Food Photography Tips

These food photography tips are designed to show you how easy it is to get going in this rapidly growing field. One of the great things about food photography is that you have complete control over the set-up and you don't need any fancy lighting or specialist camera equipment to get going.

1. When photographing food, keep the composition simple and avoid too many props - always keep the food as the main element
2. Professional food photographers usually work with a food stylist but if you decide to work on your own consider purchasing a good book on the topic.
3. A small amount of food on a plate is visually more interesting than a large amount
4. Use tooth-picks and skewers to create interesting structures
5. Use a plant spray to moisten the food and make it look fresh

6. White plates show the food off best but bold, solid colours can create great contrasts with the food colours - your choice!
7. Coloured serviettes (napkins) can add a nice splash of colour to an all-white set-up
8. Food photography lighting set-ups needn't cost anyting at all and in fact food shots usually look best when created with natural light
9. Use a sunny window or shoot out of doors in preference to using flash.
10. Shoot midday or early afternoon - south or west facing windows are best
11. If the light is too strong, use wax paper to diffuse it
12. Use a large sheet of white card or foam-board to reflect light into the shadow areas
13. Try keeping the food in focus and the background out of focus - experiment with different f-stops to achieve the desired effect
14. Work quickly as the visual appeal of food wanes quickly once it is on the plate

I hope these food photography tips inspire you to get started. The art of photographing food is easy to learn and you can start off with a really simple set up in your own home. I hope you have a lot of fun!

Food Styling: The Art of Preparing Food for the Camera

Delores Custer

Amazon Rating

Full of ingenious advice on styling in any media and packed with full-color photographs, Food Styling: The Art of Preparing Food for the Camera reveals every trick of the trade, from making a beverage appear to sweat to producing those perfect grill marks on meat without a grill. Filled with resources and organized in a simple problem-and-solution format, this is an ideal resource for both experienced foods styling pros and first-timers alike.

More than 300 full-color photos reveal the process of styling plus the book features a timeline of 60 years of food styling, a glossary of important terms, and a listing of vital styling resources. This exceptionally thorough resource covers challenges from flawless fried chicken to fluffy, cloudlike cake frostings-and everything in between.

Digital Food Photography

Lou Manna

Amazon Rating

Packed with enticing and creative full-color photographs, Digital Food Photography focuses on the art of food photography and how the digital photography revolution has changed and enhanced it.

Broken down into the areas of photography, styling, science, and business, this visual guide compiles all of these aspects of food photography into a valuable reference. Readers will learn techniques that combine the art of lighting and styling for still-life photography with the business sense of commercial photography.

It also provides tips for aspiring food photographers on how to get started and succeed. Whether readers are professional photographers who want to learn the advantages of digital photography in the field, or amateur photographers who want to experiment in their own small-scale studios, this unique book will prove useful to anyone interested in this realm of photography.

The Food Stylist's Handbook

Denise Vivaldo

Amazon Rating

Whether for food blogs, television, books, magazines, movies, menus, or advertising, food stylists and photographers learn to slice, plate, tweak, and arrange so the dish becomes less a bit of food and more the work of an artisan.

The Food Stylist's Handbook will show you how to get started, what equipment you'll need, how to find clients, insider tips and tricks. Learn how to turn banal food into ambrosia before the camera's eye. Master the tricks of the trade to keep food looking fresh and mouth-wateringly delicious, even after hours on the set.