CIA Tips #3: Food Photography
Ever wonder how people could create a such mouth-drooling pictures? Stop wondering! We are here to give you some tips and trick so you can create your own too!
#1 – CHOOSE YOUR ANGLE
In food photography, there are only a few camera angles that are used repeatedly, so choosing one should be deliberate. The camera’s position affects the story you’re trying to tell.
Prepare the food. Its size, shape, height, and uniqueness. Then position the camera to best highlight these qualities. Some dishes look great when photographed directly in front of them, while others look best when photographed from above the table. Viewed from above, the cupcakes’ spiralled and delicate toppings stand out, but their size and shape are obscured.
#2 – BRING ALL THE SUPPORTERS & CHEERLEADERS
Foreground and background are important when shooting from the front of the food. Fill in the blanks with more details. Surround your main dish with food-related ingredients and props. Ingredients, sauces, oils, and cooking utensils could reveal preparation.
Tins, jars, herbs, glasses, fabrics, and linens can all speak to the dish’s origin or season. Adding a few of these to the foreground and background will elevate and develop deeper your story.
#3 – ALMIGHTY LIGHTING
Light is king, and learning to control it will elevate your food photography to the next level. Poor lighting can ruin a story and turn off an audience. Keeping light out of your food photos will help a lot.
As a start, you can place a diffusor between the window and your table. The quality of light is greatly improved by using a diffusor (or even a thin white bed sheet). Softening harsh, dark shadows and bright sun highlights.
#4 – LINES AND LAYERS
How will we ever get the audience to look at our subject with all these supporters and cheerleaders of props and ingredients? Bring on the line and layer composition techniques. For layered effects, use props or ingredients. Photographers use this compositional technique to draw the viewer’s eye to the main subject.
Props can be used to create lines. Like this spoon, which draws the eye to the bowl of baked peaches and ice cream.
Photo Credits: Skyler Burt (https://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-to-seriously-improve-your-food-photography-techniques/)
#5 – LESS IS MORE
Colorful props are great, but they can easily overshadow your food and steal the show.
When placing items in your food images, choose neutral tones that allow the food to stand out. The bright red strawberries and rhubarb inside these Crostatas really stand out against the black metal tray and baking paper.
Photo Credits: Skyler Burt (https://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-to-seriously-improve-your-food-photography-techniques/)
Now that you know these secrets, would you like to try it for yourself?
If you do, don’t forget to tag us on instagram @cia_bi !! (www.instagram.com/cia_bi)
References
5 Tips to Seriously Improve Your Food Photography Techniques. (2014). Retrieved 7 November 2021, from https://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-to-seriously-improve-your-food-photography-techniques/