Food-tography

If you’ve ever been browsing through your social media feeds, then you may have seen a few pictures of food. We eating enthusiasts have a tendency to photograph our meals to share them with friends. One way to photograph food is through a technique called the flat lay. Flat lay images are photographed from above subject matter and are often best shot with ambient light. This style is a great way to display your photography abilities when it comes to showing off your food. Here are a few tips we have to share with you to help ensure your photos looks their best:

Light from the North

North facing windows are great for shooting near. They supply the greatest amount of light that you could want for your photo. This allows you to edit simple things like exposure levels to finish your photo off. However, you won’t be able to add light into the picture while editing, but still make sure there isn’t too much light or else the photo will look blown out. Another trick is diffusing your windows using things like curtains or white bed sheets. Diffusing will give you the soft natural light that is needed.

Props

Not only does your food need to look presentable, but what’s surrounding your food should as well. Props can make or break an image. Props can be the icing on the cake; the objects that will make your piece stand out. Sometimes new cups, plates, silverware, etc. look too clean or too sterile. It may be better to try rustic, unique looking pieces that have patinas or a brushed metal look. Older, more tarnished accessories will not only help the overall look of your image, but when editing you won’t have to worry about bright reflective surfaces taking away from the subject matter.

A good place to look when trying to find unique pieces is an antique store. Antique stores will have the rustic one of a kind pieces that can make your food pop. If you’re a traveler, another good place to find awesome decorations would be local markets. Local markets can be a great place to find irreplaceable items that will accent nicely in the background.

Matching your Environment to your Subject

Just because food is made in the kitchen, doesn’t mean that’s the greatest place to photograph it. When shooting, an important thing to consider is lighting. We feel like a broken record here, but we can’t stress the importance of lighting enough. Take a look around your home. Sometimes the best lighting is near your front door, or perhaps on the porch. Don’t limit your location just because food belongs in the kitchen. You can always bring a surface outside to place your food on. Think outside of the kitchen!