picture perfect

Tips for Taking Great Food Photos 

Do your food pics come out more glum than yum? Treetop Digital is here with tips and tricks to help you take your, “This is what I ate for breakfast” Instagram game up a drool-worthy notch. 

ONLY THE FRESHEST INGREDIENTS

Got a wrinkled red pepper? Replace it with a new one. Bruised or damaged food shouldn’t be used – the camera will pick up flaws – if you don’t have a new one, adjust the angle.

USE NATURAL LIGHT

Use natural light whenever you can. Set your dish near a window and turn off any artificial lights that might be on nearby. The indirect light from a window will illuminate your food just right. Try to photograph with the light at your back or to the side of a dish, so that the shadows are to the side or behind it. This will make everything look brighter, crisper and fresher. If you can’t get natural light, don’t be tempted to use your flash. Flash photography is too harsh for food’s delicate sensibilities. It flattens everything out and makes for unappealing shiny spots.

GARNISH

Adding just a little something provides the extra flair that makes a food photo successful. This is especially true with foods that are monochromatic, like a hummus or broth, or foods that you can't exactly tell what it is. Garnishes add texture and color.

LESS IS MORE

Don’t over-prop or crowd the image. If the food isn’t the most appetizing, crop it to show only a portion of it. Simple plates, cutlery, etc. and raw ingredients make great extra props but remember to let the food speak for itself. As well, make sure that the serving dish is clean and wiped down of smudges or stray food, and use plates whose color contrasts with or harmonizes with your food, but not ones that are the same color.

SHOW THE PROCESS

Documenting the steps taken will make everyone feel like they are in the kitchen with you. Sometimes making the food (chopping, cooking) can be as interesting as the final product.

PLAY WITH ANGLES

Some plates of food look better from above, or from the side, or at a 45-degree angle. Try moving around the plate and taking photos at various angles so you can pick your favorite later.

What are you waiting for? Get snapping (and snacking).