Food Photography: 5 Things You Need to Know

I get asked a lot of questions about what I do, mostly from people who want to learn more about food photography. I’ve worked as a professional food photographer for over 5 years, and I’m still learning every day. The following are just a few of the most important things that I’ve learned since I started.

It’s a collaboration between the food photographer and the food stylist. 

Food photography is 35% lighting and 65% food styling. Food stylists play a vital role in the photoshoot. Food stylists are the ones who make your plate look like it’s straight out of a Saveur Magazine. They work with food, but also know how to make food look good on camera. They collaborate with the photographer to bring the client’s vision to life.

Food photography involves psychological elements.

The best food photographers realize that it isn’t just about taking a photo of a plate of food that looks good enough to eat — it’s about showing how that meal makes its viewer feel. If it can create an emotion, then you’re doing something right! It’s all about creating the perfect mood with the right amount of light, color, and detail.

Plating for the camera and plating for consumption is very different.

What looks good on a plate doesn’t always look good in photos. That’s where a food stylist comes in. When you plate for the camera, you are trying to create an image. Styling for the camera is very different from food plating, which is all about creating an appealing visual. Food stylists use tricks to keep vegetables fresh and that steak to look perfectly sizzled.

We spend more time planning than shooting.

A photoshoot is no different than a big production. You have all the moving parts and it’s important that everyone knows their responsibilities before the shoot begins. If you don’t have every detail worked out, you’ll waste time figuring things out on the fly. Time is money.

The color wheel is useful when photographing food.

Food photography is about capturing the essence of your dish by bringing it to life. Having a good grasp of color theory can be a huge help in this regard. Color has the power to evoke emotion. It can be used to engage customers by putting together a theme that appeals to them. When it comes to food photography, the color wheel is one of your best friends.

I hope these tips help you have a deeper understanding of how food photographers work. As always, we love to hear from you. Please feel free to give us any feedback or share this post if you found it helpful. Book a call with us and tell us about your next food photography project.