Tis the season for taking pictures of food. The holidays are right around the corner which means many of us will be spending a lot more time in the kitchen cooking up our family’s favorite dishes. Whether it’s Aunt Sue’s famous Halloween Dirt Cake or Grandma’s scrumptious Christmas cookies, there is no shortage of good eats to chow down on from now until the New Year.
Since we eat with our eyes first, you can bet that your favorite dish will be looking its best before it gets to the table. However, before you dig in you should consider snapping some shots of the mouthwatering creations before they are devoured. Whether you take the picture for posterity sake or you want to collect enough photos to create a recipe scrapbook or a holiday-themed memory album, it’s a good idea to review tips on how to take frame worthy images of food.
For starters, use your camera’s zoom. If you can’t get in close enough with the camera, then move your body, so that you are positioned near the dish. Your goal is to magnify the details of the food so viewers can see all aspects of the dish.
Next, don’t be afraid to move around. Vary your angles in order to get the best shot. This might mean climbing on a step stool and shooting down at a pie or tart, or it may require crouching down a bit so that you can get the perfect profile picture of a ham or turkey. Slightly tilting your camera to the left or right can also add interest to an otherwise boring shot.
Lighting is also a huge factor in making food look enticing in a photo. If possible, try to illuminate the food using natural light. Otherwise, use artificial light that doesn’t wash out the dish. It’s also a good idea to attach a lens that has a wide aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/1.4 or even f/1.2. Just remember to review your shots quickly so you can retake the photo if it doesn’t look right. The faster you work the less likely the food will be compromised by time and the elements.