Once I made a Chili Cornbread Casserole that came out so incredibly perfect that I actually took a photo of it. Sound nerdy? Not so much, considering I also made my boyfriend at the time take a photo of me holding the casserole… in my apron… and chef’s hat. Now that’s nerdy.
Photographing food is not that unusual, especially if you are gourmet cook. However, getting your photos to come out as well as your delectable dish may not be as easy.
If you are looking to take photos of lavish holiday meals to showcase in a scrapbook, or you simply enjoy the genre of food photography, then take note of the following tips:
Lighting: While you want to use as much natural light as possible, unless you are shooting outdoors or directly in front of a window, you will likely have to supplement with artificial light, such as your camera’s flash.
Lens: Most dishes require close-up shots, which mean that a macro lens is almost a must-have tool. These expensive lenses focus down to within an inch or two of the subject. This feature is extremely helpful in that it blurs the background and focuses directly on the main item you are shooting.
Settings: Manipulating your camera’s ISO speed will aid in the clarity of the shot. On a digital camera, select a high setting such as 1,600 or 3,200. Doing so will allow more light into the camera and reduce a noisy or grainy image.
Tripod: When photographing individual dishes rather than an entire table of food, I would highly recommend using a tripod. Even the steadiest hand can take a shaky shot depending on the circumstances. Don’t risk shooting blurry photos; rather, attach your camera to a tripod in order to get the perfect composition minus the fuzz.
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