With my self set challenge at hand, I wanted a way to make what I was going to be posting about, interesting and pleasing to the eye. I thought to myself, 'but how?'.
The food, of course!
Everyone loves a good photo of food. From sweets, to soup. Food can be an enticing reason to read a book or post. Looking at all of the delicious photos of food that we see every day, it got me to thinking, 'how do I take good photos of food?'. I went on a search for some information, to help me on my journey of food photos. This is what I've found:
The food, of course!
Everyone loves a good photo of food. From sweets, to soup. Food can be an enticing reason to read a book or post. Looking at all of the delicious photos of food that we see every day, it got me to thinking, 'how do I take good photos of food?'. I went on a search for some information, to help me on my journey of food photos. This is what I've found:
- Lighting: One of the most important elements in photography! You want to try and use natural light, and avoid your flash at all costs. Using natural light brings out the natural colours in food. Find a sunny spot, but one without direct sunlight. If you can't, use a sheer cloth or paper to help diffuse the light. Try also using black or white foam board to adjust the reflected light (White reflects, black absorbs).
- Props: A bowl of delicious soup, looks all the more delicious, when it's served in a crisp white bowl, a soft white napkin, and a shiny polished soup spoon. Think about not only the arrangement of the food, but how it's displayed. Try not to clutter the photo with a full table setting, instead use one or two simple props, like a spoon, napkin or a glass. Start collecting props you might want to use, you can find some brilliant additions to your collection from op shops, garage sales, flea markets, or online from places like Etsy.
- Timing: Food looses that "I'm delicious, eat me now" look quicker than you think. So make sure you have everything set up and ready to go, before you add your food to the shot. This is especially pertinent with foods that melt, such as ice cream. Some photographers even go so far as to have a mock item to test shoot with, then, when everything is perfect, they switch out the mock item, with the real one.
- Trick Or Treat: Try brushing on a light coat of oil onto food, to help bring out the natural colours and make it appear to be 'glistening'. You can also try the trick of steam, simply soak a cotton ball in water, zap in the microwave, and place behind food. The water starts steaming from the cotton ball, and can make food look freshly cooked and steaming hot.
- Style: Pay attention to the balances in your food. The different shapes, colours and textures can add or detract from a photo. Try shooting in many varied angles, until you find one that helps the food "speak to you". Follow the 'Rule of 3rds' when shooting, as it helps bring the viewers eye into line. Overall, don't be afraid to try new things!
- Staging/Storytelling: Are you trying to get a shot of the finished result, or the process it took to get there? think about the story your photo is trying to tell. If you're baking a cake and want to shoot the bowl of whipped cream, try taking the shot when the cream is still in the bowl, with the whisk. It helps tell the story better than a single bowl of whipped cream.
- Multiples: Don't think you're going to get the perfect shot in only a few frames. Sometimes it may take dozens of shots, and a couple of hours to get that perfect shot. So don't despair, just keep trying new things when you shoot. It's always better to have 100 photos to choose one from, than ten, so think about this.
- Enhance: Don't be afraid to enhance your assets. Just do it sparingly! Programs like Photoshop, iPhoto, Adobe Lightroom etc can be a great tool to use, but remember you want to make the food look 'real'. So avoid changing the colour properties too much. Just think about it this way, if you're shooting a lemon pie, and the pie wasn't actually fluro yellow, then why portray it that way?
- Fresh & Clean: Always make sure you're starting with the best quality ingredients and props. Avoid fruits with bruises, overcooked meats, or vegies that are nearly at their useby. Before you start shooting, make sure you've given the cutlery and glasses a quick polish. You might think a small smudge here or there is fine, but it can simply ruin an otherwise brilliant shot.
- Garnish: Garnishes are the lacy lingerie of the food world. They give people a hunt of what's to come. So dress your dish! even just a small sprinkle of freshly ground pepper can help and otherwise flat dish come to life.
- Tripods: If you can, try and use a tripod when shooting. It will minimise/remove camera shake, and allow you to take long exposure shots. Especially helpful when shooting in low light situations, like restaurants.
So there you go, I've gone and done all the hard research for you! If you have any additional tips or tricks you want to share, post them in the comments section below!
Now if I can just practise what I preach....
Wish me luck!
Love
J xx
References for the above information:
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