Today at my internship I was told that we were going to be taking some photos for Paavo’s here at Southeast Tech for their menu. Each day they have a special and want to be able to display it. Since I’m in a photography class at the moment, I was very excited. To prepare, Caroline asked me to do a little research on food photography. I found three sites that were pretty helpful

• http://www.diyphotography.net/15-awesome-food-photography-tips/
• http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/03/beginners-guide-to-food-photography.html
• http://digital-photography-school.com/food-photography-an-introduction/

Each had it’s own unique tips and tricks but there are common threads in all of them. Just like photographing a person or object, lighting is important and natural light is the best possible light. But the weather isn’t exactly controllable, so there are tricks to set up good lighting. And NEVER use the in-camera flash. That was a no-no across all boards. Another tip included using props for a photoshoot. Adding utensils or glassware will add character to the photograph. They say to be careful to not clutter up the area either. Less is more.

Just like people, food can have a bad and a good side. That’s why the angle of the shot is important. Sometimes a shot straight down will look good, like with pizza. Other times a 45 degree angle is better or table level. It all depends on the context of what you are trying to capture. It could also depend on what the client will want. From what I read, I would suggest just trying different angles. Practice and experimenting are the best lessons.

There a lot of tips from these sites that I’m excited to try out. My favorite one though? They suggest microwaving water-soaked cotton balls and placing them behind the food. Steam will rise, giving the food a fresh cooked look.