Miami Food Photography
The flat-lay shot from above and the low-over-the-table shot from the side are two perspectives that are often employed.
In Miami, here are 5 food photography tips to help you improve your images right now.
In this post, I'll show you five easy yet efficient ways for taking your food photography to the next level. I also provide a lot of before/after samples so you can understand how each technique will change your images in real life.
These are the precise strategies I use in my professional work to get consistently great food photographs, and I guarantee you, they're not difficult to master.
So, if you're ready to learn how to shoot food like a pro, let's get started with my number one recommendation:
1. Select a viewpoint that communicates the narrative.
If you look at enough professional food photography, you'll see a pattern:
The flat-lay shot from above and the low-over-the-table shot from the side are two perspectives that are often employed.
I strongly advise you to utilize these angles as a starting point for your composition. However, you should not choose one at random; instead, you should carefully consider the best perspective for your shot.
Why? Because the location of the camera has an impact on the sort of tale you may tell. When it comes down to it, food photography is all about storytelling.
So, when you're putting together your composition, keep the food in mind. Take note of its size, form, and height, as well as what makes it special. The camera should then be angled to best showcase these traits.
Here's what these salmon tacos look like:
I wanted to demonstrate all of the components as well as the gorgeous shapes the tortillas and filling created. The low-angle image is adequate, but the overhead shot conveys the tale more effectively.
2. In Miami, Florida, choose a hero item and surround it.
A basic food photography setup should begin with a hero object, or the main focus of your session, the thing you want to draw attention to. This is usually the main course.
So, what is your hero object? It should be placed on the table.
Then use items that relate to the cuisine to surround it. Ingredients, sauces, oils, and cooking tools may all provide information about how the cuisine was prepared. Tins, jars, herbs, glasses, textiles, and linens may all provide a clue as to the dish's origins or the season in which it's served.
Of course, don't go crazy, but a few items in the foreground and background are a good idea. These will provide physical dimension to your composition while also elevating the narrative of the photo.
My props contribute to the tale in the baklava photograph below. You have the main object (the bowl of food), as well as the components (the pistachios) and a few background pieces to create depth and establish the scene. The observer is immediately struck by a feeling of location that explains the exquisite sweet's Arabic roots.
3. To get the most attractive food shots, manipulate natural light.
Light is king in food photography. Your photos will be ruined by poor lighting, and your viewers will be turned off. However, if you can learn to manipulate the light, you can take your food photography to the next level in no time.
In Miami, I like to photograph food with natural light. I set up near a window, so there's lots of natural light. But I don't work with raw light; instead, I use a variety of modifiers to get the most stunning effects.
First and foremost, if you're dealing with direct sunlight, employ a diffuser between the window and the food.
Direct sunlight, on the other hand, creates harsh, black shadows and dazzling highlights. These may be distracting; however, by using a diffuser, you can soften the light, eliminate shadows, and diminish highlights for a wonderful appearance. You may get a diffuser for a low price from any photography shop, but you can also create your own diffuser (just hang a thin white bedsheet in front of the window).
Natural light may create firm, defined shadows (check out the shadow beneath the lemon cake on the left). I was able to lessen the shadows with the use of an inexpensive diffuser (as you can see in the image on the right).
After that, I suggest getting some white and black playing cards. These are easy to create using foam core boards (purchased from pretty much any craft store).
Simply bounce light into dark places with the white cards to expose critical deals. To increase contrast, use the black cards to enhance shadows. Don't be scared to try various card kinds and distances until you get the desired outcome.
Finally, I'd like to share with you a lighting technique known as blocking. When that bothersome light falls on your backdrop or props, they become as bright as, if not brighter than, your subject.
This is a major no-no since you want the viewer's attention to be drawn to your topic first, but the answer is simple: use black cards to prevent light from reaching regions that will compete with your subject. (This is also a crucial approach for generating photographs with a darker, low-key feel.)
Take a look at the two photos below. Because the backdrop in the picture on the left is too bright, I added a black card to make the cake the brightest aspect of the image:
A diffuser softens the window light, a white card fills in the shadow on the lemon icing, and a black card blocks the light on the backdrop in this final image:
4. For the greatest Miami compositions, use lines and layers.
I've already mentioned how important it is to surround your hero item with props, but you must make sure that these accessories don't detract from the primary topic.
Lines and layers are two simple composition methods that come into play here.
You see, you may draw the audience's attention to the important issue by carefully arranging your props in lines and layers. The spectator will no longer be distracted by props; instead, the props will be used to enhance the overall picture.
So, think of new ways to construct lines with your objects. I used a spoon to bring the spectator right to the dish of baked peaches and ice cream in this shot:
I've included another example of judicious usage of lines below. I’ve positioned the cutlery to lead to the round of Brie in the left-hand picture, and I’ve gone a little more abstract in the right-hand shot, allowing the knife and pomegranate seeds to form lines that frame the topic.
To create three-dimensional compositions, I also advocate employing layers. You should film from the side (so that your camera is low over the table) and use a variety of objects spaced in front of and behind your subject. A narrow depth of focus may help keep the props from being too obtrusive in images like these.
The Brie in the shot below is in the midst of a smattering of props as well as two enormous out-of-focus spots. This generates a layered three-dimensional impression that draws your attention to the hero object:
5. Keep your compositions simple by minimizing the amount of color used; this is easy to achieve in Miami and Florida.
When I first started out as a food photographer, I made a common blunder:
I'd include bright props, which would take center stage and draw all of the focus away from my cuisine.
Instead, don't go too color-crazed while looking for props, backdrops, and dinnerware to use in your photos. Look for neutral tones such as grays, browns, blacks, silvers, and whites.
Then, when arranging objects in your food photographs, use props that will make the food stand out. I used a black metal pan and baking parchment in the photo below to highlight the brilliant red strawberries and rhubarb within these Crostatas. That way, the food takes center stage, and the props, although useful, don't take away from the main event.
Final remarks about food photography.
Now that you've done reading this article, you know how to shoot food like a pro, and you're ready to start taking your own amazing food images.
Just keep in mind to pay close attention to the light and composition. That manner, your food photos will definitely stand out.
Now it's your turn:
Which of these food photography tips will you employ? What are your favorite foods to photograph? Let us know what you think (and any photographs you have) in the comments section below!
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