as well. 

Don’t Clutter the Frame

Have too many items and subjects to shoot? Don’t cram them all into one frame. There should be a little “breathing room” or uncluttered space in your photo, that’s why you should only have the plate and a few other complementing details. Play with the layout all you want, but keep this tip in mind.

Take Advantage of Color

Want to make your food photography completely irresistible? Then use colors that are scientifically proven to trigger appetite. These include warm colors like yellow, orange, and red.

Don’t necessarily want your food to increase hunger but just want a beautiful picture? Then consider having just one intense color that dominates your image, and leave the rest muted. 

Use a Neutral Background

Think of all the best food photographs you’ve seen. What did they all have in common? That’s right — many, or most, of them had a plain, even dull background. That is what you too should be striving for.

Take pictures of your colorful entries while leaving the background, well, in the background. Muted textured surfaces make the best backdrops since they don’t attract that much attention but are still something to see, should your viewer’s eye wander off. 

Use a Tripod

Food photography can get messy — literally. That’s why you need your hands free. A tripod is a great way to take off the burden of your hands and mind as well. After all, after mounting your camera or phone on a tripod you are completely free to arrange the composition and make adjustments without getting grease smudges on your lens. 

Embrace Post-Processing

And, the last of our surefire photography tips –there’s no shame in post processing your photos. Editing will help you bring out the best in your shots and get rid of any flaws and distractions. If Photoshop and Lightroom scare you off with their complexity and price tag, then consider going with more affordable and almost equally powerful alternatives.

If you’re a PC user, go with something like PhotoWorks. This is an AI-driven photo editor that is packed with pro tools that you can use to enhance your images in a snap.

If you don’t want to download any new software to your computer, then consider going online. For instance, Fotor is a robust photo editor with many advanced features and easy workflow.

If you primarily use your phone to take pictures, then check out these photo editing apps that are up to the task. 

And there you go — you’ve learned eight surefire food photography tips to take your food photography to the next level. Now you’re ready to take stunning photos that will be equal parts pretty and tasty. 

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