How to photograph food?

It would seem, well, what interesting things can be photographed during a buffet table? Well, for many people, the feast is the main event, so to speak, the logical conclusion of the festive event.

Photos of food, as the last phrase of the dialogue, are remembered on a subconscious level for a long time. For this reason, it is important for the photographer not to relax, like other guests, but to continue to do his job.

A well-organized buffet table guarantees a lot of interesting stories. It can be said that wedding traditions were revived: meeting with bread and salt, the first dance of the young, games and contests, throwing a bouquet, cutting a wedding cake, congratulations, lighting the family hearth, fireworks. Of course, all these moments need to be filmed, and professionally.

Photography food tips

• light

Natural daylight is best for food photography. To get more light, you can place a plate of food right in front of a window - on a table, windowsill, or stool. In light, photographs have a yellow tint. White light bulbs will help to avoid the undesirable effect.

However, some products can look great on a photo with harsh shadows. For example, lemonade in a glass can be specially illuminated from behind - you get a contrasting picture.

Do not stand with your back to the light source. Otherwise, its shadow will cover the dish, and the background will turn out to be too dark. To avoid this, you can step sideways and take several pictures from different sides. This will help you see what light food photos look best.

Small decorative elements can be "lost" in deep shadows. A reflector will help to avoid this. You need to place a thick white sheet of paper or a light endpaper of an open book in front of the sun. And the details that are in the shadow will be highlighted by the reflected light. The illumination in the frame will be leveled.

• Foreshortening

As with light, take multiple photos from different angles. First, you need to take a picture drawn in your imagination, and then take on additional frames.

From above, it is worth shooting "flat" food: soup, scrambled eggs, or pizza. The same applies to shooting the ingredients before preparing a dish - such a layout will not look spectacular from the side. The top view will also emphasize the texture of the dish.

The side view will help show the filling and height of the dish - burgers or a stack of pancakes. And a cake sprinkled with berries should be removed at an angle - this will allow you to demonstrate both height and decoration simultaneously.

• Composition

1. Rule of thirds. It is necessary to separate the images with two horizontal and two vertical lines. You can do it mentally or turn on the "Grid" in the smartphone camera. At the intersection of the lines, there are points to which a person pays attention in the first place. Therefore, at the intersection of the lines, it is worth placing the key elements of the frame.

2. The rule of diagonals. Place the main objects in the photo diagonally. This technique simultaneously arranges and adds dynamics to the frame.  You can turn the cutlery at an angle or place several plates in a row diagonally to create a composition.

3. Location of objects at different levels. This method also adds dynamics to the frame. You can add a plate holder or arrange glasses at different heights.

4. Using rhythm. The photo will be made rhythmic by repeating elements: fruits, green leaves.

5. Creation of symmetry. The symmetrical composition can be used by positioning the subject in the center of the frame. This principle works well with similar products.

• Background and props

There are basic rules: a dark background will accentuate the color of the food, and white will help focus attention on details. The more complex the dishes look, the simpler the background should be. A laconic linen napkin will not draw the viewer's attention or overload the frame. And if the dish is simple, for example, a plate of porridge, you can place it on a patterned tablecloth.

For home photography, you can choose a neutral background that will be used most often. This will save time and help maintain a consistent style of photography. Such options can be a table surface or stools, a tray, a tablecloth, or a windowsill.

Anything that is at hand can become props: wrapping paper, cutting boards, potholders, and an apron, the dishes themselves. Better to use matte plates and cutlery - glossy surfaces and shiny metal will glare. You can also complement the frame with the ingredients of the dish. A pie on a floured table or fresh herbs next to a plate of salad will brighten the shot and show that the food is fresh.

Decorative items may or may not be related to cooking. For example, before the New Year, you can add confetti or Christmas tree decorations to the photo, in the summer - a bunch of wildflowers, and in the fall - dry leaves.

Food photography tips

You need to adjust the focus manually. The smartphone camera automatically chooses which part of the photo to make the sharpest, and this may not correspond to the idea of ??the photographer. You need to touch your finger to the part of the image on which you want to emphasize. If there are several objects in the photo, then manually shift the focus to the main dish.

Using a simple tripod will help add depth and sharpness to your shot. If there is no device, then you can simply rest your elbows on a stationary surface .

Burst shooting is not only suitable for photographs of people in motion. For example, with the help of a series, you can catch the moment when coffee is poured into a cup, or spices are sprinkled on a dish. You just need to hold down the photo button and do not release it during the action. After that, you can safely choose the best shots.

It is very important to wipe the camera clean before every shot. This can be done with an eyeglass cloth. Invisible marks on the camera spoil the quality of the photos.
Now you know how to photograph food in order to get quality photos, if, of course, you carefully read all the information that we have prepared especially for you.