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Great food photos don’t need expensive gear—just a bit of technique. The right lighting, angles, and a few easy editing tricks can turn your everyday meal shots into drool-worthy masterpieces.
1Check the Lighting
Even before plating my food, the first thing I check is the lighting in different areas of my home. I have a good amount of natural light streaming through various windows. But I choose different rooms depending on the time of day or the mood I’m trying to convey.
For instance, there is a tree next to my bedroom, so the light is mellow and works well for dark and moody styles. My kitchen window is bright in the mornings and works well for an airy, summery feel. Lighting can make or break your photography, so learn to see and use natural light to your advantage.
I also use artificial lighting, but mostly with my camera. Learning studio lighting is a great way to improve your photography. Plus, you are not limited to shooting breakfast and lunch, especially if you live in the Northern Hemisphere.
2Compose Your Photos
There is a difference between taking and making a photograph. If you focus on the composition or the arrangement of elements in your scene and intentionally take a picture, the image will stand out. So, learn somebasic compositional rules to improve your food photos.
The rule of thirds, leading lines, rule of odds, and golden ratio are fantastic techniques to start with. Following these rules will help you guide the viewer’s eyes through the image. Initially, you will have to practice these techniques with purpose, but with practice, they will soon become second nature.
Studying artwork is a quick and easy way to improve your composition. Having a mood board full of food photos is great, but you can also learn a lot from art museums and galleries in your neighborhood. Practicing another genre of photography will also be beneficial. I’m often inspired by my nature pictures when choosing colors or props for my food pictures.
3Find a Story to Tell
This is where many beginner photographers fail. You may have nailed your composition and racked your brain to find harmonious colors but still find something missing. Likely, you don’t have a strong narrative. The most powerful images you see every day have one thing in common: they all elicit strong emotions.
Adding a story is paramount to getting the viewer’s attention and connecting with them. The simplest way to add a narrative is to choose the props thoughtfully. Do you want to create a cozy and homey feeling? Add rustic wood, old cutlery, and dark-colored napkins to your scene. For a modern, formal feel, go with a polished wood or marble background, shiny cutlery, and solid-colored napkins.
You can add a human element to your photos to get an emotional response. Including models or just their hands can enhance the story.
I often make a storyboard of what I want to shoot. This way, I ensure I’m thinking more about the narrative and adding all the relevant details and props to my scene. I draw the storyboard in Adobe Fresco with an Apple pencil on my iPad. You don’t need the same setup. A pen and paper are all you need. The important thing is to visualize the scene.
4Try Different Perspectives
In food photography, the key is to make the food look abundant and rich. you may do this by adjusting the perspective. Using smaller plates and close-up shots will also help. But sometimes, you have to go for a wider shot to include the story. The key is to know when to use each one.
A top-down shot of different foods on a family table can showcase togetherness. On the other hand, a burger taken at eye level is more exciting than a top view. A 45-degree angle works well for soups and salads to show layers and depth.
5Use Photography Apps
If you want more control over your photos and want to mimic using a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you candownload camera apps on your smartphones. These apps let you control the three parameters ofthe exposure triangle: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
I personally use Lightroom’s camera app. I like taking my pictures in RAW format, so I have more control while editing. Since I take photos in natural light, I like the flexibility of adjusting the white balance. Many free and paid camera apps are available for Android and iOS.
6External Lenses Can Help
Just like apps, lenses can be handy for making your images look professional. I suggest buying a macro lens to capture the food’s texture better. There is a good reason why all food photographers love the 100mm macro lens. Even if your camera has a built-in macro lens, the quality from a separate lens is better, especially for the beautiful bokeh in the background.
The different perspectives from the lenses can also help your storytelling and show abundance.
Avoid using special effects lenses like extra-wide or fish-eye. You want your food photos to look as natural as possible.
7Edit Your Photos
Whether you take photos with a state-of-the-art mirrorless camera or your humble phone camera, editing is critical to making your food images pop. you may use the native editing app on your phone, but dedicated editing software can give you more options.
Basic adjustments like brightness, highlights, shadows, and contrast are enough to improve your photos. Adding vibrance or saturation can also make the images pop.
I edit my photosusing Lightroom Mobile. In addition to the usual exposure and color adjustments, I like to remove any blemishes in my images with Lightroom. The masking option is my favorite, as I can selectively edit specific areas of the image without impacting others.
As they say, it is not the tools but your skills that matter. You don’t need a top-of-the-line mirrorless camera to take amazing food photos. Your smartphone will do. Pay attention to lighting, composition, and the story you want to tell. If needed, use apps and edit your photos.
