Tips for Food Photography

Food photography is one of most challenging photography, you have to construct picture until you reach the perfect balance of reality & art. You need to create a story line. You are the chef, stylist & the photographer at the same time…

1. Take Pictures in Natural Light
2. Lighting is every things, use only one light source
3. Avoid use of Flash lights/Artificial light or lamps
4. Move out of kitchen area & rely on places having the best light
5. Take control of shadows
6. Create a frame with composition, space & angles – Get Closer
7. Take pictures with different/multiple angles, go with range of 25 to 75 degree
8. Don’t add too many things around, keep it natural, simple & original
9. Use simple props to make it interesting, use line & layers
10.   Show a comparison – before & after, to make it lively
11.   Take some picture when the cooking is in process, half cooked food is as interesting as cooked food
12.   Add human angle/emotions by showing people tasting the food. Stimulate as many senses as possible
13.   Keep the utensil clean/hygiene & arrange them neatly
14.   Use anti-glare spray on your cutlery else use polarizing filter
15.   Marinate food with olive oil for little shining
16.   Create fusion of food, if possible
17.   Ensure depth of field & focus, Zoom in for capturing details
18.   Vary the background, blend with Colour
19.   Use 50 mm prime lens or 100 mm Macro Prime Lens for getting best result
20.   Decorate the scene – Make use of flower/leaves/ingredients
21.   Wrap up of frame is equally important
22.   Expose for the highlight of your hero, main dish
23.   Use shutter speed range of 1/25th of a second to 1/40th of second, if sufficient light is available but not more  than 1/80th of second
24.   Use aperture within range of f/2.8 to f/4, the open Aperture is welcome
25.   Use ISO of 200 – 400, but not more than 640 in any case
26.   In post processing, you need to fix white balance, adjust level to brighten or darken of your image, adjust contrast for brightness & saturation
27.   Use Tripod to capture razor sharp images
28.   Use RAW format of picture to capture more for the editing table
29.   In nutshell the Food photography is all about light, angle, styling & setting
30.   Don’t wait until your work is perfect, keep practicing