What’s the best part about a cookbook? Of course, it’s the pictures!
We love reading through cookbooks, magazines and now perusing our favorite website, Pinterest. Although the recipes are helpful to getting dinner on the table, it’s the pictures that really make us salivate. However, good food photography doesn’t just “happen.” Professional food stylists and photographers work diligently to get the right light, the right texture and the right angle to create the perfect shot. However, many bloggers have learned several tricks of the trade to produce some award-winning photography on their blogs like the widely followed The Pioneer Woman and one of our personal favorites, Bakerella.
Both of these sites provide some great tips about how you can also make mouth-watering photography possible. And if you look on our Pinterest board, we’ve even pinned a few other lists we’ve come across that might be helpful for you. However, if you are just starting off taking food shots for your Facebook, blog or maybe just for your Foodspotting app, here are some good basics.
1. Use a white plate (or a color that contrasts with the food).
All food looks better when photographed on white. When you are out, you can’t also order what plate they bring your food out on, but if you are making something to be plated for your shot, consider having a few white plates of different sizes and shapes to make your shot more interesting. However, if you want to photograph something white or lighter colored (like eggs, mashed potatoes or a cream sauce), consider using a contrasting plate like brown or gray.
2. Use your light accordingly.
It’s not always possible to get the right kind of lighting when you are eating at a romantic steak restaurant at 8 p.m. at night without creating an impromptu photo shoot. However, if you want to snap a picture while dining out, consider asking for a seat next to a window or a fire that can help create better lighting opportunities. When you are able to control the lighting, natural light is always best though.
3. Try different angles.
After devouring a bowl of tasty lobster bisque, we wanted to record the experience with a photo. However, taking a shot of this creamy pink-colored soup in a bowl looked pretty boring compared to the taste. But when we took an arial shot of the bowl and closed in on just the rim of the bowl, the picture seemed to capture the big flavor and complexity of the delicious soup. It’s not a perfect shot, by any means, but it’s gotten a lot of comments online from others asking “Where did you get this great soup?”
Good food shots CAN happen on your smartphone.
Want some more great tips? Then take a look at these from one of our favorite sites, Photojojo with “Ten Tasty Food Photography Tips.” What are some of your favorite food blog sites?
Happy Eating (and Clicking)!