How-to Photograph Food For Your Blog

While blogging has become an important method of communication on the Internet, food blogging is reaching for the proverbial carousel ring as it becomes one of the most popular blogging genres out there. And one of the most important elements to food blogging is images. Lots of fantastic images.

Challenges of Photographing Food

Photographing food is both easier and harder than photographing other images. The texture, color, and style of the food needs to be showcased in an imaginative, and beautiful way. Props are often used, as well as macro shots. Photo programs make it possible to crop, enhance, change or modify color, or create more dramatic lighting.

The more quality images that there are on the food blog the better chance it has of being noticed and creating a stir in the foodie world; even achieving the coveted status of food porn.

As with any art form the composition is important. The photographer is creating a still life with the food and, while the subject will be all important, the rest of the image will need to be visually appealing and balanced. Take several pictures and then use a photo program to crop and change the way the image is placed in the composition.

Maintain an inventory of props that can be used in the pictures. Sometimes the food alone is not creating the magic that the photographer is looking for and a well placed prop can make all of the difference in the finished image. Use unusual things, things that might not normally be part of an image of food.

The angle of the shot will make a difference on the finished image. Generally you should plan on using between a 10 and a 45 degree angle so that you can create dimension by getting many sides of the food in the shot. Use unusual angles, such as shooting upwards, to create drama.

Focus on one aspect of the image. Create a center of interest. A strawberry surrounded by chocolate, for example, or the air pocket in a slice of french bread. Focus in on the most interesting thing and allow the other aspects of the image to fade away.

Use lighting for mood. Be very careful if you have the low light, or energy saving spiral lights in your home because the image will be very yellow. Otherwise, move the light source until you get the lighting and the mood that you want. Shoot as close to daylight conditions as possible for the nicest colors. Use a small light source and keep the light low for the best shots.

Play with the way the food is plated, and change it around until you like how it looks. Photograph it from several distances, close up and far away. Take many shots because you never know which you will like the best. Most of all, just practice!