6. Always put the food first!
What’s your priority? The food, of course! Start with that, and then slowly style around your protagonist. Also, when adding props and fluff, always ask yourself, “Was everything else necessary?” Make sure the food doesn’t lose the spotlight as you frame and style your shot.
ADDITIONAL TIP:Â For perishable food (e.g. ice cream, beverages), use a stand-in as you style first, so as not to waste the food.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSfO5FmFm4L/?taken-by=gabbycantero
ADDITIONAL TIP: Always start clean and simple. It’s easier to add fluff than to remove it.
5. Choose your own preferences.
It still boils down to what you’re truly highlighting in the photo. If it’s a fine dining shoot – with impeccable food and plating – a minimalist shot will probably do. If it’s a salad with plain green leaves, you can go overboard and style the ingredients around it. It also won’t hurt to ask your client what about what they prefer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVGnHMDFeyD/?taken-by=gabbycantero
https://www.instagram.com/p/53sLHknDws/?taken-by=gabbycantero
ADDITIONAL TIP: If you’re going for a huge spread, start with the big ones (e.g. prime ribs, meat platters). It’s easier to push them back once the table slowly fills up with food.
4. Wait for the right moment.
Action shots add drama to photos — they tell the audience a story. To achieve this, you really have to know what you’re shooting. Sometimes, waiting for the right moment means capturing everything instead of just taking mere bits and pieces.
ADDITIONAL TIP: Just keep clicking! This way, you’ll have more options when choosing your final photo.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOglJ-mDsgA/?taken-by=gabbycantero
3. Invest in good gear.
If this is something you see doing in the long run, investing in good gear as early as now will give you a huge edge. A standard zoom lens (24-70mm), a macro lens, and a sturdy tripod are all a must. Other trinkets that may also help include culinary or dental tweezers, q-tips (for small stains), paper towels, flags (made out of illustration boards), brushes, and clay/blue tacks.
2. Explore and get creative.
Notice how the rule of thirds wasn’t mentioned here? That’s because exploring and going out of the box will be your keys to success when it comes to food photography! You’re allowed to play around with your lighting, angles, and shadows as long as you have your end goal in mind: to make the food look as enticing as possible.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaIgWUtHD6o/?taken-by=gabbycantero
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSh4rMulNqM/?taken-by=gabbycantero
1. Be P-A-T-I-E-N-T.
Food photography shoots can last for hours, or even days. That aside, the attention to detail and the discipline you need in taking your photographs are an absolute must in this industry. It’s okay to take your time. It’s okay to start at the very bottom and slowly climb your way to the top. It’s okay if you wait for a certain moment before you take a shot. All of these things are valid in food photography. Being a patient photographer is what will really separate you from the others, but it is also something that you have to practice on your own.
Food photography was once a niche industry; but today, with millions of restaurants around the globe and with the rise of digital media, food photographers are given more room and opportunities to practice their craft. Whether you’re just starting out, experimenting, or are determined to make a career out of this, make sure to always keep these 12 tips in mind!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbEU6iOn-oP/?taken-by=gabbycantero
This Food Photography Workshop hosted by Enderun Extension and in partnership with Sony Philippines was held on November 4, 2017 at the Enderun Colleges in Taguig. Speaker Gabby Cantero is a Commercial Food Photographer and Director specializing in food and beauty.
Gabby Cantero
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabbyCanteroPhotography /Â https://www.facebook.com/DaylightGrubPH
Instagram: @gabbycantero / @daylightgrub
