Food Photography Tips
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Here are some food photography tips that will get you taking better pictures of food. These digital photography tutorials and digital photography tips will help you take the best pictures you can possibly take.

Lighting

One of the first food photography tips to consider is lighting. It's true for food photography just like it's true for every kind of photography. Lighting is the key to making your photography look great.

If you're working in a studio. Here is some advice about studio lighting. You may want to use a lightbox to take your photos.

If you're using natural light you need to get as much light on the subject as possible. Take the photo by a large window. You can use a diffusor, white curtain or white sheet to soften harsh sunlight.

Avoid using a flash when you take pictures of food. The light of your flash will be too harsh to make the food look appealing. It can make the food texture look strange and make your picture look flat. Alternatively, use a slow shutter speed and a tripod. Having a tripod handy will help you keep your came still during long exposure times.

Color

If you're shooting your picture in color you must make sure you get the white balance right before you start shooting. No matter how many food photography tips you use if you don't check your white balance your picture could look terrible. A discolored image can make food look very unappealing. You don't want the food to have a blue cast. Always adjust your white balance and take a test photo to make sure it's right. If you forget to do this you could adjust it in post production, but it's usually more practical to do it when your taking the pictures.

Lens

If you're using a compact digital camera to take your food pictures make sure it has a good macro mode. Most food photography is done close-up. Macro mode on your camera shortens the focal length so you can get crisp photos even at close range.

If you're using a DSLR camera purchase a fast lens. A fast lens will let more light into the camera in low light situations. A 50 mm lens usually does a good job. Make sure you get the right lens for your camera brand. Find out more about lenses by reading my article Understanding Digital Camera Lenes.

Styling

Styling is one of the key food photography tips. You've probably heard of a food stylist. If you haven't, that's the person that makes the food look pretty before the picture is taken. When you're taking pictures of food without the benefits of having a stylist prettying it up for you before hand you have to pay extra close attention to what the food looks like. You want the food to look delicious.

First you need to pay attention to setting. This requires choosing the right dishware to photograph your food on. You want something that is a solid color and contrasts with the food enough to make it really stand out, but doesn't clash with the food. You also should try using different table settings and silverware. If you don't have placemats to use, you can just use a plain piece of colored paper.

Make sure the food looks its best. Arrange it on the plate just so. Add finishing touches like a sprig of rosemary or some freshly sliced fruit to help dress it up. Look out for any stray crumbs or drips on the plate and clean those up.

When you take the pictures make sure there is no clutter in the frame. You want the food and setting to fill the frame. You don't want an extra fork laying in the background or crumpled up napkins or anything like that.

Shoot Fast and Shoot Lots

Fresh food looks best on camera. Don't dilly dally around. Start taking pictures as soon as the food is ready. Take a lot of pictures from many different angles. You may be surprised at how good the picture looks when taken from an angle you might not have considered serioiusly before.

Remember that with all photography you have to be willing to experiment with light and angles and composition. Practice makes perfect. The more pictures you take of food the better you'll get at it. If you liked these food photography tips you make like my other digital photography tutorials.