{"id":43851,"date":"2018-02-15T12:00:42","date_gmt":"2018-02-15T17:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=43851"},"modified":"2024-05-10T12:06:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T16:06:15","slug":"6-tricks-to-bring-your-food-photography-to-the-next-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/6-tricks-to-bring-your-food-photography-to-the-next-level\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Tricks to Bring Your Food Photography to the Next Level"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re always scrolling through social media or #ChefTok for cooking inspiration, you\u2019re heavily exposed to stunning food photography and videography. Seeing a good food pic or watching a beautifully edited can get your stomach growling \u2013 and for good reason! These pictures don\u2019t just happen by a simple point-and-shoot. In fact, a lot goes into it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Improve Your Food Photography<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the journey of improving your food photography, you will constantly need to think about composition, lighting, styling, etc. It doesn\u2019t really matter whether you use a camera or just the camera at the back of your iPhone, you\u2019ll know you captured a good food photo if it makes you drool just by looking at it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, I am sharing some of my top food photography tips to help you achieve the optimal photo. Happy shooting! <\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by FoodbyMaria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

1. Be mindful of your composition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tell a story by using your backdrop or setting and props. Make sure that everything looks beautiful and well-rounded. Composition<\/a> means the arrangement of stuff in your photo. A good composition sets the scene for your audience, whether it\u2019s a plate or a single piece of parsley on your dish.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One useful tool to keep in mind is the rule of thirds<\/a>. The rule of thirds is a nine-part grid that you need to imagine over your photo or subject. Your main subject should be either along the lines or at the intersections of your grid. Our eyes are naturally drawn to these points, so it\u2019s good to keep in mind when taking your photos. You use this method to really highlight your dish and tell a story to your readers who are going to potentially be making the dish. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by FoodbyMaria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

2. Don\u2019t take the photo too closely<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Try to take a shot far enough away from the ideal sizing you\u2019ll want. This way you\u2019ll have wiggle room when you are editing and you can play with different compositions in the editing process. Sometimes playing with the cropping when editing can take a photo that you didn\u2019t love from the start to one that\u2019s fantastic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So you\u2019re probably thinking: \u201cMaria, but what is a good distance I should be at then?\u201d And I would say a good enough distance is being far enough away that you know you won\u2019t end up cropping half the bowl out or even someone\u2019s head. Think of the subject and how you want it to look on your feed. The further, the better, but it doesn\u2019t have to be microscopic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, please don\u2019t go to a restaurant and stand on the damn chair. You\u2019re a human, just make sure you bring your camera<\/a> with a great lens<\/a> and you should still be able to achieve a great image. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE:<\/strong> Unless you\u2019re a food critic\u2026 why are you taking photos of just the food at restaurants? Enjoy your meal and get your friend to snap a pic of you eating away at it! Your followers want to see you, your face \u2014 <\/em>they want to get to know you so don\u2019t be afraid of switching things up here and there! <\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by FoodbyMaria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

3. Don\u2019t shoot when it\u2019s almost dark out or too early in the morning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shooting at the right time of day is critical for fantastic photos. A shady spot on a sunny day can be the perfect place to shoot in natural lighting conditions. Natural light will always make your photos look better, so when you can use it, definitely do! Direct sunlight will make your food look harsh, create shadows, and distort your colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, you want to ensure it’s not too dark out either because you’ll never want to turn on your flash when taking photos of food. Just don’t do it. It’ll make harsh reflections and glare. I typically shoot on days when there is overcast and when the sun isn’t too bright. In the summer, I shoot at around 4 to 5 PM when the sun is less aggressive and more dull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what if you\u2019re in a dimly lit restaurant? (Most of them are for some reason!) A good thing to keep in mind is to never shoot when it’s dark out unless you have the proper setup and gear. I wouldn’t recommend it. If you still want to capture the moment, then put it in your Instagram stories instead! You don’t always have to post everything you eat or do. Make sure your feed is as beautiful as it could possibly be!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo by FoodbyMaria<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

4. Angles are everything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Choose the right angle<\/a> and it\u2019ll make all the difference. Some dishes are better with the side view and others are better from a birds eye view. When you establish which is best for which recipe, you\u2019ll really see an increase in readers\u2019 sense of urgency to give your recipe a try because you\u2019ll have made the food look incredible! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you aren\u2019t sure what angle will look best, try multiple angles until you start to get the hang of it. To give you an idea, here are some foods that look better at particular angles\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n