How to become a food photography pro with these easy tips
While it seems easy enough to take photographs, it's not all that simple. Taking food pictures that will make others salivate just by looking at it is one of the biggest challenges people face in food photography.
The photographer has to come up with a well thought out plan on where each element will be placed in the photograph. Clicking a photograph that looks mouth-watering requires a little bit of styling and charm. So here are some easy tips on how to become a pro at food photography
Tip #1: Plan Your Perspective
Before taking a picture of the food that’s in front of you, the first thing to consider is the perspective. There are limited perspectives when it comes to food photography. Keep in mind to mull over the size, shape, colors of the food ahead of time. Perspective is all about highlighting the uniqueness of the dish. The top and the front angle are the two most used perspectives in food photography.
Not all dishes look good when shot from the top angle and in the same way not all dishes look good when shot from the front. Study your dish and work out on which of these two angles will best highlight it. Planning your perspective is the first photography tip for every beginner and expert.
Tip #2: Less Is More
Over cluttering the shot is the worst thing to do while taking a food photograph. It’s safe to remember that it is the food that you want to highlight the best possible way while taking a picture. Trying to stylize a picture and crowding it instead will do nothing but distract from the actual focus of the photograph. It is always best to focus on what is important and needed to complete the picture. If the element does not add any value and detracts from the photo, remove it. Never let clutter upstage the food and grab all the attention. A simple photo could create a huge visual impact.
Tip #3: Incorporate Colours
Imagine taking a picture of a boring and monotone food that looks the exact same in every photo even with different angles. How do you make it look attractive even if it tastes scrumptious? Adding a little bit of color could do the trick perfectly. It solely depends on the photographer on how they want to jazz it up. It could be by garnishing the dish with pretty colors that are different from the main color of the dish or adding a complementary background to liven it. Complementary and analogous color pairings work best with food photography. Something as simple as adding green herbs to a dish or garnishing your dessert with berries could do the trick.
Tip #4: Make Use Of Natural Light
Natural daylight is one of the best things photographers have been bestowed with. It makes the food look more natural and well lit. Food photographs taken with the camera flash or inadequate light look very poorly planned. The best place to make use of natural light is by the window. It is also best to use a reflector while taking a picture in the natural light to soften the contrasts and to avoid the formation of shadows. Instead of using artificial lights and camera flashes for lighting up the picture, use natural light to create the best food photographs.
Tip #5: Create Lived In Photos
Have you ever tried using creativity for clicking the best shots? From time to time, try deviating from the path of the perfectly staged food photography to something that looks more natural or lived in. Sometimes, taking a picture after grabbing a bite of the food from the plate looks more appetizing than the original whole. To make the picture look more real instead of staged, sprinkle some crumbles around it. A messy look adds life to the photograph, as it looks in the moment. But there are some basic principles while trying to make the picture look lived in. It is always better to go easy on the spills and crumbles, too much of it will just make a real mess, but doing it perfectly can take your photographs to a whole new level.
Conclusion:
Whether you are a professional food blogger or a newbie to food photography, these few simple tips could help you in taking your food photography to the next big level. Taking a good food photograph requires perspective and a little bit of styling. Every photograph you take should tell a story. Have fun with photography. With a few tricks up your sleeve, food photography becomes easy to work with. Play with the colors and textures of the food to make your photograph look mouth-wateringly delicious. Start practicing and let us know if these tips helped you get better.
