You head into a restaurant, sit down, look around and make a mental note of how good the lighting is. And once the food is on the table, you whip out your phone and start clicking.
Sound familiar? If you love food photography and post a bunch of them online under the hashtag #foodstagrams, you are not alone.
So many people actually choose to head to eateries and restaurants just so that they can shoot photos of the good-looking entrées, mains and desserts.
But there are points to keep in mind to get the food photography right. Here are a few…
1. Lighting
While natural lighting works best, it’s not always possible to have this. Adjust the camera angle to avoid harsh shadows.
2. Use right angle
In food photography, angle plays a key role. Shooting from above helps in emphasizing the right shapes, props, texture and objects within the scene.
3. Plating
It’s not just the food, but where it’s placed that makes for an artful presentation. Basic wood or white always ups the aesthetic. If you’re having a salad, ask for a colourful plate. A printed pattern may disturb a dish that has many ingredients.
4. Composition
This is the real deal. Once the lighting, food and plating is in place, look for the right angle to shoot the picture. This can also bring out the best texture in the photo.
5. Props
Often props heighten the visual aspect of the image. A salt shaker, well-placed cutlery or pretty table napkins make the picture look even nicer.
