ABSTRACT
145I could have easily made a Top 20 list for this chapter, heck, even 30, as I find there are so many tips that help us successfully shoot food. But then I realized the beauty of food photography: everyone eats, everyone has a voice, and technology abounds. Better to let others find those moments of discovery that make food photography so fun, fresh, and appealing. However, I had to include my Top 10 Food Photography tips; but remember, they’re only tips. Nothing is set in stone, and I encourage you to discover what works best for you.
Be a cook. Know as much as you can about food. This means how to cook it, where it comes from, and how it reacts to heat, freezing, and time. This doesn’t mean you need professional culinary training, just an understanding of food’s properties. Did you know that some of the best food photographers I know are also excellent in the kitchen?
Use natural light when and if you can. It’s always around during the day and doesn’t cost a thing. But it’s not easier, a phrase I hear all the time. Don’t confuse abundant and free with easy. But food looks its best in natural light.
Respect your food. I don’t mean that you need to be afraid of it, and I sure don’t mean you can’t play with it. I do this all the time! But have respect for what it took to make its way to your plate, consider waste and how fortunate we are to have the luxury of time and enough food to photograph. Many the world over should be so lucky.
Fresh is best. When food is the subject and it’s front and center, it pays to use the freshest you can find. Fresh food is beautiful food.
Be yourself, enjoy the process, and share your story. Considering we all eat (I hope), we are all experts on what tastes good to us and what we enjoy eating. It stands to reason then that any food photograph you make will be unique and individual. Make sure to let your personality and story come through with your photo. And because we’re blogging about it, make sure to share you. After all, that’s why we’re here, no?
146 Do not use flash in a restaurant to photograph your food. Don’t. Don’t do it. Ever. And don’t let snapping your dinner photos ruin your meal or the meals of your fellow dining companions and those around you.
Reach out. Ask questions. Take notes. Be inquisitive. Thanks to this thing we call the inter-webs, we can reach out and ask many questions. Find someone you admire, send an email to someone who inspires you. Share your ideas and ask questions. The worst that could happen is the person doesn’t respond. And this goes both ways, people. If someone asks you a question, do your best to accommodate him or her. Let’s pay it forward, shall we?
Take your time and learn from every mistake. Creating food photos takes exercise and discipline in order to improve.
Leave your comfort zone on occasion. Pastries, desserts, and beautiful fruits and vegetables will always be there to photograph, but challenge yourself with something you might not normally cook or photograph. This is where the magic (and growth) can happen!
Ignore the rules and make them up as you go along. Yes, I realize I’m contradicting myself, but rules were made to be broken, no?147
