Food Photography Myths Debunked

Food photography is a very nice way of profiling what you cook or eat, especially if you are good at it. If you know the workings of your camera like the back of your hand, then food photography, or any photography for that matter, won’t seem very difficult as it would at first.

Learning the basics is easy, as you can self-tutor too. Practice is required so that you get a hang of how to click what and how to style food. Just like cooking needs practice and expertise, so does clicking food.

But there are some things which people take very lightly while photographing food. Here is such a list, and if even one of them fits your bill, then it is time to revise your photography lessons.

1. If you don’t have natural light, use flash: No, don’t ever use the built-in flash of your camera. The harsh straight-in-your-face light will give the food an unnatural colour and create hot spots.

2. Clicking from the top angle is enough: Or maybe not. Sure, this angle is safe and covers almost everything the dish has to offer. But do try different angles too. You never know, the layers and depth of a dish might get captured better from a side angle.

3. Always click from up close: While it is a good idea to get real close to the dish and take detailed photos of the food, it might be a good idea to go a little farther away to click in the ambiance. This holds true in case of wedding cakes, or a nice meal, in which not just the food but supporting elements around it will make it a complete picture.

4. Never shoot at night: Well never say never. There are some things which look best in dim light or at night. Wine, liquor, meat et al are some of them.

5. Food looks good as it is: Try styling it a little bit, using a fancy plate or a nice table cloth. You will yourself see the difference.