My personal food photography journey started slightly earlier than my love for wedding and portrait photography. Since I cook a lot, one day Nasim suggested that I document it and possibly turn my recipes into a blog. It started with one single shot of the final look of the dish before we devoured it, and ended up developing into step-by-step recipes that started gaining popularity. Although I took a break from food photography, I still kept on getting questions regarding the craft of food photography. So, I decided to start writing articles dedicated to food photography tips and techniques and how to work with food in various situations.
In this first article on food photography basics, I will talk about where to chirp the inspiration for food photography and how to develop simple techniques for capturing food. As I mentioned above, my food photography experience started from actually cooking for my family. I believe that if you cook the food before you photograph it, you have a special connection with your subject (food!). You know what to eat it with, you know what color it will be and you have a sense of presentation, more or less. Even if you do not know how to cook, understanding food, knowing the background of the recipe or being just a food lover will give you tremendous flexibility to develop your personal unique style. With a little technical help like simple knowledge of design, color and shapes will add to the plethora of information to make your task a success.
For me, getting my eyes trained was a big goal. What I mean by that is, I thought if I exposed myself to as many food journals, recipe books, quality recipe blogs and food photography books, my mind eventually would come to terms with my desire to learn this craft. I like to think of this as a repetition process to train the brain.
My first step was to search for food blogs where I could find the content I needed. I signed up for Foodgawker and this ultimately gave me a good head start. Foodgawker is not just a site with pretty pictures – the recipes are often equally delicious. Small steps at a time, I kept on learning from other bloggers and developing my own style.
The second step was to get my hands on as many food journals I could; this would include spending some time in the library, looking through journals in book stores and purchasing the ones with the most content.
My third step involved purchasing books which would help me master technical skills as a food photographer. Among us there might be some who have an eye for design, color and patterns. But I consider myself a pretty average person, who needs to acquire skills of food styling by learning and training myself. I also think that no one is born a great photographer :) If one has a desire to learn, with the help of simple tools you can learn ample in order to deliver the photographic product. For food photography, I would start with learning the styling techniques along with understanding how light works. If you have been shooting for a while, learning the lighting side of food photography will be much easier for you. The initial knowledge can be gathered through various literature out there.
Remember that no book will give you complete training or knowledge of food photography. You will still need to learn and practice a lot. If you wish to have some material as a reference, here are my favorite books which teach the food styling and techniques to some extent:
From Snapshots to Great Shots
A Guide to Creating Your Own Appetizing Art
Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography and Styling
Food Styling: The Art of Preparing Food for the camera
Go to your nearest book store and if these are available give them a skim through and see what you like. I will be posting more and more techniques regarding food photography, along with different lighting techniques to show you what you can achieve at home using inexpensive lighting equipment. Also, I will teach you to use natural light to your advantage without using artificial lights.
I am looking forward to sharing more info with you soon and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using the comments section below.
Everythings looks so tasty
This is a very informative piece of writing. I would definitely try your photographic techniques. The photos are lovely and the color combinations, immaculate. Thank you very much for sharing.
Great food photography. Did you use Nikon d800 for these? Just wondering because the photos actually “pop.” Thanks!
Hello, enjoyed your shots and looking forward to your future comments/tips/suggestions. My wife is a Food Stylist (for the last 25 years). She is enthusiastic and knowledgeable for all things Food. Subsequently she knows and can prepare virtually every variety of food. One of the things she constantly reminds photographers and production people is “the food is the star” . Also, not all food for photography is for eating; a lot of spices are not used for the shots tho they would be required for eating. Salt and other spices change the “color” in the lighting and sometimes deteriorate the ‘stamina’ of the food for the shoot. There is always a ‘stand-in’ then the ‘Hero’. Lights and camera angles and placement are the work of the ‘stand-in’.
I have been involved with food for the last 7 years and just recently I bought myself a very nice point and shoot camera (Coolpix P510), only because I couldn’t justify spending so much for a DSLR. My problem is trying to get the depth of focus spot on. I want the place setting and food to pop; however I don’t care to get the background. Any tips or suggestions? Appreciate it.
What a wonderful blog! I’ve just bought my first ever DSLR (the modest Nikon D3200) and I stumbled uspon your site by chance and I absolutely love it! So much useful info, concepts explained in a comprehensible way, accompanied by some great shots. Thanks so much guys for all your hard work and the passion you put into it.
A very enthusiastic beginner :)
very helpful, hopefully the photos that I take will be great.
Hi Lola, great article. I have been running a foodie blog for more than two years now and am learning to take photos of what I cook myself, rather than asking my hubby to do all the photo work plus editing. Poor guy, I promised him a break! Looking forward to reading more. Thanks!
Great post! I’ve learned a lot from it. I will try to incorporate these with my photography techniques. Thanks, Lola!
Hi Lola,
I just finished my lunch when I read this post. And now I’m hungry again :)
Do you cook all those food yourself ?
Hi Johny,
Yes I do :)
Hi Lola,
THANK YOU! for such a great topic. I love your photography style and the recipes. The foo looks edible, approachable, delicious, and like an average person can do it. It doesn’t feel “staged” or somehow “plastic” or “fake”. It looks like it just came out of your pan (is that “chicken tabaka” by any chance?).
Can’t wait for the next installment.
Oh, would you ever considering having a class on this? Something hand-on? If I remember correctly, you guys had a class a few years ago, but it wasn’t food photography specific.
Anna, we will have some photography workshops later this year. We did not plan on workshops specific to food photography, since it would probably be hard to attract more than 1-2 people…
Nasim,
I’ve been looking forward to your workshops for a few years now. :) Would you happen to have any indication as to when it might be (time of year of month)? I’ve been trying to come for a few years and my schedule hasn’t worked out in the past, so I’m hoping to make it this year and hope to plan around it. I understand about a food photography-only workshop. I suppose the tutorial on here are the next best thing. :)
Anna, I posted our 2013 workshop schedule.
Please let me know if you have any questions!