Food photos with your smartphone
In the digital age we live in, food and photography go hand in hand. Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with a super-deluxe DSLR camera to shoot the perfect food photos. But nowadays everyone has a smartphone equipped with a camera. You can get pretty far with that.
Lighting: the key to success
The most important element of your photo: light. A rule that applies not only to food photos, but to every kind. Proper lighting is the key to success. Make sure you photograph with the light. Do you have a window? Take the photo there, following the direction of the light. When taking beautiful photos, bright sunlight is a major enemy. The best times to take photos are in the morning or in the afternoon/early evening.
Is the light from outside too bright? Hang a sheet in front of the window to dim the light. If it is dark outside or you have a dark room, bring in a lamp. Oh yeah, rule number one: do not use flash. Seriously. Flash makes even the most beautiful dish look disgusting.
Composition
Make sure your subject has the right composition. Limit the number of products you photograph. For many photos, the rule is: less is more. Avoid chaos and focus on one element. So move glasses and cutlery out of the way. Your subject should look clean, so wipe away those dirty spots. Does everything look polished? You’re good to go. White tables and marble backgrounds always work well. Don’t have either of those available? Many home décor stores sell placemats and printed boards specially made for photography.
Skip the filters
No matter how attached you are to your trusted Insta filters: let them go. Present your subject in its natural state. A filter changes colors and often gives your photo a grainy appearance. You can adjust elements such as lighting and contrast, as long as you do so minimally. Good apps for this include Lightroom, Photoshop Express or VSCO.
Choose the right angle
Find out which angle makes your food look most appealing. For the best result: follow the light. The helicopter view always works well: take your photo from above. From this perspective, you won’t be bothered by distracting elements in the background. Also play with depth and focus. Focus your camera on the most delicious and beautiful elements. Depth-of-field distribution creates calm and makes your photo pleasant to look at. Many new smartphone models come with a portrait mode, which is ideal for this.
Read also:
