Looking for tips and tricks to improve your food photography? Your photos will be instantly better with these easy food photography hacks. Also includes a video with examples from a real photo shoot!
Food photography is all about using what you have to get the job done. My latest YouTube video is all about hacks that will help you get the photos you want without spending a bunch of money on fancy gear! Check it out, then read on for more details.
Food Photography Hacks to Improve Your Photos
1. Dulling Spray to Reduce Shine on Metal Trays and Flatware
I love this gold tray to add interest to the shot, but its shiny surface looks terrible in photos. Dulling spray is an amazing non-permanent way to take the shine out of things like metal trays and silverware.
2. Keep Herbs Fresh Longer in Ice Water
To keep fresh herbs perky while styling a shoot, keep them in ice water. We’ll come back to these later to see them after their refresh. Look how much better the one on the left looks than the one that was left in the fridge:
3. Making Bowls Look More Full in Photos
Don’t have enough food to fill a bowl? Place a smaller bowl of the same color upside down in it to create the illusion that it’s full.
4. Correct Zoom Lens Distortion in Overhead Shots
Cups and tall glassware often look distorted at the edge of a photo on overhead shots, especially when using a zoom lens. Use furniture wedges to tilt them slightly, making them seem level. If one isn’t enough, add a second one!
5. Keep Meat Shiny & Moist During Photoshoots
Meats start to look dull and old almost as soon as they are cooked. When you’re ready to shoot, brush a little canola oil on the surfaces that catch the light with a silicone brush. Just don’t overdo it or it will end up looking like an oil slick!
6. Make Fake Steam for Photos
Soak cotton balls in water and microwave them to fake steam. This works best with a dark background shooting straight on.
7. Using Fake Ice For Photoshoots
Tired of racing against the clock in cocktail shoots? Try fake ice. This works especially well in opaque drinks and overhead shots. I recommend buying multiple sizes, like 0.8″, 1″ and 1.2″ but the 1.2″ are my favorite.
8. Edible Glue for Food Photography Photo Shoots
A touch of corn syrup works wonders as edible glue to keep sprinkles in place, like on these Unicorn Oreos.
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Thanks so much for reading! For more Sweet in your life, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube, or subscribe to receive a weekly email with new posts and musings from me.
P.S. – Need more food photography tips and tricks? Check out my post on Cheap Photography Backgrounds:
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