How to Compose Food Photography

Food photography is in a class of its own. Entire magazines are devoted to the subject, displaying images of freshly baked bread, steaming bowls of hearty soup and cookies filled with sweet goodies. City buses and billboards feature mouthwatering morsels. But food photography isn't for the faint of heart. If you're going to shoot food and make it look good, there are some definite guidelines to follow.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Allow a food stylist to do her thing if you're working on a large shoot. Companies that regularly hire food photographers know the importance of a food stylist and often have one on hand. Unless you see something wrong with her composition, just shoot the food.

2. Work with the real thing or a close imitation. Truth in advertising laws forbids using fake food in an ad depicting an item that to be sold to consumers. For example, a frozen diet entrée must show the actual food. You may shoot it before processing, however. Items that surround the theme food may be props. Breakfast cereal often sits attractively in a pool of white glue, instead of milk.

3. Prepare a food photography kit and take it with you on shoots. A small hand-held blowtorch creates grill marks on meat and melts butter for pancakes. A little glycerin brushed on foods, creates a shiny "wet" look. A long piece of narrow flexible tubing tucks discretely behind "hot" foods and an assistant blowing cigarette smoke through it gives the food a steamy flair.

4. Be prepared to shoot quickly. Ice cream and whipping cream look wimpy within minutes. Set up your shot before the food arrives. Meter a plate with a sock or a book as a substitute and set your perimeter lighting. When the food is ready, you can begin shooting immediately.

5. Bring portable strobe lights and reflectors to show food to its best advantage without using lamps that produce heat. Lightboxes bring out food details and eliminate shadows but some photographers feel the result is boring. Imitate real food presentation by allowing small shadows to fall under plates.

6. Study professional food plating to show food in a flattering manner. If a food stylist isn't a part of the shoot, having some plating knowledge will move you to the front of the class in food photography.

[apalmer]

on 10/15/2008 Great article!

[jezzikabret]

on 7/7/2008 Awesome article, i'll have to give it a try :)