It seems so normal nowadays to be at a restaurant while folks whip out their smart phones to snap pics of their dish as its presented. I can’t knock it as I’m one of these people. Of course, I’ve been doing this for a long time since I’ve reported on food and restaurants for 15+ years in Chicago and now around the world, but it used to be with a crew and a video camera. We’ve been shooting “food porn” long before it was a hashtag. Now everyone is a “food photographer.”
Here are some simple tips to improve your food photos whether you are using a smart phone or a DSLR.
Food Photography Tips
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No flash
Probably the most important as I always cringe when I see someone using their flash. Don’t drown out lovely ambient lighting with a big, flat burst of light. If possible, sit by diffused light or a window. Restaurants do tend to be dark so you can also bring your own dimmable, tiny light and bounce it instead of hitting the food directly to add a nice soft light.
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Crop
Don’t show us the whole plate. Get in tight and just show a corner of the dish to add interest and an asymmetrical shape. This is also a way to keep it simple. Dishes can have a lot going on. We don’t have to see it all. Less is more.
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Get close
Get in there! Food is sexy. Show us the texture and the glistening surface of your oozy burger with melty gouda and truffled mushrooms or mouth-watering, beautifully crafted sashimi. Get closer than we do in real life for a new perspective.
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Bird’s Eye View
The top down view is sort of all the rage right now. Become your own food stylist and create a “scene.” Arrange forks, wine glasses and even your date’s hands to set the scene.
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Watch shadows
If you are using natural light, be mindful of shadows especially of your own hands and camera over the food caused by track and spot lighting. Often times, you may have to get up and move if the setting allows. Or fill in with that little pocket light you got because of tip #1. Be discreet if you can.
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Watch your background
When shooting across the food and more at food level, be aware of what’s behind your subject. Are your friend’s arms in the shot? Have them slide over and arrange a beer mug or hot sauce bottle if it suits and doesn’t clutter. You can also purposely use the background in your image like in showing the Brooklyn Bridge below to establish a very iconic New York food – the hot dog.
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Add some action
Dig in! Food is best enjoyed with friends, so shoot that! Have your dinner companions grab slices of pizza or dip their chips into the guac for some movement and life in the scene.
8. Use a short depth of field
If you are using an adjustable camera like a DSLR, try a low aperture setting like 1.4 or 2.8. This creates a large opening in the lens, which causes a short depth of field. What does this mean? That only the small part of the image that you focus on will be sharp, the rest will be blurred out which can really make our focal point pop.
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Bon Appetit!
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Great tips! I need to practice getting closer and cropping my food shots. I’ll try to keep this in mind next time I whip out my phone in a restaurant to shoot that great dish.
Thanks Melissa! I always have to balance getting really close and then thinking about how Instagram crops even more!
Great! Thank you very much! At least, my skill of enjoy food has improved a lot!
Thanks William! Food!
Great tips. I’ve been working on lots of these for my food photos. What lens do you use for your birds eye view photos? I switched to a fixed focal length, short depth of field lens for meals (1.8/50) and I’ve been able to use that as well for birds eye view, but struggle a bit. Any more detailed hints for that?
I use a 40mm Canon prime lens…will be interested to hear what Lisa uses.
Thanks Amber! When I have my DSLR, I use a 17-55mm lens typically with a short DOF. I want to get a fixed around 28mm. 50mm is tough especially with a cropped sensor as it’s more like a 70mm and is too close (unless you are on a ladder!). Sometimes it’s just my Samsung Galaxy S5.
Great tips! I shall show this to my husband so that next time he is annoyed that I’m all like ‘move over. Now–slide your beer glass away. Here, take this fork for a second…’ he will understand why. And maybe be a little less annoyed. 😉
A short depth of field ‘hack’ for iPhone photography–use an editing app (I like Rookie, but Instagram has it, too) and use the tilt shift function to create a focal point with blurred background.
Thanks Tracy! It’s funny how the field of food styling has grown exponentially thanks to Instagram!
Some great tips, and photos! Bringing your own light is one of the simplest things one can do to improve their food photos. I have a 160 LED light that I use to cast shadows, etc. It works really well in dimly lit restaurants. In a pinch, I have even used the flashlight mode on my iPhone. Here are some of my food shots if you’re interested. http://www.mikesroadtrip.com/photo-gallery/nggallery/photo-gallery-album-1/food-porn
Thanks Mike! I have a little Manfrotto LED light on my wishlist. 🙂
I am obsessed with looking at (and taking) food photographs. Love this post and love your shots – this certainly made me hungry!
I know, right? Food is so sexy and beautiful! And then…yum!
This is extremely helpful! Definitely going to practice this weekend with these tips in mind 🙂
Thanks Julia! Have you been practicing?
Awesome Tips! I always try to take good pictures of my food but most of the get failed. These tips taught lot of tricks now I’ll definitely try on my food.
Great work!!!
Thanks so much Shweta!
Thanks for sharing those tips, it’s definitely a thing I want to improve and am constantly “training”.
Thanks Stef!
wow, really good tips. I’m a beginner in Photography. Appreciate your tips regarding photography. Food images look good. Will definitely try your tips practically. Thanks for sharing.