How to take pictures of food like a pro
It happens to the best of us. You pull out your phone to snap a pic of a beautifully plated meal. But the restaurant’s low lighting makes the dish look dark and sad, and when you try again with the flash, the food just looks washed out.
You might still choose to share a subpar photo in an Instagram Story on your personal account, crafting a sheepish caption about the image’s poor quality. But a picture like this won’t meet the food photography standards you should hold yourself to if you manage a blog, restaurant Instagram or other social media accounts.
The secret to taking good food pictures is good technique. It doesn’t require expensive equipment. If the conditions are right, your cell phone will do just fine. So start plating your most photogenic dish: it’s time to learn how to take pictures of food.
What sets the best food pictures apart?
There’s an art to taking great food shots. Even the most colorful Michelin-starred cuisine can look drab in bad lighting.
Aesthetic food pictures feature natural lighting, a limited color palette, a complementary background and all the right angles. Viewers should be able to pick up on sharp details, appreciate the dish’s true colors and get a sense of depth from the scene. Don’t distract them with a cluttered backdrop that takes away from the dish itself.
How to take food photos
the right way: 5 pro tips
You need to memorize five cardinal rules to learn how to do food photography like a pro. It’ll become second nature with practice, but you can jot down these food photography tips on a cheat sheet until then:
1. Use natural light: Prevent dimly lit or washed-out photos by using natural light whenever possible. Yes, that means doing everything you can to get all your pics in before the sun goes down. This may require some planning, but the payoff will be worth it when you see the rich, true-to-life colors and textures you get with natural light.
2. Composition is critical: Plate your food as if you were trying to win a cooking show, and channel your inner food stylist to set the scene. Limit the number of colors in the photo, even if you opt for bright tones over neutrals. Tabletops and counters make great backdrops – just make sure they’re clean and that everything in the frame was chosen with intention. Sometimes a well-placed lemon wedge garnish or a chic marble rolling pin makes the perfect prop. The next time you’re at a thrift shop, look for cool cooking tools or theme items that would photograph well without detracting from the food. While you’re at it, pick up some extra plates, cloth napkins, and glasses. They don’t have to become your everyday dinnerware, but they could help you tell a story in a photo.
3. Try different angles: Aerial food compositions, also known as flat-lay, are hot right now. What’s chicer than an overhead photo of a table arranged with fruit, cheese, rose-gold cutlery, and coupe champagne glasses? But this isn’t the best angle for every type of dish. Flatter foods such as waffles, cookies, and tacos are better photographed at an angle to achieve a sense of depth.
