4 Important Food Photography Tips
Food photography is an art form. It's all about capturing the beauty of food and presenting it in a way that makes people want to eat it. If you're a restaurant owner, you know first hand how impactful well taken photos of your cuisine can be for your business. However, taking good photos of food can be a tricky task. That's why we've put together four important tips to help you take stunning food photos every time!
1. Have a Focal Point - Improving your composition will greatly raise your food photography to the next level. Shooting in a top-down style (flat lay) will allow you to use props and the food to create leading lines to draw your viewers eyes to the subject. It’s also important to note that the use of props should be minimal, just enough to draw you in and support the food but don’t let them distract in a way that leads your eye all over the frame. And with each image, ensure that you leave enough negative space that gently leads your eye to the hero as it’s also helpful in terms of marketing which allows any text or logos to be used in a way that doesn’t distract or cover up the most important parts.
2. Use Natural Lighting Where Possible. - Natural lighting will greatly enhance the look and feel of each shot you take. Shooting in diffused light, can wrap around a subject and enhance the details in the food. Shooting in bright, overhead yellow lights is generally frowned upon as it will give a sickly and flat look and feel to the food, something that definitely isn’t appealing or appetizing to see. Food photos should be seen as so mouth watering that the viewer will want to either lick their screen or head straight to the restaurant and eat that food!
Some great locations to find good lighting are:
Any table near a window seat
Right in the kitchen - there normally is always great lighting in there.
Outside dining available? Take advantage of that space!
Another thing to take into consideration is the time of day you are shooting your pictures. The golden hours are known as being the perfect time to shoot but anytime between 11am – late afternoon is perfect for any food photography shoots. Most restaurants will have good lighting available during these times, so if you can schedule your shoots then, you’ll be in good hands!
Last alternative, if you simply cannot find access to any natural light then you might have to take the situation into your own hands. Being prepared and equipping yourself with an artificial light of some sort, like softboxes or ring lights are creative ways for you to find the light you need on demand.
3. Use Props in a Way to Tell a Story - Using props is something that can be easily done, and as mentioned before should be kept minimal. Utilizing props to give a sense of place or time can help to set the scene for your food photo. If you’re photographing a dish from a restaurant's menu, adding in elements like wine glasses, napkins or cutlery can help to communicate the story you’re trying to tell.
Remember, the food is the main object for every picture. Making sure to be careful that your props don’t overshadow the food itself is very important to ensure the viewer is seeing exactly what you want them to see.
4. Build Your Vision Around the Food That You Shoot - As an experienced Boston Food Photographer, I have found that finding your voice as a photographer is key when trying to tell a story. Your voice and your vision will be the thing that separates your photos from everyone else. When shooting food, think about what you want to say with your photos and how you can use props, lighting and composition to get that message across. Creating a mood or feeling around your food will engage the viewer on an emotional level and make them feel something, whether it's hunger, nostalgia or excitement!
