Look all around you and you'll see images of food in many different forms, from raw to cooked. Taking succulent-looking food images is an art, a science and a profitable branch of digital photography that continues to grow. Here's how you can take better, more delicious-looking images.
Succulent, Eye-catching Food Photography
Do you like to eat? Of course you do, who doesn’t (OK, maybe not if you’re a Bulimic spaghetti legs)? Now think of the myriad of photo opportunities that exist for well-composed, appetite-boosting food images. From succulent, eye-catching hamburgers, gourmet meals at multi-star restaurants, to taste-tempting, ice-cold drinks on a hot summer afternoon, this piece will delve into the unique sensory-appealing photography of meals, dishes and a wide variety of culinary or food items. From how to set up mouth-watering shots that get editors and buyers “biting”, to how, where and who could use food-related photography, you will get an in-depth overview of how to shoot even better, delicious-looking food photographs. Doesn’t this “Mixed Rice” photo make you just a little hungry?
Food Photographs – Cooked or Raw
Did you know that many of the photographs you see in newspapers, magazines and advertising are foods which aren’t even cooked? That’s right, many foods are best photographed when raw. This obviously includes many fruits and vegetables, a number of which are normally consumed raw. However, other foods like fish, pasta and cheeses, are best photographed while still uncooked. Not only that, but they’re much easier to handle and manage for setting up the shots too.
“I don’t want to handle raw fish”, you complain?
Easy, then don’t- at least not with those bare, gunky mitts you call hands. Use tongs or utensils. Better yet, wear thin plastic gloves. You know, like the ones you get at seafood, barbequed ribs or chicken restaurants. They’re so thin and light that you’ll hardly notice them. They will however, keep odors, flavors and residue of all types off your hands. This frees you to focus on the camera, setup and getting the image since you can slip them on and off easily.
Delicious Imaging - Food Photography 101
This article series will provide you with everything you need to know about how to take the best pictures of food. You'll also learn where and how to sell your yummy food images. A warning to the reader: you may be hungry after reading this digital photography article series!