101 Advanced Food Photography Tips
Okay, maybe it’s not 101 food photography tips quite yet, but I’m working on it!
Quite a few years ago, I started writing articles, as Food Photography Tips, trying to share what I’ve learned over all these years photographing food. I’m not really sure why I started doing this, I just sort of enjoy it, I guess. Maybe it makes me feel like a big shot, maybe it’s partly the SEO benefits I derive from posting articles about food photography on my website. Maybe it’s a bit of both. Probably another reason is because all I see out there on the net about food photography, is either REALLY basic stuff, or total BS… I’ve been in the trenches of food photography and I think that I can bring a unique, interesting, and informative bunch of food photography tips to everyone out there with enough time and interest to read and listen to what I say here.
While I’m aware that, as a professional, I have access to photo equipment that the novice of hobbyist just can’t afford or have access to, I still think there are things to learn and take away from seeing a professional food photographer at work in his native environment. You may not be able to afford that fifteen hundred dollar perspective controlled macro lens, but you can still use your four hundred dollar normal lens, and get a very similar effect. While you may not have a soft box, you can probably rig up a piece of material stretched between a wooden frame and get very similar results.
The food photography tips below, sometimes revolve around equipment, sometimes around technique, and sometimes around the business of food photography. There’s something for everyone interested in shooting food.
If you are interested in a particular aspect of food photography and you have a question you can’t find the answer to, please do me a favor and email it to me. I’ve recently started a Q & A section in my blog and I need things to write about.
* I’m will be updating these articles and moving them from my old site to the newer designed webpage. Any article with a * will indicate that it is still housed on the old site.
Reader Favorites
My Food Photography Blog – A running list of all my blog posts about food photography, some of which end up being listed on this page.
101 Best Food Photographers – A collection of links to the best food photographers in the world. I personally use this for inspiration.
Food Stylist Directory – A list of all the food stylist in the USA and many from other countries
JOIN MY EMAIL LIST – and never miss another Food Photography Tip
Food Photography Equipment Tips
* The Perfect Digital Food Photography Lens I found a new DSLR food photography lens that I just love!
* What’s the best lens for food photography?
Food photographer Michael Ray gives his opinion on the subject of lens selection for food photography.
* My favorite food photography light source
My big 10 inch…! Big light, crisp shadow, very controllable.
* Photographic lights and what they’re used for
Articles that discusses all the different types of photographic lighting and their typical use in the world of professional photography.
* Bigger is not always better?
An article that talks about the advantage of using smaller photographic lights (spot lights) instead of larger ones (umbrellas and soft boxes).
Food Photography Technique, Tips, and Tricks
* How to photograph food
How to photograph food is a general discussion of various aspects of the profession including the purpose of food photography.
* Food photography for the food blogger part #1 and part #2
* Digital Food Photography Tips (page #1) Tips on digital food photography for the novice food photographer.
* Digital Food Photography Tips (page 2) Tips on digital food photography for the novice food photographer.
* Learn Food Photography – How to photograph soup
Believe it or not, soup is one of the things that give even professional food photographers fits. Learn the tips, tricks, and techniques to master soup photography.
* Studio Photography Special Effects – Food on a grill
A “show-and-tell” type article that demonstrates the lighting techniques that make the food photograph believable.
* How to handle reflections in food photography
Talks about the subject of reflections and glare as it relates for tabletop and food photographers. Some of the subjects covered are “bad reflections” and “good highlights”.
Capturing steam in food photography
Professional food photographer shows you his photographic tips, tricks, and techniques for capturing steam in food photography.
* Food Photography Fruit splash (how-to)
Step-by-step discussion of how to do a “splash” photograph in water. Photographer talks about flash duration and timing.
* Food Photography Case Study – Strawberry Cheesecake
How to photograph strawberry cheesecake (step by step with lighting diagrams)
* Basic photographic lighting.
The fundamentals of photographic lighting. Subjects discussed are quality vs. quantity, main light, fill light, light ratios, the color of light, and light source size.
* True’ fill light
Article about photographic lighting philosophy and how it applies to lighting techniques. The author demonstrates how to create a true shadow less fill light.
Food Photography Marketing / Business Tips
Food Photographer Marketing Checklist – A marketing to-do / checklist for food photographers to use to grow their business.
* Food Photography F.A.Q.
A web page designed to educate potential clients about what to expect at a food shoot. There’s a lot for you to learn there too.
* The Food Photography Process
Shown trough a series of forty photographs, shot during a typical food photography shoot. Each image has comments related to the thought process of the food photographer.
* Marketing concepts for the commercial photographer.
talks about the basics of marketing and how it relates to the business of professional photography.
* Art direction via email
An article that discusses the emerging trend of dealing with clients that do not attend the shoot.
* How to become a professional photographer
An old, but still popular article that discusses the authors opinions on photography education and the possible career paths of wanna-be professionals.
* How to choose an online food photography school
A list of things you should consider before you choose an online food photography school.
* The Photographic portfolio
The author’s opinion on how to approach assembling a photographic portfolio. Trends, styles, and content are all discussed.
Advanced Food Photography Thoughts and Ideas
Crumbology – The proper use of crumbs in food photography
* What makes a food photo look natural?
Have you ever wondered what it was that made one food photograph look real and another look fake? It’s all in the details…
* Morning light…
A short little article that points out the challenge of professional photographers to interpret words into photographic technique.
* Something Special
What makes a good photograph good, or a good photographer better than the next guy? (All kinds of photography, not just food photography)
* Michael Ray’s recommended reading list
Books about food photography and photographic lighting. (with direct links to Amazon.com)
* How to become a better photographer
Suggestions on how to improve your skills as a novice or professional photographer. The basic premise is “observe, shoot analyze”.
Food Styling Tips
* Food styling tricks for food photographers
A list of various little equipment items and techniques that relate to professional and food photography.
* Food stylists info for food photographers
and food styling from a photographer’s perspective is basically an article written to inform food stylists about the thought of an individual food photographer.
JOIN MY EMAIL LIST – and never miss another Food Photography Tip
If you’d like to learn more food photography tips, please visit my blog, where you can see food photography critiques, a behind the scenes look at various professional photography shoots. And if you’d like to learn receive notifications about the latest article or blog post, please join our mailing list!!!
