‘Everyone’s a photographer until manual mode.’ But today’s technology challenges that notion. With a high-resolution smartphone camera, anyone can instantly point, shoot, edit, and upload images online. A phone or DSLR can automatically adjust to make your food photography pop. And you can easily take a dozen more photos and manipulate them with editing tools and preset filters.
Yes, it’s true that modern tools can simplify the technical side of food photography. Yet that’s far from all that goes into a good photograph. Your smartphone or DSLR doesn’t know anything about composition or style. It can’t independently create a story about your amazing meal.
“In this day and age, if it doesn’t make you stop in awe, it gets forgotten,” says Chamere Orr, the Creative Photography Director of A Full Living, a Chicago-based food photography business and low carb/keto recipe blog.
Taking some time to prep for your photo sessions can make a huge difference in the results. Consider it to be like taking a manual mindset with your digital devices. These expert tips can help you to develop a cohesive, striking food photography portfolio on social media.
Develop An Aesthetic And Own It
People should know what to expect when they visit your social media page. “We live in a society where our attention span is shortened. If you want to stand out on social media, you need a concept,” says Mollie Serena, a fine artist based in New York City. “A concept is something that is aesthetically continuous in almost every photograph. This taps into a neurological need for continuity and balance.” You want your images to have a similar feel but not seem redundant.
Orr suggests that you develop a cohesive theme with consistent styling and colors. A great starting point is asking yourself what kind of message you are trying to convey. “Are you all about gratuitous, beautiful stacks of food, or are you into very neat, well-presented foods?” he says. “Are you great at motion, layering, or texture? Do you make food in a beautiful studio-like kitchen, a wood cabin, a studio apartment kitchen? What are your favorite angles, compositions, shapes, and colors? Whatever it is that you do, do it well and keep those themes running.”
Lighting Is Key
Photographers agree that good lighting is essential to capturing your most appetizing photographs. “Lighting is game changing. It’s a mood like a paintbrush. Having well lit photos makes everything a lot easier to look good,” says Brooklyn-based photographer and food stylist Jesse Warner. He and Serena say to pay attention to how light and shadows hit the food you are photographing. This will help bring depth and character to your work. For example, try approaching your subject from different angles to see how your lighting looks from different directions.
Natural light is ideal, and remember that it will look different depending on the time of day and weather. Direct mid-day sun on a bright day tends to be more harsh than the soft light of the golden hour right before sunset. But what about when you can’t get natural light? Warner says that a ring light makes his photos look more composed and easier to work with. This kind of specialty lighting doesn’t have to be expensive, and a relatively simple home set-up can dramatically improve your photo quality.
Props And Backgrounds Can Enhance A Narrative
Your food photo should invite viewers into a story. For many of us, that’s enticing them to take a bite of whatever is on display: a gooey platter of nachos at a bar, a comforting banh mi sandwich wrapped in butcher paper for takeout, or a homemade steak surrounded by roasted vegetables. An all-white background has its place, but consider what journey you are sharing on your page. “Minimal backdrop to me is more branded work. Props add character in the same way decorations at a restaurant do,” says Warner. He recommends experimenting with plants or other random items to add a pop of character.
Orr also likes using props and textured backgrounds to add supporting elements of composition and color to a main subject. “For some workshops I’ve taught, I’ve used pancakes as a subject with the theme of a light and airy breakfast. With this, I can add coffee or butter, cut a section of pancakes off to resemble a mid-meal bite, drench them in syrup, stage a drink in the background, etc.” he says. “These elements allow the viewer to bring their own memories and experiences into the picture. If you are at a restaurant, try to show the aspects of your meal. Drinks, sides, utensils, whatever is there.” He acknowledges that it can be a challenge to find the right balance and not include too much in each shot. “[I’m] sometimes overthinking things like, ‘Have I used this French press in too many photos?'”
Get Inspiration From Other Creators
Creating content that is uniquely yours doesn’t mean that you should exist in a bubble. Looking at what other photographers are doing is a great way to spark your own creative thinking. “If you’re lacking inspiration, I suggest looking up some famous fine art photographers who have had food as subjects,” says Serena. “Do not copy exactly what they do, but find what you like about the image and apply it to your own concepts.”
Keep in mind that social media’s sophisticated algorithms can trap you into only seeing content that resembles what you already know. So don’t just look at your Instagram feed for your food photography inspiration. “You will miss out on some great photography if you only stick to that,” says Orr. “I love using other sources like Pinterest and food magazines to get ideas and elevate my own work.” He recommends Pinterest and YouTube for educational resources on fundamentals of food photography, like tips on styling, color theory, and composition.
Take Your Time And Let Yourself ‘Fail’
Becoming a better photographer is a lifelong pursuit. Your gear, your tastes, and your interests will probably be constantly evolving. Applying best practices in composition, color, and lighting is just the start to capturing the best photos possible—and giving yourself more raw options to work with. “The more work you put into the actual set up, the less editing you will need to do in post production.” says Serena. “If you’re spending an excessive amount of time in editing, then it may be prudent to just re-shoot and take your time. “
Learning the fundamentals of taking good images is only the beginning of your journey. Photography takes trial and error, and it’s common to have to take many shots before you land on one that you like. “Don’t stress about photos coming out bad. It happens and it will happen a lot,” says Orr. “Just have fun and keep working on it.”