Category: Unit 5/6

Unit 5/6

Food Photography Research

Aesthetics – focus, blur, lens flare and boken- series of lights that have been blurred (aperture).

DOF – depth of field

Food photography – Art, which makes us DO things –

  • Feel hunger
  • Cook
  • Buy a cook book
  • Buy a product

Formal Elements

  • Texture
  • Colour
  • Composition
  • Lines

Lighting – must have:

  • Light source
  • Fill light

Set up – must have:

  • Backdrop
  • ‘homemade’ dish
  • Props

Why is it important – Food photography is important has it helps with the growth of restaurant’s, fast food places etc. Professional food photography can have a massive impact on branding for a company, which can help increase sales, this style of photography has the ability to make customers want to stop, look and go in and taste what has been promoted through photography.

Tips on Food Photography:

Take control of shadows – Shadows are very important in all photography, as they can enhance a image, adds depth and visual interest. Harsh shadows should be avoided in case they over power an image and take your eye away from the main focus.

Use a natural background –  The background is very important, if the background is too messy or colourful it distracts away from the main focus of the image. Using a fairly plain background is often more effective as it allows the photographer to emphasise the food in the photo, there are three main background that work well, these are, light backgrounds, dark backgrounds or wooden (brown) backgrounds.

Colour – Colours have a big impact on composition and they can effect the overall view of an image. Using opposite colours is positive as it can create an enthusiastic feel to an image and make it more eye catching.

Shoot from the best angle – Shooting from above is often the best choice, especially when the food is placed in the bowl or a plate. Shooting from above has several benefits, it allows detail of the food and the background to be shown and emphasises bold colours and shapes within the image.

Arrange the food neatly – Always arrange the food in a neat and/or unique way to create visual interest and balance. Make sure that no food or sauce was spilled and if so assure that is has been cleared up to give a professional.