PHOTOGRAPHY # Food photography techniques

some food dishes look so delicious or enticing, so you feel you have to photograph them to share on social media. However, if you think your photo looks like most photos taken by someone else, maybe it's time to try shooting at a different angle or arrangement style. Here are some suggestions on composition and styling styles to help you get a different shot!

Technique 1: To emphasize color and shape, aim directly from above. One way to confirm the shape and color of a food or dish, that is to aim directly from above, for example, creating a flat overlay. After you find the shooting position, change the aspect ratio to 1: 1, then decide on how to arrange your picture in a square frame. You don't need to include the entire plate in the frame. In fact, if you take a small cake or pastry, putting the whole plate in the frame can make it look smaller. Food should be an attractive shooting center, so aim at the meal as close as possible, even if you need to remove some of the plate from the frame. If possible, take a shot in a place that exposes natural light instead of artificial lighting indoors. This will make your image look better. If the props or decorations are the same height, like flowers, you can arrange them around the food to give depth and dimensions to the image. This also tells viewers about the size of the food.

Flat overlays are a great way to show colorful icing on a cupcake. I put the plate tilted to add dynamism to the image. Flowers on the table that are higher than cupcakes, help give depth to the
picture.

**Technique 2: **Adding human elements to make viewers feel part of the landscape By presenting a glimmer of human form in food photos, it can also provide added value, because it impresses a life and story in the picture. Capture the moment when the knife will cut the cake, or syrup, or the sauce that will be poured onto the food, can further add a stressful pause element in the shot. Such an image is difficult for you to take, so ask your friend to be the model. You don't even need to show his face. Simply by including a part of his body in a frame, for example, the hand, and the rest, let the viewers imagine it for themselves. It doesn't matter where you place the plate, as long as it is located in a place that makes viewers feel its presence in the atmosphere. Don't include menus or anything else that is too realistic, but put a napkin or something similar, artistically. This will cause the effect like shooting a movie's point of view, and the viewers will feel like they are experiencing the atmosphere themselves.

Pouring syrup on the waffle is not as long as you expected, so set the drive mode to "Continuous Shooting" and take a number of successive shots. I suggest aiming from the side to catch the syrup flowing down from the container.

Technique 3: Take advantage of an interesting background This will look good, especially for the food you hold in hand, and is ready to eat it, such as ice cream, burgers, bubble tea or smoothies. Chances are, the cafe or restaurant you are visiting, has a wall decorated in colorful colors or unique decorations - the better for a memorable shot. It would be better if your food is served in attractive packaging. If color is a unique factor in your shot, increase saturation to make it look clearer. You can also take logo shots or shop signs to commemorate your visit. Ice cream cakes and cakes can be held in one hand while the other hand is aiming at them. If you lift it and shoot it facing up from a low angle, you can get beautiful shots that are similar to self-portraits, "food selfies" or the like. Your hands will be caught, so make sure your skin looks good, pay attention to the white balance and lighting settings.

Photos of memories that I shoot with the shop logo on the bright pink walls. I tilted the camera a little and arranged a shot from a rather high angle. The resulting shot made the audience feel that the bubble tea was in front of him.

@akatsuki28121997
indonesia-21-10-2018.thanks