The Secrets Behind Food Photography
Written by Ridley Kozman
Photography is an art form, a way to document and understand the world, as well as a marketing tool. We are inundated with photos and images every day, especially on our phones and also on the streets of the city.
I've learned that a lot of photography is manufactured and altered in ways that manipulate the truth behind the image. This is present in the realm of food photography, which is much more than merely taking pictures of different foods for you to be tempted to eat. It's about capturing texture, colour, light, and emotion. A well-done food photo can make viewers crave or feel hungry, but are those images even real?
Does the burger you see on a TV commercial actually resemble the one you’d be served at your favourite fast-food chain? Is that pizza ad on your phone going to look like the one that will show up on your doorstep?
There are secrets behind the mouthwatering images that fill the pages of magazines and cookbooks as well as behind those that dominate the screens of our television and social media feeds.
Lighting Matters:
If there's one lesson that food photographers learn quickly, it's how lighting can make or break a photo. Natural window light is preferred because it creates soft shadows and realistic colors. Bright flash photography can make food look flat, lack volume, and be artificial. Natural light helps reveal details such as the flaky, buttery layers of a croissant or the glossy surface of melted chocolate. It can highlight the sesame seeds on a bun or the sheen on pepperoni slices.
Fresh Isn't Actually Fresh
Food photographers use insider tricks to make foods look their best and fresh even when they are not in fact fresh at all. Ice cream melts too quickly, so photographers either have to work incredibly fast or use faux stand-ins during sessions such as shaving cream. Pancakes are often photographed immediately after being stacked, before the syrup has had a chance to soak in. This way the fluffiness is maximized. Toothpicks can be used to heighten the pancake stack. Often foods are sprayed with a light mist of water to make them look extra fresh or refreshing. This will give the illusion that the lettuce on your burger is crisper and fresher than it probably is. These techniques make foods look more appetizing and desirable.
Composition Tells the Story
In food photography, there is a storytelling component. An ad for chocolate chips may include cookie crumbs, a dusting of flour, and baking supplies. A scene is created that feels realistic for the food item. And those glistening chocolate chips might also be painted with an oil sheen to add to their appeal. These small details help viewers imagine themselves baking chocolate chip cookies with someone that they love.
Angles help the story as well, and the story is always to sell the food item. A stack of pancakes can look taller and fluffier when shot from down low, angled up. Pizzas are best shot from above, drone style, and burgers and layered cakes look better from a side angle.
Color is Important
Colors play a key role in how we react to an image. Bright reds, oranges, and yellows create feelings of warmth and excitement. Greens feel fresh, organic, and connected to the ground. Blues are calming and connect us to water and hydration. Black or dark backgrounds highlight a food item, adding drama and instructing the viewer where to put their focus. Think about the logos of many fast-food chains, and it is remarkable how many utilize reds, oranges, and yellows. These colours are inviting and are important in advertising. In photos of organic products, many use the colour green, so you will associate it with freshness and the earth.
Learning More
If you’re interested in learning more about the ins and outs as well as the secrets of food photography, this list has a ton of great books. I also recommend this video, which has so many cool food photography hacks, like placing cardboard between pancakes to add to the height of the stack.
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