It’s tempting for businesses in the food industry to take their own photos; convenience and cost savings are both compelling reasons. The problem is, unless you know what you’re doing, you can really damage your brand with crappy photography.
This article will help businesses take better pictures of their food offering. These simple tips can be the difference between making a sale and making yourself look unprofessional.
If you can’t seem to get that shot you’re after, we offer content marketing services which includes food photography for Melbourne food businesses.
8 Food Photography Tips
#1 Learn the basics of photography
Professional golfers will tell you “you’re better to stick with the crappy golf clubs and spend the money on coaching”. The same logic can be applied to photography. The most expensive camera on the market won’t magically take amazing photos. You need to learn the fundamentals of photography – concepts like composition, lighting, and exposure are crucial to a good shot.
Learning doesn’t need to be expensive. There are a wealth of courses and information online that you can learn from for free. There are also some excellent paid online courses like this one from Creativelive that do a fantastic job of teaching you how to get started in food photography.
#2 Light is your friend (and enemy)
Good lighting is essential.
The worst looking food photographed in perfect light will generally look better that amazing food shot in poor light. Light is everything. Natural light from the sun works really well for food but it’s important you don’t shoot in direct sunlight. Shooting an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset will offer excellent light. This is known as the “golden hour“.
Light can also result in a poor image. Too much sun, or a cheap flash, will result in pics that are too harsh. Too little light and the picture will be underexposed, lack clarity and look unappealing.
If you are shooting a lot of food products and need consistency, a light box is an excellent choice. This is a box which has diffused lighting attached. You place the food into the box and get consistent lighting, even in winter or the middle of the night.
#3 Use a good camera
SLR camera
A mobile phone is okay for casual social media posting, but product shots, recipe pics and website imagery require a higher quality picture. If budget permits, invest in a digital SLR camera. It doesn’t have to be a top-end model, an entry level Nikon or Canon will still create high resolution shots that will impress.
#4 Check the detail
Before you take the shot, check and then double check that everything is in place. It’s very easy to miss a piece of clothing fiber, a utensil that’s not sparkling clean or, shock horror, a hair! Once you’ve taken your shots and packed up the gear, there’s nothing more frustrating than finding a problem with the picture. Using software like Photoshop will allow you to fix up some mistakes but it’s time consuming. Better to get it right from the start.
#5 Plan your shot
If you’re going to be shooting food, planning the shot is crucial as you will often have a short window of opportunity to get your photo. This is especially true for products like ice cream!
Have a clear idea of the basic composition before starting and, if you’re using natural light, be sure to take the shot at an appropriate time.
#6 Choose props wisely
Choose appropriate food props
Props are extras in the shot such as cutlery, raw ingredients and napkins. They can make or break your photo so don’t add props as an afterthought. There are a few general rules that will improve your photos:
- ensure the colours of the props are appropriate
- don’t outshine the hero of the shot with props
- use appropriate props that are relevant to the food
- choose props that suit the mood of the photo
Buying props can start to get very expensive so here are some lower cost options for sourcing them.
#7 Vary the angle
We humans are creatures of habit. Once we get comfortable with shooting a nice looking composition, it’s tempting to keep using it. Try to mix things up and take food shots from different angles. For example, instead of a front on shot, consider a top down angle.
#8 Invest in a light box
Taking photos in the middle of winter when light is low is a nightmare and the light from a standard flash will usually be too harsh. Light boxes are hugely helpful in food photography as they provide consistent light all year around.
Whether you’re taking a shot of food on a plate or a product shot in its packaging, a light box will make getting that shot a lot easier.
You can buy one for relatively cheap or make your own which will also work very well.
Food photography can be fun and rewarding but it’s important the imagery reflects your brand in a positive way. If your business has staff with the skills to get the job done then that’s great. For Melbourne food businesses you may prefer to contact us to take the shots.
Leave A Comment