{"id":39734,"date":"2017-11-13T09:00:58","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T14:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=39734"},"modified":"2023-11-06T16:40:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-06T21:40:51","slug":"10-food-photography-tips-for-thanksgiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/10-food-photography-tips-for-thanksgiving\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Thanksgiving Food Photography Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Aside from being in the company of our loved ones, Thanksgiving is a time to stuff our faces with a delicious holiday feast! In addition to taking photos with the family during your Thanksgiving celebration<\/a>, what better way to remember these moments than by taking drool-worthy photos of all the food? After all, if there\u2019s another thing that today\u2019s generation loves about food, it\u2019s taking pictures of them. Here’s our list of tips to improve your Thanksgiving food photography<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended Camera Equipment and Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Image via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Taking photos of your Thanksgiving feast is a lot like professional food photography<\/a>, which means you\u2019ll need to abide by several food photography rules to achieve appetizing images that stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to have a full photography kit in hand, but you will have to be equipped with a few items to help you capture your desired shots. For Thanksgiving food photography, it\u2019s best to use the following items and camera settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camera<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your handy smartphone camera will do, but you can also opt for a DSLR or mirrorless camera<\/a> if you want higher-resolution images for print-quality images for your photo album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tripod<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A regular and affordable tripod<\/a> that can offer different vantage points and support the weight of your camera will do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remote Shutter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mounting your camera on a tripod and using a remote shutter ensures complete stability for your camera, helping you capture crisp, sharp images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

External Flash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For more flattering photos, you\u2019ll need to use an external flash<\/a> that can be bounced from ceilings and walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflectors\/Diffusers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can use household items<\/a>, such as mirrors, white napkins, and even aluminum foil to reflect light towards shadowy areas of the food or scene. Wax paper or a sheer white cloth also helps diffuse and provide softer light for areas that you want to be featured and highlighted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smartphone cameras, DSLRs, and mirrorless cameras allow clip-on or interchangeable lenses<\/a> to help you add variety to your shots. If you have a DSLR or mirrorless, 50mm prime lenses are highly recommended by food photographers and bloggers. In case you want to capture minute details, a macro lens would come in handy as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo from Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Settings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Image Format<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shoot in digital RAW format to be able to preserve as much image information and detail that would otherwise be lost and compressed when shooting in JPEG. Doing so also allows convenience in image editing, thanks to the wider dynamic range and millions of extra pixels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aperture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some photographers recommend the use of wider apertures like f\/1.4 to f\/2.8 to create a shallower depth of field and give your main subjects very sharp focus while providing a flattering blur for the background. At the same time, it allows more light to enter the lens for shooting situations where you don’t have a lot of ambient light to work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Shutter Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unless you’re using a tripod, it’s usually best to use faster shutter speeds to ensure sharp images. For handheld shooting, you\u2019ll need to use nothing lower than 1\/60.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 ISO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The ideal ISO setting for indoor shots without flash or natural lighting is 800 or 1600. This should be enough to make your camera sensor sensitive enough for ambient light. If you have the ability and resources to use an extra light source, an ISO of 200 or 400 will do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White Balance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When photographing food, you\u2019ll need to get your colors as accurate as possible. This means you\u2019ll have to use the right white balance<\/a>. Tungsten usually works for shooting indoors where there are incandescent or tungsten household lamps. Choose fluorescent white balance if you have fluorescent lighting. For best results, use a gray card to customize your white balance or shoot in RAW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built-In Timer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have a remote shutter, you can always use your camera\u2019s integrated timer. Setting it anywhere between 2-4 seconds is good enough to keep your shots from suffering from internal camera shake that can be caused by manually pressing the shutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanksgiving Food Photography Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo from Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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You don\u2019t have to be a professional photographer to take better photos of that beautifully roasted turkey, gorgeous table setting, and the holiday merriment that transpires throughout the feast. Here are a couple of easy tips and tricks for taking memorable and hunger-inducing food photos during your upcoming Thanksgiving lunch or dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n