Food Photography: How to Take the Best Food Photos

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smartknowledge.co.id – There's nothing like browsing a restaurant's menu, website, or social media and finding delicious, mouth-watering food time and time again. Good food photography not only looks good, it is also essential for the survival of your food business.

Think about it: Have you ever seen pictures of food that looked bland or boring? That's why it's so important to pay special attention to your photos.

But don't worry. There's no need to hire a professional food photographer or spend tens of millions on complicated equipment. In this article, we'll look at some top food photography tips that will help you take the best photos, whatever your budget.

1. Organize Your Food

Food styling, which is called “plating” in the food service industry, is an important part of determining the first impression of food. Create the aesthetic baseline that you create with food photography. Here are some tips for great layering.

  • Make sure food is the main character in the photo. In general, the food you want to capture should be in the center of the photo. You can emphasize this by placing it in the middle of the board (if it's on a physical board), and there is extra space on the sides of the board to give the impression of roominess and draw the viewer's attention to present.
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  • Don't be afraid to think like an artist. Put the sauce in a squeeze bottle to draw beautiful lines on a plate or use tweezers to put the flower decoration in the right place. Some of the most eye-catching food photos pay attention to detail.
  • Place the food on the plate according to the nature of the food. If you're shooting something more colorful and naturally "chaotic" like a salad, you don't need to arrange every part perfectly. But if your food is design oriented, such as a decorative cake, use layering to create a sense of order and balance.

2. Select Background

Settings and props next to food can be the difference between a boring photograph and a work of art. Here's another place to think about balance. Can you balance the details of the food against a clean background?

Or can you use a whimsical or aspirational setting to tell a story or transport the viewer to another world?

This is your chance to create a true aesthetic and brand image for your business. If you're a plant-based brand, consider natural backdrops that make viewers think of nature and produce.

Some food bloggers, chefs, and food brands go to great lengths to create stunning photos that look like a visual feast (besides the actual party). However, there are professional food photography tips that will help you take appetizing photos without going all out.

Add simple items like cutlery or napkins. It helps viewers to think about eating now. This makes viewers more likely to follow your brand or buy what you sell.

Another tip is to decorate the background with ingredients used for cooking. If it has frosting on it, sprinkle it all around. If using fresh fruit or vegetables, arrange them around the plate. You can also add other props such as fabrics and home décor items.

3. Lighting Settings

Lighting is another important factor that can differentiate professional food photos from bland (even gross-looking) photos. Depending on the food being photographed and access to good natural light, you can choose natural or artificial lighting.

One of the main things to remember is to stay away from strong light. This usually happens when the light source is too close to the food, casts a shadow or spot that is too bright, or highlights the wrong part of the dish.

You can avoid this by placing a lamp next to the food rather than directly in front of it and making sure the light source is far enough away that you can't see shadows or bright spots.

In general, use natural light whenever possible. If you have a well-lit room, place a photo table nearby. If you don't have access to natural light, consider purchasing inexpensive lamps and diffusers. These tools can help you brighten your photos while avoiding harsh exposure mistakes.

4. Test Another Frame

Taking photos of food directly from above (bird's eye view) is a popular strategy for professional food photographers. However, this is not the only way. Experiment with different frames by shooting from different angles and using different shooting styles.

For example, you might have a gorgeous charcuterie board that is best viewed from above to really capture it in all its glory. But the true splendor of the triple-layered sandwich comes in the form of a side shot, allowing you to see all of its unique layers.

Shoot food from every angle you can think of, then narrow down the best choices.

Also, experiment with shooting styles, such as using depth of field to focus on certain parts of the dish and leaving other areas out of focus. This is an added level of artistic touch and can help bring out interesting textures.

5. Food Photo Edit

After taking a photo of your food, use a photo editing app to make a light touch. If your budget allows, you can use a paid tool like Adobe Lightroom. But don't forget that there are many free photo editing tools available.

A conservative approach should be taken when editing. For example, small edits to shading and color balance can make food images look more natural and appealing. Other tips to keep in mind:

  • Adjust the sharpness to make the edges of the image sharper.
  • Use a warmer white balance to make your food look appetizing.
  • Increases detail by adding more contrast between the dark and light areas of the image.
  • Desaturate the food photo slightly to expose the color of the subject.

Editing software aside, think of some fun ways to play with food. Some ideas include making biscuits that look like cute animals or sculpting landscapes using dough.

A unique approach to food photography will increase your chances of attracting social media users. (Plus, if you decide to start or contribute to a food blog later, you'll get your own media assets for your food blog.)

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