Taking great photographs of food takes some practice.
A good photograph captures the essence of a dish. Food has a variety of colors and textures, and how it’s presented can make or break the shot.
Styling
Consider the shape, and size of your plate. If you use a plate with color or a pattern, make sure it’s adding to the shot, and not a distraction. Accessorize with glasses, napkins, and utensils.
Arrange Your Food
You want the food to look neat, and appealing. Play around with the arrangement, and try working with patterns that are visually pleasing.
Use A Neutral Surface
Using a neutral surface allows the food to be the emphasis. A tablecloth can work well as long as you stick to a subtle design. If you want to add some texture, try shooting on a wooden table top.
Take Photos From Multiple Angles.
Some plates of food look better from the side, others from the top. Move the plate around. Experiment to see what works best with the dish you are shooting.
Depth of Field
Try using different depths of field for different types of food photos. You want to feature the most important part of the dish. By using a shallow depth of field you create a softer background, with the emphasis on a specific part of the food. If you have a very stylized set, you might want to shoot with a narrow depth of field in order to retain the details of the entire scene.
Lighting
Should you use natural light or artificial? When shooting food, you want your light to be as natural as possible. Window light works well when available. Avoid using an in camera flash. The lighting is harsh, and can create reflections & glare. If you need to use artificial light, try using a reflector. Position it opposite your light source to bounce light onto your subject. Studio lights with a soft box attachment are a great way to simulate natural light. Experiment to see what works best.
