food photography

 Photographing food and products is one of those large-scale projects that a person never fully appreciates unless they have witnessed it firsthand! Effective food photography is team effort between many people. The chef, photographer, food stylist all work together to produce a photo specifically designed to offer the product food photography.

Any business that depends upon food sales should utilize food photography within their advertising campaigns. It's a proven undeniable fact that restaurants sell more food when their menus contain photographs. That is why food photography is indeed prevalent in advertising today. It's only effective advertising, however, if the photography truly whets the appetite of the viewers. Following these tips can ensure an effective food photography session:

Food Stylist Tricks

Photographing food and products is much more than placing a plate on the table and picking up the camera. If the meals doesn't look appetizing in the picture, nobody would want to try it. A skilled food stylist knows how to find the right items to photograph. When taking a photo of a tomato, as an example, the stylist may have an instance of tomatoes and only use two. Glycerin can be added to the tomato to or lettuce can be iced to make them look fresh and juicy. A food stylist may have the chef cook five or six steaks just so they can choose one that photographs best. A propane torch and a cable may be used to create grill marks on a steak.

Accessorizing With Props

Props play an important role when photographing food and products. A food stylist accessorizes the main food by including items to compliment it. In food photography, a plain bowl of ice cream might look okay. Place that same ice cream alongside small bowls of cherries, whipped cream, nuts and hot fudge sauce and you have an image that can make the viewer's mouth water. The food stylist and the photographer work together and plan out the photo before the meals ever hits the table.

Creating The Mood Using Lighting

The lighting will make most of the difference when photographing food and products. It's important to obtain the lighting right using stand-ins as opposed to the actual food the photographer is using. This ensures that the meals being photographed is as fresh as possible. Textures can be made out of specialized lighting techniques. The proper lighting will make colors pop, making the meals look more appetizing.

Food Photography Timing

Timing is important in food photography. An excellent photographer can take the photos on-site as opposed to in a studio. Carrying this out ensures the meals is as fresh as possible. Whilst the chef is cooking, the photographer and food stylist may use stand-ins to be sure the lighting is right for the photo. This means that the meals is going to be fresh when it's time for the picture as opposed to dried right out of the strong lighting. If using cut fruit, wait before last possible minute to cut it and then your stylist may use glycerin or ice to make it look better yet in the photo.

Food photography is much more than taking a picture of a dish. It's a team effort between the chef, photographer and food stylist. Whenever choosing a photographer for your meal advertising materials, you'll want one that's experienced in photographing food and products.

Earl Kogler is definitely an author and professional Florida photographer with over 25-years experience creating award-winning photos that sell. Earl Kogler specializes in food photography product photography, hotel photography, and many other kinds of marketing photography, producing powerful, professional images that entice customers to buy food photography.