24 Food Photography Tips That You Should Definitely Know!

Food photography has become crucial for those who want to showcase their recipe, food items, food products, and many other things. Even for the customers, food photography helps them to make a judgment about the food. Therefore, taking good food pictures is essential, and there are some food photography tips that you should know. 

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Some of the best food photography tips include natural light, good photo editor software, fresh ingredients, the right camera and lens, different angles, side dishes and cutlery to surround the main dish, and a tripod for steady pictures. 

Make sure you make a story or a vision before the shoot and look for inspiration. Only sometimes, stick to the standards and think out of the box. To get a great food picture, plating the dish correctly is crucial. Do not clutter the space, and keep it simple. 

Taking food pictures may look fun and games, but it isn’t. If you are trying to capture great dishes and recipes, you are at the right place. Today, I will reveal all the tips and tricks you should know for food photography. 

How Do You Take Good Food Photos?

Taking food pictures is more complicated than you think. There are so many things that need to be done. From lighting to plating to angles, one must be creative with the ideas and styles. So, before you jump in the kitchen with your camera, look at some of the best yet easy tips to help you click appetizing food pictures of all time. 

1. Natural Light

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The best pictures are taken in natural light. Make sure that the lights are coming from all angles so that there is a shadow cast. You can move around to capture the best light source. People need to make sure to let sunlight come from one direction. 

If required, you can also use artificial lights. They add more appealing factors in the food pictures. Also, you can adjust the artificial light as per your requirements. There are other tools like aluminum lids and mirrors that you can use for your benefit. One secret I want to share is to take advantage of the golden hour to shoot. 

2. Editing Can Do Wonders 

If you feel that the original food colors are not captured in the picture, then editing can rescue you. There can be instances when the picture’s colors are not true to life, and that is where online photo editors can do wonders. 

I recommend PicsArt to edit your pictures and add life to them. It is one of the best free image editing tool that helps to enhance the colors and lights. You can use white light features to highlight the right colors. But keep in mind that you don’t go extra with saturation and other things. Make it look original. 

If you feel your photos don’t “pop” like professional food photos, a photo editor is the best thing to happen to you. Take advantage and correct the colors and angles. 

3. Use Fresh Ingredients

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I don’t have to emphasize that using fresh ingredients makes the food pictures look appealing and delicious. Whether adding vegetables to the recipe or even spices, adding new elements will ensure that your food looks beautiful. 

And then, you can capture the same beauty with the lens. Spoiled ingredients may add unwanted colors and texture to the dish, breaking the dish’s overall look and appearance. 

4. Shooting Before And After Cooking 

One of the major mistakes people make when it comes to photographing food is that they wait for the food to cook and take their time to capture it from different angles. In some cases, this process can go wrong. If you let the food sit around for too long, then the dish may lose its essence. 

It is always better to start capturing while the food is still cooking. You not only capture the beautiful process, but you can get more tempting angles and shots. It is better to set your camera before plating so that you capture it within a few minutes of serving. This way, you can capture steam from hot food or even the freshness of food. 

Also, continue there when the food is served, and you take enough pictures. Cut a slice or grab a bite, making the image look more natural and beautiful. Clicking food as it is may restrict you from capturing other possible shots that may be better. 

5. Less Is More

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When it comes to food photography, less is always more. The secret to mastering this concept is to pick a hero object. Without any doubt, your main dish is going to be the hero. Now, you have the hero of your food photography, surrounded by supporting objects. 

Ensure you don’t overcrowd the area, or it will lose focus. Keep it simple. You can use the ingredients as pros and make the dish look more tempting. Also, if adding any objects on the side, ensure you stay moderate with different colors. 

You can remove some elements from the setting and take immaculate and tidy pictures if required. Always remember that simplicity carries more beauty. 

6. Choose The Right Camera For The Job

The right camera will always work in your favor. Get a good camera that fits your budget. Nowadays, mobile phones are also fully equipped with excellent camera quality, so make sure that you grab the best quality product. 

The camera plays a very great role in any photography. You can get great products online that will serve your purpose without hassle. Also, make sure you stay within the budget. Simple cameras with great focus and essential features will also work for you.

7. The Art Of Plating

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To master food photography, you need to know the art of plating. You cannot place the dish in any container and expect to get beautiful and appealing pictures. You need to know how to plate the dish. For this, you even get some help from the experts. 

Ensure you stay moderate with plating; everything will look shabby and non-appetizing. Create a clean and fresh plate for your dish, and then click great food pictures to make everyone want to eat the image. 

8. Create A Story 

A great picture always depicts a story. Ensure that your food pictures also showcase your vision, ideas, and the story you want the viewers to know. For this, you can plan before you click the images. 

Make a vision board and plan everything around it. This will ensure you get what you have pictured in your reminder, and there will be fewer chances of things going differently than planned. 

In the words of Taylor Swift, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Make sure there is a story behind the picture and add depth.

9. Pay Attention To The Props 

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One major mistake you can make is not paying attention to the props and styling. Always keep in mind that the props will only beautify the overall pictures. Also, make sure that you use lines and layers for the best compositions. 

You can also use culinary objects as your props and make your food pictures more realistic and appealing. You can serve some ingredients in spoons or bowls and place them near the main dish without taking its focus away. 

10. Multiple Angles 

If you are stuck to one specific angle, you need great opportunities. Always make sure that you get pictures from every possible angle. This way, you can identify the best angles and then take your time to click the best food photographs. 

You can experiment with different heights. Click pictures from vertical and horizontal angles. Check for the angles beforehand so you don’t waste your time while food sits on the table. 

Another thing to remember is to stay within the dish or click pictures from far distances. This may not capture the dish’s essence or look appetizing if taken from far away. 

11. Look For Inspiration 

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If you think your mind goes blank when it is time to finish the work, look for inspiration. You can plan different concepts and stories. Study additional images and recreate them using the resources and equipment you have. 

It is best to have a Brief and a Concept in your mind before the actual game begins. Visualize the photo and plan the way you want to style your food. Take your time, study different images, and look for new and different ideas. 

13. Choose A Suitable Surface.

Choosing a suitable surface is essential. If the food is tempting, but the surface is cluttered, it can break the picture. Make sure to use better surfaces like wooden or ceramic surfaces. 

14. Photograph Splashes

Now, this is my favorite part when clicking food pictures. Photograph splash means that you capture the moment when there is some splash. It can be anything from water drops to soup splashes. It will look more fun and catch the attention of the viewers. 

15. Use the Rule of Thirds

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To capture eye-catching pictures, you should know the Rule Of Thirds. If you are a professional photographer, you must be aware of this fantastic concept. 

There is no force to comply with this rule, but it will only work in your favor. This concept includes visualizing two vertical lines dividing your frame into thirds and two horizontal lines dividing your frame. This will divide your photo frame into nine smaller boxes. 

Now, the place where the lines meet is the perfect point to place. The picture might look away from the center, but trust me, you will get an ideal image. 

16. Choose your location

The location of the shoot is critical. This will ensure that the lighting is perfect, plus the picture has no unwanted elements. Always choose the place with great space for the dish, and allows you to click images from different angles. 

17. Know the Camera settings well.

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You cannot expect to pick a camera and start capturing captivating food pictures. You need the inside of your camera. Please get familiar with camera settings and use them for your benefit. Get deep in the working of your camera and take advantage of the different features that your camera offers.

18. Test Your Food Beforehand

Before you cook food and display it for the shoot, plan, you can test with food ingredients before the actual game. This will give you an idea of how your pictures will come out, and you can add some components or elements if you need to upscale the dish. 

19. Go Beyond The Boundaries

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Even though I am telling you some tips to click the best food photographs, follow your instincts. You don’t have to listen and follow some rules or processes regarding photography. Go beyond the boundaries because food photography is an art. 

Let your creativity sink in, and then the results will be unmatchable. Always try experimenting with different elements and props. 

20. If Photography Is The Priority, Cooking Can’t Be

This is one of those unsaid truths in the world of food photography. Not everything you view in pictures tastes incredible in reality. We see this mainly in commercial advertisements. The photos may be more tempting and delicious, but the flavors could be bland. So, if your main goal is to take aesthetic food pictures, remember the taste and flavors of the food. 

21. Include A Human Subject

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Using human elements is the best way to add some reliability to your food pictures. You can use clean hands while you capture the dishes. It is not necessary to show any human face. Keep it simple and make it real with a bit of human touch.

We have seen many coffee images with a part of the hand holding the cups, which instantly catches the viewers’ eyes. So you can do similar things and create something which everybody relates with. 

22. Stop Using The Auto Mode

I want to emphasize this point so much until you understand its purpose. Do not use Auto Mode while capturing doof pictures. Try different things like angles and camera settings. 

Simply clicking pictures on one set mode will keep you away from so many great shots. Trust your creativity skills and experiment as much as you can. 

23. Use The Blank Space

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I don’t want to oppose Taylor Swift, but if you have some blank space, leave it like that. Use the blank or the negative space in the picture. This will make your image look clean and neat. Remember not to underestimate the power of negative space, and trust me, it will bring depth to your photos.

24. Use A Tripod

Use a tripod if you think your pictures get blurry or your hands are not steady because of all those thoughts and the pressure of the work. Tripods will ensure that all the images are steady, and you can always try new heights and angles after adjusting the tripod. 

Tripods also have different features so that you can use them, like artificial light. It also helps to let your phone move without any jerk in the camera and avoid blurry pictures. 

25. Forget All The Rules

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After sharing many great tips, I want to mention one thing: Forget the rules and focus on creation. Take a deep breath and relax your mind. This will let your creativity come out naturally. Get a little uncomfortable, and don’t worry if you don’t get the pictures how you want. Try again. 

Food photography is a work of creativity, and creativity will only come if you work passionately. Stay calm with the pressure of doing good every time. You will fail sometimes, and that is okay. 

Feel free to experiment and learn new things. Look for inspiration. Try recreating images that look great to you. Follow the two-hour rule – if you don’t get anything in the first two hours, try next time. Lastly, have faith in yourself. 

Conclusion 

Getting appetizing food pictures is a fundamental task. You must be creative, flexible, and, most importantly, open to learning new things. Make sure that you do it with complete honesty and love. You can only get great pictures if you click with your heart. Be true to your work and see the magic happening. 

Food photography includes many things to look up, so make sure you learn and grow with every mistake. This whole conversion was helpful in your food photography journey. Get some expert help and learn all the possible skills. 

Be a master and let the world see food through your lens. I will be back with some more conversations like this. Until then, keep the love in the photograph. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most essential tips to follow in food photography?

Some of the best food photography tips include natural light, good photo editor software, fresh ingredients, the right camera and lens, different angles, side dishes and cutlery to surround the main dish, and a tripod for steady pictures. 

Is natural light important in food photography?

Yes, natural light adds beauty to the overall picture. Try taking food pictures using natural light, and you can see the effect in the image itself. 

Why should we use props in food photography?

Using props and elements in food photography elevates the overall style of the picture. It will add color and depth to your image, making your photo more beautiful and appealing. 

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