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food-photography-06

How to Photograph Food

In this hands-on article we introduce the art of food photography. Includes tips and instructional tutorial videos.
Article By Sasha Gitin Cover Photo By Sasha Gitin

169

Earlier this month we discussed how to boost your creativity and to find your photography niche. Today I will introduce my favorite genre: The art of photographing food.

Introduction to Food photography:

What makes food photography exceptionally unique is the fact that the goal behind every photo is to reflect the appetizing factors of your subject and to engage your viewer’s taste buds.

food photographPhoto by Sasha Gitin, Styling by Janine Kalesis. Published in “The Gourmet Bachelor” Cookbook.

How to create an appetizing image:

First let’s look at all the possible variables that we associate with food. For many of us food has to pass three tests before we determine its deliciousness.

Look, Smell and Taste.

food photography PastaPhoto by Sasha Gitin, Styling by Janine Kalesis. Published in “Cooking With Love” Cookbook.

The Look of food: Visual Appearance of the subject is the variable that can be controlled by the photographer. But let’s break it down into categories.

Preparation / Styling: Food is just like a model. If you start with a highly appealing dish or a beautiful fruit it is equivalent to working with a professional model.Take your time preparing the food. Choose good looking ingredients.If you are not a cook collaborate with a chef or a food stylist or your spouse (as a last reserve).

fod photography- Fish

Photo by Sasha Gitin, Styling by Janine Kalesis.

Color: Color reproduction is one of the most important factors. When we look at food the color tells us if the food is fresh. For example If the food is expected to be white like sword fish, but has a blue, magenta or other unhealthy looking color tone, the viewer will automatically become repulsed by the image as she would to the actual dish.True white balance is the key. Set your camera to custom white balance. If you are shooting raw make sure to shoot a white or grey card and pick a white balance point using Adobe Camera Raw or whichever raw processing software you might be using. Grey card: After trying dozens of white balancing cards cards, I found the following two to deliver the most accurate white balance: WhiBal and Qp101 Cards. White point can be picked using raw processing software Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom, or Raw capture software that came with your camera. In Video below Robert will demonstrate how to set Custom White Balance:


How to Set Custom White Balance (VIDEO by Robert Grant):

 

Taste:Taste is the most important factor in our food experience. Image alone however cannot translate taste directly. Try licking your computer screen right now. Yummy? I didn’t think so. Since taste cannot be translated onto the image we need to look for other variables we can associate with our food indulging experience. Texture would be one of them. Texture: Evaluate your model (food), if you were to eat it what texture would you expect? With lighting we can emphasize the texture.

food photography - brownies

Photo by Sasha Gitin, Styling by Janine Kalesis.

Texture: Meat, Fish, Bread, and Cheese all have grain or flakes that can suggest how it will feel against the tongue. Light your subject to bring out the texture. See our previous tutorial: How to Light for Texture

Smell: Obviously we cannot reproduce the smell with the camera. On the bright side we do not have to! The human brain has the unique ability to fill in the gaps. If the food already passed the color and texture tests our brain will assume how it will taste and smell based on our previous food experience. Steam from hot food can also accentuate this and the viewer will subconsciously sense the smell filling up the air. Next week we will look into creating steam to emphasize hotness.

food photgraphy - teaPhoto by Sasha Gitin

Choice of Lens: My favorite range to work in is 50 to 135 mm. With 75% of the work shot at around 100mm. The lens should have macro capability. However instead of investing in an expensive macro lens you might like to start with a simple 11, 12 or 13mm extension tube. (See our previous tutorial – How to Photograph using Extension Tubes.)

food photography - sandwich

Photo by Sasha Gitin, Styling by Maria Rodriguez.

Composition and Angle: Framing your Shot is crucially important. Carefully observe your subject. Be aware to lines and shapes and frame according to your gut feeling. To give you an idea take a look at my article published by dPS – 11 Great Angles for Food Photography.

Next week I will invite you into the studio during an editorial food shoot and show you how to photograph food using natural light and special diffusion. Also I will demonstrate a technique of adding steam to maximize deliciousness of hot food. Stay tuned.

To see more Samples of Food Photography please visit Sasha’s freshly updated Food Photography Portfolio.

Assignment:
“Shoot Your Dinner” Photograph your meal and post your shot here using “Share Your Shot” feature in Comments. (if you are new to the site click on the orange question mark in upload box for posting instructions)


Related Posts


How To Photograph Steam
June 29, 2012

How to Photograph a Glass of Champagne with Sparklers
December 27, 2011


sashaThis article was written by Sasha Gitin co-founder of LearnMyShot.com. Sasha is a New York Food Photographer shooting for advertising and editorial industries. Connect via Facebook, & Twitter    

Tags: drink, food, Food photography, pasta, soup, Still Life, studio, tutorial

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169 Comments

Denali2003
4 years ago

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I took this at a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower – Paris, France

Rob Stathem
4 years ago

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Hi Sasha, I’d LOVE to see a written tutorial or video tutorial in the coming months on Learn My Shot on how to light and photograph drinks! I’ve found photographing drinks to be harder than food, especially when shooting glass.

Just an idea for future videos! :)

Thanks,
Rob

perrelliphoto
WILLIAM PERRELLI
5 years ago

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Sorry for the mis post….

Nader Hamandi
6 years ago

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Burger & Fries

Shot it before eating it :)

waleed bin Tailp
6 years ago

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Shrimp Soup

One of my experiences

    Keith Sablan
    6 years ago



    Very Nice

    SASHA GiTiN
    SASHA GiTiN
    6 years ago



    very good ! how did you get shrimp to hold up above?

    waleed bin Tailp
    6 years ago



    I am happy for your response .. There is a small dish upside down in the soup :)

    Michel Jodoin
    6 years ago



    Wow! I really like your shot !

kasia selaszuk
6 years ago

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Apple pie

On last sunday i made this apple pie, in polish “szarlotka”

Guenther Hastedt
6 years ago

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an appetizer created by my better half

Thank you for helping me to become a winner in the fight with white balance ;-)

    SASHA GiTiN
    SASHA GiTiN
    6 years ago



    nicely done. great wife!

Carlo Andrea Cavedo
6 years ago

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Composition of cakes

Tipically italian cake

    Robert Grant
    Robert Grant
    6 years ago



    very pretty. I would move in closet and have less background

Carlo Andrea Cavedo
6 years ago

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Chocolate cake

Hungarian chocolate composition

    SASHA GiTiN
    SASHA GiTiN
    6 years ago



    interesting lighting feels like a retro image. I like it

Bhaven Jani
6 years ago

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Pancakes and chocolate chips

Here is a pic I took in my studio of pancake with some chocolate pieces. I used two studio lights (elinchrome), one with a 1m soft box placed at top/behind the food and another at the side of the camera (for fill-in). Any thoughts/ feedback is welcome.

    SASHA GiTiN
    SASHA GiTiN
    6 years ago



    lighting is great, styling is good, composition and ngle work well/ not sure about chocolate chips as a prop. spoonful of melted chocolate would have been better or if you absolutely have to use chips make sure the fronts are shown not the backs.

Arthie Beighle
6 years ago

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Cantaloupe n Strawberry

Healthy Snack at night :)

    Arthie Beighle
    6 years ago



    thank you Sasha..

    SASHA GiTiN
    SASHA GiTiN
    6 years ago



    nice composition, good styling , nice lighting

Juan Martos
6 years ago

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Fried fish

Not a great job, but I owe you for your dedication. It is made in the restaurant where we had a working lunch, after reading your tutorial. I wish I had more time to implement your advice and do the task well.It is a sign of my willingness and my appreciation for your work.PD. They are fried anchovies, the typical fish dish of my city.

    SASHA GiTiN
    SASHA GiTiN
    6 years ago



    I would kill right now for a plate of fried anchovies. I only had ones out of the can. Thanks for sharing.

Jackie Spellen
6 years ago

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Wow! These are great. I wish I had seen this back in June 2011.

    SASHA GiTiN
    SASHA GiTiN
    6 years ago



    hi Jackie, what happened back in June?


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