Images of food are all over. We cannot walk down any major shopping street without being barraged by them from the windows of all the food shops. We open a magazine and there they are again thrusting their mouth watering delights at us.
When you see some of the professional pictures of food you may think that you may never be able to take such good pics but you could surprise yourself. Much of food picture taking is about technique and tips and tricks.
Light as always with photography is King. Get it right and you create magic. Get it wrong and we all know the result! Treat the food you’re photographing as you would any other still life subject and ensure that it is well lit. Most of the bad examples of food photography you will come across would have been drastically improved with adequate lighting.
Using natural light from a window can be perfect for food photography because it gives food that natural look. Support this with bounced flashlight and you can get a simple yet perfect result.
If you are going to be doing a lot of food picture taking then think about creating a food light box to make your job easier and quicker. This consists of a framed area covered in diffusion screens with lights behind on stands or attached to flexible tubes so you can move them easily into position. The food sits on a plain smooth single coloured background cover that is usually white so there is no background to remove with Photoshop later. Make sure the cover is easy to wipe in case of food splashes.
Slow shutter speed is king for food picture taking to capture the depth of the image. Make sure your camera is well mounted on a strong tripod and of course you should be using a shutter release cable to stop any camera movement resulting in blurring.
Choose your props very carefully to suit the end results that you are looking for. The props will make or break your photos. It’s usually the props that set an amateur pic aside from a pro shot.
Do not skimp on your equipment if you want to do good food photography. Having a top quality SLR camera with a good lens will make all the difference. You must have full control over all the settings – shutter speed – aperture setting – zoom – to be able to create top shots. Using good quality lighting will also pay massive dividends.
Find out more about the best Food Photographers who are also top in their field for Bridal Photography.