How to Photograph Food
Making food look tasty and tempting in a photograph can be lots of fun if you crave the creative challenge of experimentation. Here are some simple tricks to tease your beholder's tastebuds and build your "food stylist" portfolio.
Things You'll Need
- Digital camera with an optical zoom
- Lighting equipment
- Computer
- Photo editing software
- Tabletop tripod
- Backdrops
- Variety of table settings
- Water mister
- Wooden skewers
Instructions
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1
Decide on the mood you want the food to project. For example, is the setting elegant, whimsical or mysterious? Is the cuisine associated with a particular season? Is it ethnic fare that conjures dreams of faraway places?
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2
Select backdrops that complement your chosen theme. Examples could be a white linen or ecru lace tablecloth for an elegant meal; a wooden plank for a barbeque; a silk scarf for Asian cuisine; or fishnet against a royal blue sheet for seafood. Since the food is being shot at such close range, a viewer will never know if it's a carpet remnant, a portion of a brick patio, or even the backside of a satin bathrobe.
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3
Choose display plates that provide contrast to the food that's going to be placed on them.
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4
Shoot in natural light. This means outdoors or in front of a sunny window. If these conditions aren't possible, use enough artifical light (except fluorescent) so that you don't have to use a flash.
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5
Set your camera on a tripod. Tabletop models are small and easy to set up.
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6
Position the plate or bowl of food against the backdrop. Add utensils, glassware, wine bottles, or any other props you feel enhance the overall image.
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7
Zoom in on the food. Experiment by shooting the display from different perspectives.
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8
Use photo editing software to crop the images, flip the elements and manipulate the color.
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Tips & Warnings
Experiment with different shapes of plates--square, triangular and free form designs can be found in many department stores.
Thrift shops and yard sales are great places to pick up unusual plates and serving pieces to add to your collection of props.
Prop up droopy food with hidden wooden skewers. You can also use skewers to create some unique "stacking" infrastructure.
Spritz fresh fruits and vegetables with water from a mister to give them a fresh-picked dewy look.
Subscribe to photography magazines and gourmet publications; these will give you new ideas to play with.
Don't use plates that are close to the same color of the food or it will look washed out when photographed.
The more bright lights you're shining on your food, the faster it's going to melt, wilt and look messy. Keep it cool for as long as possible and then shoot quickly.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Christina Hamlett
