When we see food on the table, we have only one in mind to eat it. That’s basically our main agenda. But how about taking a photograph of it than eating it? That will be the biggest challenge in food photography. To take a photograph of it, making it more delicious and inviting in the picture.
I have heard already of some weirdest thing about food photography. Like using crude oil and brushing it to the meat to make it look roasted or using colored-mashed potatoes atop of ice cream cone just to make
the food more photogenic and capturing its delicious taste.
Based on my experiences in Food Photography, I have never done that. I am now presenting some tips I have learned without those substitutes. Food photography is easy I would say and once you know how to do it, you would say its easy.
1. Setting of Food
Choose a place or setting
that are uncluttered. Choose a simple or plain background or anything with one color. Use a plate which is in contract with the color of your food. Before pressing the shutter button, check first the four corner of your viewfinder and check for any distractions at the background. Always use a wider aperture to make the background shallow or blur.
2. Placement of Light
I always wanted to do food photography during day time due to the reason that I want to shoot with natural light. Try to find a window or a door as a source of natural light. Better if the window has a white curtain to defuse the light directly falling to your subject.
If natural light not possible,
you can use the speedlight (flash). However, be careful in using your flash because if not properly placed, it make your photo flat. Usually, I used flash and placed it on the other side quite far from the subject. Also better use a foam board with white side and use it as a reflector to eliminate some harsh shadow on the other side of the subject.
3. Use tripod
Use a tripod at all times. I will help eliminate some movement or blur especially during low-light areas like inside the bar or restaurant where you need to use long exposures.
4. Check the Color Balance
I always check the color balance of the food I photograph. In food photography, there are certain color which you need to show in your picture to make it more realistic. Sometimes, if natural light is not possible, the
photos will have a blue or yellow cast. So it’s important to observe that the color of the food as your eyes can see is the same as the color in your photos. However, you can fix it digitally, but better to do less in post processing to save more time.
5. Coordinate
Coordination is important in Food Photography. Usually , if I am taking photos as per commissioned by the owner of the restaurant, I usually discuss my plan with the owner. I also check if there will be a food stylist. I discuss some procedures in plating and styling.
If there is a food stylist:
- I ask him to set the food part by part. I don’t want take a photo of pre-arranged at the kitchen.
- I ask empty plate to where he will do the plating and styling for me to set up the composition, the white balance and the placement of the camera.
For pre-arranged Food (directly from the kitchen) – sometimes, I do minor changes (adding or eliminating) some particle of the food style.
6. More Shots the Better
Sometimes, its better to have several shots in different angle (side, top, a little lower or higher) to get a best shots. One friend of mine, told me that if the plating of the food is going up, try to shot from the side. If possible shot using several lenses.
7. Zooming In
I love to zoom in the food that I take. Aside from taking at far, I do also filling in the frame with the food.
8. Be Conscious with the Details
Sometimes, based on my experience of taking the food so quickly, I did not notice of some details which are destructing part of the whole picture. Take note of the finger print and some stray food and smudges at the edges of the plate. Also according to my friend, try to add accent, which are not really part of the food, like flowers on the side, egg in foreground or anything that enhances the food not destructing the whole presentation.
9. Be Quick
There are times that you need to be quick in taking a photos. One time, I am taking BBQ directly at the griller, I need to capture some fire to make more realistic.
10. You decide what to shoot
There are sometimes foods that are not good or even not delicious in your camera. Whatever happens do not shoot them. As photographer, you have the ability to see it first whether it will look good in pictures.
