Every good cook knows the mark of a great holiday meal is how it looks cropped and filtered on your Instagram feed.
OK, maybe not. But let's be real, you're going to take photos of this year's holiday spread, so it might as well look stellar.
Food is notoriously challenging to photograph. It's dark, dense and can look greasy and unappetizing when shot in the wrong light. Beautiful food photography is possible, however, if you follow a few key guidelines from the perfectly lit world of pro food photography.
Dreamstime shared a few tips from professional stock photographers whose life work depends on perfect shots of meals that look both appetizing in person and on camera.
Just remember to put your phone down and enjoy the company around you at the table.
1. Lighting
A common mistake that plagues food photographers is improper lighting. The wrong light can leave large food items at the center of the photograph looking dark and massive.
Naturally dense foods like cakes and cooked turkeys benefit from HDR processing. This involves shooting the subject using variety of exposures and then combining the images when editing later. Using both overexposed images and under exposed images will result in a clearer sense of detail and better overall lighting.
2. Depth of field
This is key for creating a professional looking image. While specialized lenses, like tilt-shifts, help maintain focus throughout a depth of field in close up shots, not everyone has one of these on hand. For those handy with a digital camera, using an aperture between f/16 and f/18 works well, as does a technique called focus stacking. This involves shooting images that focus on different points in the field, and then combining them in post-editing for an image that is completely in focus. Cambridge in Colour has a comprehensive tutorial available here.
For more creative shots, use selective focus to narrow in on a close up, like a fork of food, while leaving the background out of focus.
3. Angles
The key to a beautiful shot is finding an angle that works for your subject. Experiment images taken from the side of your food and from overhead, and determine which works best for your set-up. It can take time and patience to find the right camera placement, so be sure to keep an eye on any delicate garnishes that may have wilted while determining an angle.
4. Know your audience.
Let your intended audience determine the props you choose to surround your food with. For example, Dreamstime suggests raw ingredients around the finished product will appeal to cooks, while menus or recipe cards will appeal to restaurant owners and diners. And for friends and family, props from around your home, like antique candlesticks or favorite table cloths, make great props with which to showcase your meal.
4. Set direction
Have a theme for your photographs. If you're shooting a Thanksgiving meal, focus on more than just the Turkey. Gather the side dishes, gourds and garnishes, and place them around the turkey for a Thanksgiving scene that looks full and and is visually interesting.
Other key guidelines to keep in mind while dressing your set:
Keep garnishes monotone. For example, sprinkle nutmeg on eggnog, or surround turkeys with green herbs different sizes and shapes.
For serious photographers who care more about the quality of photos and less about the taste of food, undercook vegetables. This will prevent unappealing shrinkage and wrinkling.
All cold food items should be removed from the refrigerator at least half an hour before shooting to give condensation time to dry out.
Use clean water in a spray bottle to freshen produce when it begins to wilt under harsh lighting.
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