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3 Styling Tips to Make Your Food Photos Stand Out

April 28, 2016 By Faison Weiss Leave a Comment

Hey friends! It’s great to see you all again. Today I’m taking over MWOA to share the art of food styling and food photography with you! You’d probably think I’m kidding if I told you that styling food can be more difficult than photographing a toddler, but it’s true! Finding the right surface without creating too much distraction, getting the right light, and creating the proper lines in the image setup can be incredibly overwhelming… but have no fear! I’ve got 3 styling tips to make your food photos stand out. You are going to look like a professional photographer before you know it. All you need is a camera (I use my iPhone, my Fuji, and my Canon depending on the circumstance) and your own creativity! Oh yeah, and some really great food that you can totally eat after! Ready? Set? Go! 

First things first, find a background that is aesthetically pleasing. This means that you should find a spot that fits with your blog/Instagram style. If you like light and bright photos, it’s best to find a spot that reflects that- a white or neutral table setting will really get the viewer’s focus to your subject- your food! In the photo below the table isn’t necessarily white, but having a light wood surface keeps the eye from being distracted from that delicious-looking fruit! 

bottletree food styling final-3786

A quick tip: I find that if I’m at a restaurant that doesn’t have a light or neutral tabletop and I’m dying to take a photo of my food, I will use my white napkin in order for it to work with my style. 

Next, ask yourself: where is the light coming from? Your source of light is so incredibly important when it comes to getting a light and bright image, and finding a natural source of light is best. This could mean a window by your dining room table, putting it outside (before 10am and after 4pm for the “golden hour” light) on a chair, or even putting your plate of food on your floor in front of a bay window. I’ve done all three! The goal in this is to get soft, natural light that gives natural highlights to your food and still brightens your food subject: remember, bright means yummy! Dark-looking food with lots of shadows doesn’t look appetizing. 

This photo above was shot at the table in the photo below in the bottom right corner. Look at all of the light coming in! The natural light from this shot really brings out the color in the fruit and gives depth to that delicious cinnamon roll in the background. See that table in the bottom right of the photo below? That’s where I do my best work because it’s so close to the natural light. 

bottletree food styling final-3769
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See this sweet little latte? This teddy bear with glasses and a beauty mark (!!!) was taken at a table right next to a window, and the natural light eliminated a lot of potential shadows to clearly show that I’m eating a croissant with my latte. No filters needed!

IMG_1867

food styling photo-2074

I’ll be honest, I embarrass my husband on a weekly basis by asking for the table that’s closest to the window! I have no shame in asking, and neither should you! 

It’s rare that food has “movement” in a photo, but it’s easy to create movement in the photo and catch the viewer’s eye! I really appreciate depth in an image, but when I’m shooting a flat lay of a table with plated food, it’s nearly impossible to recreate any depth on a flat surface. Instead, I really try to catch the viewer’s eye by creating diagonals in the image. Vertical lines and horizontal lines are stagnant and calming to the eye, while angles and diagonals force the eye to follow those lines. This keeps the viewer’s eye looking at everything in the photo, from the direction of the fork and knife to the two pastries. To make the image look “busy”, I turned the cappuccino in the opposite direction to add more diagonal lines. IMG_1774

And just like how I turned the cappuccino in an opposing direction for more movement, I created the same opposing diagonals with the chopsticks in the (really yummy) sushi photo below. Adding these minor diagonals will give your viewer a busy image without too many distractions!

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With these three tips, you’ll be snapping gorgeous and beautifully styled food photos before you know it! And don’t worry, standing on a chair to capture the perfect flat lay is totally acceptable because you’re a blogger! Thanks for reading today, and I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

 

These are great tips! Easy and practical for anyone no matter what kind of camera. Food photography, photography tips, food styling.
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Filed Under: Blogging

About Faison Weiss

Hi there! I'm Faison (pronounced fay-sun), and I'm a wife, mother to a wild toddler named Walter, and I'm a professional photographer. We recently moved to Orlando, Florida and we're loving it so far, especially because Disney World is so close! We take Walter to Disney World at least three times per week, and it's been an absolute joy capturing his excitement at the happiest place on earth. I fully believe that a handwritten note is the best way to show someone that you care, and that listening to Backstreet Boys in your car on loud is the best remedy for a crummy day.

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Hi, friends! I’m Channing. I am mom to 3 amazing girls and wife to my fire fighting hubby, Eric. I loving sharing all things mom life related – recipes, DIY’s, real mom talk, crafts and more! 

Insta-Moms: @momswoa

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cream for dinner will now be a weekly staple. The kids are definitely not complaining! It’s a fun day with a Sundae! 
Comment below and tell me your favorite Baskin Robbins flavor!

#QuarantineCreations #IceCreamforDinner #FamilyTraditions #ad
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I have spent time with old friends and new and the magic is always there. 
If you scroll back far enough, you will see my first Disney experience and the moment I fell in love with Disney with my own mom! 
I would love for you to play along and share your favorite Disney moments with the moms in your life! Don’t forget to use hashtag #disneymagicmoments! I tag @pixiemousemichelle, @fivefortheroadblog and @mrsblinks! 
Happy Mother’s Day! 😘😘
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I could eat Mexican for every meal of everyday! If your looking for the perfect recipes to make for dinner, I’ve got you covered. 
Head on over the the blog for all of my favorite dishes! These enchiladas NEVER disappoint! I promise you will LOVE all of these recipes! 🎉
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Instagram post 17850899390014309 Disney is challenging us to share our first pictures with characters! I had to join in the fun and it was the best trip down memory lane. Disney has been threaded throughout my entire life. I pulled a few of my most favorite memories over the years. From partying in the streets during the most epic dance party and meeting our most favorite princesses to me being a kid at Disney myself. Oh, I also had to add a picture of Cinderella’s Castle. She really is the most beautiful cast member of them all! 
@waltdisneyworld we miss you more and more each day. You’ve brought us joy beyond words and we cannot wait for the day when we get to walk down Main Street USA again! 
Ok, now it’s your turn. Find your old photos of your favorite Disney characters and share the magic. Also, don’t forget to tag me. I want to see all your memories too! 
@pixiemousemichelle @ericaligenza and @prettyprovidenceblog it’s time to share yours!#disneymagicmoments #myfirstdisneycharacter #disneycreators #disneyfamily #disneykuds #disneyworld
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These Easter Sugar Cookie Bars are so easy to make. Store bought sugar cookie mix and cute colorful icing is the perfect foundation for @cadburyusa eggs and @reeses eggs. 
Looking for more treat ideas? Check out the fun recipes at https://Hershey’s.com/kitchen/en_us/home.html

Comment below and tell me your favorite Easter recipes! #cadburyusa #reeses #eastertreats #springdessert
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Let’s take it back to the #happiestplaceonearth and our time in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge! Y’all, I don’t even have words for how amazing it is. And #riseoftheresistance is everything! Check out our video to see for yourself. We miss you @waltdisneyworld and can’t wait to make more memories soon!
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Now it’s your turn! Share your favorite memory and let’s spread some joy! #evereveambassador #disneycreators #starwars #disneyhollywoodstudios #stayhome
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