Tips for mouthwatering food photography
Whether you’re preparing for the opening of your restaurant, promoting a ticketed dinner event, or working on your next big cookbook…
Having stunning visuals of your food is the key ingredient (pun intended) to get people to make a reservation or try your recipes.
Food photography tells your story in a way that sometimes words can’t express. Since food is a full sensory experience with taste, smell, sight, and sound…those elements need to be represented in the image to have a similar impact.
Tip #1
Show some movement.
This can be done with a shot of something being poured, sprinkled, pulled apart, or put together. Movement is a great way to tap into what it might feel like to enjoy that dish. It also illustrates the textures of the dish that might not be visible at first glance.
Is it juicy? Does it have a lot of viscosity? Are there crunchy elements? Shots with movement can answer a lot of those questions.
Tip #2
Get messy.
At Ginger and Carrot Productions, we call this the "messy shot”. I know, so original of us 😅. What we mean by this is to take a bite out of the dish, cut into it with a utensil, or take a spoonful away. That first-bite experience will mess up the plate just a little bit, but it has a really inviting effect. When someone looks at the photo it invites them to literally picture themselves enjoying the dish. It’s all about the visualization.
On the flip side, showing the dish when it’s almost finished is a vibe. There’s something special about a table full of dishes that were fully enjoyed. When the styling is right, the story that is told in the photo can have a big impact.
Tip #3
Take it slow.
Food photography is not a process that needs to be rushed. I know that working in a restaurant involves a lot of long hours on your feet and it could be tempting to fit in a photoshoot right before opening. We prefer to do our work on days when the business is closed or long before the next shift so that we have plenty of time to get the styling, lighting, and our signature messy shots just right.
Tip #4
Choose a setting that tells the story.
Sometimes, the assignment calls for a table spread, while in other cases, we can think outside the box. Taking photos of the dish when it’s on the expo pass, photos of the dish with a table full of people smiling and enjoying the food, or going outside are just a few ways you can switch up the setting to celebrate the food. Context is everything and our experience around the food plays a huge role in our enjoyment of the dishes.
For more food photography inspiration, follow us on Instagram.
Neysa is the founder of Ginger and Carrot Productions, a creative agency that creates food content for Chefs, restaurants, and brands. To work with their team, schedule a call here.
