We've all been there- trying to snap food photos with our cell phones in a dark cafe and we just can't quit manage to make it look good. Here are 7 quick tips to take your food photography to the next level. First step if you want to take it seriously- definitely invest in a DSLR camera if you haven't already. My favorite lenses for food photography are the 50mm f/1.4 and a 105mm f/2.8.
#1 Use natural light- Nothing beats taking photos outside in the shade. You get really crisp lighting and depending on the time of day and a lower depth of field, it can be very soft, making the food look even more appetizing.
#2 Avoid artificial light- Unless you have a high quality soft box and are shooting the food for high end commercial purposes, I would recommend only using natural light. Sometimes in my kitchen, I will forget to turn off my lights and the immediate effects are horrendous. It throws off you white balance/ leaves weird glares on the plates or food, and causes an imbalance between the nice outdoor light.
#3 Try using a tripod- If you're shooting in lower light, put your camera on the tripod to stabilize the camera. Use a slower shutter speed to let more light in. You can create very dramatic effects this way.
#4 Avoid shiny backdrops- Be cautious of the table you're photographing on. I prefer shooting on matte backgrounds so that you don't get a glare from the light. If you only have a shiny table- you can get creative and use old wood planks, newspaper, or neutral colored dishtowels to add layers and hide the unwanted shine from the table.
#5 Use a reflector if necessary- If you want to get rid of harsh shadows, use a reflector on the opposite side of the food from the window.
#6 Low ISO- Make sure you keep you ISO as low as possible. It is suggested to start at something like 100 ISO so that you avoid getting grain in your photos.
#7 Try dramatic light- Use a dark background and pull down your shades so that only a little bit of light is coming through the window. Put your camera on a tripod so that you can shoot with a slower shutter speed.
