Food is something that everyone can relate to. It is a universal language. So, today, I’m going to give you my top tips and tricks for capturing those moments in videography. Whether you are an aspiring content creator or just want to capture moments on your phone with family and friends, you’ll find some helpful guidance below.
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Aim for Natural Lighting
This one is important in all aspects of photo and video production, especially for food. My personal favorite style of lighting is to shoot in natural lighting. Make sure you have a good balance because too much light will appear washed out. On the other end, if it’s too dark, then it will come out grainy and shadowy.
Using a reflector can also help with bouncing more light onto your subject, or diffusing light if it’s too bright. Depending on where you are shooting can help determine the appropriate size you should buy.
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Incorporate Movement
For videos, you want to make sure there is some aspect of movement happening. Otherwise, the video will come off as boring and stagnant. This doesn’t necessarily have to always be the camera moving (which could lead to shakiness if handheld) but it could also be movement of the food dish you are shooting. Maybe it’s syrup pouring onto pancakes, or an amazing cheese pull.
Use a Tripod
You’ll find it very helpful to have a reliable tripod on hand, especially if you are shooting solo. A sturdy tripod will help with getting reliable consistent footage without a lot of shakiness and also can lend an extra hand so you can incorporate your cheese pull, syrup pours, and other movement shots.
Use Different Angles
Another tip that can help your photos and videos look more unique is incorporating different angles. Try to be creative and think of different angles to capture your shots. For example, if you have a cheese pull, it could make it seem more monumental to have a low-to-high angle to capture it as it rises and the camera angle pans up toward it.
Eliminate Clutter
You want the “hero” to be the food. Make sure to keep a clean and organized work space to allow the focus to be on the appeal of the food dish you are shooting.
Pick the Right Lens
In both video and photo, the lens you choose to use could drastically change the way your subject looks. With many advancements to phone cameras, the options are now there for casual shooters as well as professionals. When planning your shot list, make sure to also consider the look of the shot you are going for — wide angle, macro, depth of field, etc.
Shoot Higher FPS for Slow Motion Video
Given the advancements of phone cameras, this is an option for novices and professionals alike. Utilizing higher frame rates such as 60, 120 and even 240 in some cases will allow you to capture footage in slow motion. Think of those examples we gave earlier with the syrup falling or cheese pull stretching. Those are great options to incorporate some slow motion into your scene.
Keep in mind that you want to make sure you have ample amount of lighting because, as your frame rate goes higher, you’ll also have to raise your ISO. You don’t want to go too far because then your footage might start to become grainy and take away from the quality look.
@itsmycheatday #bts from my #photoshoot ♬ original sound – Itsmycheatday
Ask for a Table Near the Window
Remember how we said lighting is extremely important? Personally, I love to try to get to a restaurant early while it’s still light out. It’s not uncommon for me to be eating dinner at 5 pm — or even 4 pm — during the winter when there’s less daylight. Part of the reason for that is to capture that natural light that’s going to help my photos and videos stand out. If you see a table by the window and you know you want to try to capture some great shots, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Now that you know the food videography tips… Are you looking for the right gear for your camera bag? Check out What’s In My Bag: Food Content Creator Jessica Hirsch (@CheatDayEats)
Check out more of my work in AdoramaTV’s new docuseries, THE MASTERS.
