Food photography is more than simply pointing your camera at a dish—it’s about storytelling, light, composition, and emotion. After years of photographing sweet creations and publishing books, food‑stylist and photographer Linda Lomelino shares her top strategies to help you elevate your food shots.
1. Start With the Light
The foundation of a strong food photograph is the light. Choose indirect natural light—place your dish beside a window where sunlight doesn’t hit directly. North‑facing windows typically provide more consistent, soft light throughout the day. Move the set around the window to discover where the light is most flattering.
2. Shape the Light With Fabric
Sometimes natural light is too harsh. In that case, soften it with a sheer white curtain or light drape over the window. If you prefer a moodier look, draw in a dark grey or black fabric to partially block light, thereby creating stronger contrast and deeper shadows.
3. Embrace a Shallow Depth‑of‑Field
Switching from a smartphone to a camera gives you far more creative control—especially over depth of field. Use a wide aperture (for example f/1.8) to isolate the subject and blur the background or foreground. Linda frequently uses lenses around f/1.8 for side‑on shots of cakes. The degree to which you can “open” the aperture depends on your lens.
4. Use Complementary Colors
Color harmony plays a major role in visually appealing images. Choose two or three colors that complement each other (for instance, orange & blue, red & green, yellow & purple). Keeping the color palette simple ensures the food remains the star.
5. Explore Different Angles
The angle from which you shoot changes how the dish is perceived. For a flat dish like pizza, a top‑down shot might work best. A tall cake benefits from side‑angle shots, followed by flat‑lay slices. Varying your angles adds versatility to your portfolio, whether for a blog, magazine, or Instagram carousel.
6. Capture Movement With Burst or Video
When your food shot involves movement—such as flour dusting or liquid being poured—use continuous shooting or video mode. A fast shutter speed (e.g., 1/1000 s) can freeze motion effectively; alternatively a high‑frame‑rate video lets you extract vivid stills later. Movement adds life to your images.
7. Make Use of Negative Space
Allowing space around your subject gives visual breathing room and draws attention to the main dish. Don’t be afraid of empty areas—sometimes what’s not filled is as impactful as what is.
8. Layer Textures, Shapes and Depth
Incorporate a mix of foreground, middle ground and background elements—napkins, scattered salt, utensils, props—so you build up depth. Use items of varying heights and textures to create visual interest that supports rather than competes with your dish.
9. Highlight the Food’s Best Features
Decide what makes your dish photogenic—is it the vibrant color, the crumbly texture, the glossy glaze? Then select props, backgrounds and colors that amplify that feature. Make your choices in service of the food.
10. Practice, but Keep It Fun
There’s no substitute for practice. The more you shoot, the more your instincts improve. But above all, enjoy the process—if you’re having fun, you’re far more likely to keep creating and improving.
In short: treat lighting as your primary tool, treat composition like a story, and always let the dish lead the visual narrative. With these tips in your kit, you’ll be well‑on your way to creating food photographs that are not only technically sound, but emotionally engaging.
