I know many of you have photographed food at one point or another, even if it was just a quick snapshot from your iPhone to put on Instagram. iPhone or nice DSLR, there are a few tips to keep in mind when practicing food photography. Some I would like to cover are the use of light, angles and the use of props in your food photography.

Light

First, let’s talk about light. You will always want to use natural light if possible. Early in the morning or late in the afternoon are always good choice as you don’t want your light to be too intense. Never have your food in direct sunglight but in a non-direct, well-lit area. If the area is too dark you may have a hard time holding your camera steady enough. You can also use a reflector to lighten up some of the harsh shadows on your food. See the below example.

Angle

Second, let’s talk about angle. Use some creativity when it comes to shooting pictures of your food. You may get a much better looking photo if you shoot at an angle. You can also zoom far in, zoom out, and play with multiple items in one shot (like many cupcakes opposed to just one).

Props

Third, let’s talk about photography props. I know you’ve seen all of those adorable drinks on Pinterest with those striped straws, cute cupcake liners, etc. Sometimes when your photo looks boring, all you need to do is to put it on a patterned tablecloth, in a unique dish, or stick a fun straw in it to give it some spunk. Get creative, see what you have laying around the house already. If all else fails take a trip to your local Goodwill and you are sure to find some ideas.

With these three tips alone, your food photography will improve immensely! Feel free to send me before and after pictures, I’d love to see what my tips helped you to accomplish!