A good food photo starts even before you take the shot. No matter how good your light is or how well you know your camera, a photo will not be compelling if the food itself has not been properly prepared. That’s where food styling comes in.
Food styling is the art of preparing a dish, choosing additional components and arranging them in the frame so they look fresh, natural and appealing. You don’t have to master complex styling techniques to begin, but a few simple tweaks can go a long way in creating compelling food images.
Focus on the main subject
Before adding other items or ingredients, ask yourself what the image is about. If you’re photographing a bowl of pasta, the pasta should stay the visual focus while everything else supports it instead of competing with it.
Put your primary subject first and then compose around it. It is easier to maintain a balanced composition when you know what should stand out and what should recede into the background.
Make it look fresh
Food changes quickly once exposed to studio lights or hot daylight. Sauces dry out, greens wilt and garnishes become mushy. It is important to prepare your food as close to the shooting time as possible and keep perishable items refrigerated until you need them.
Even minor tweaks can make your food look more appealing. Fresh herbs and vegetables can brighten up a dish, while an even layer of sauce or an extra garnish can give the impression of freshness.
Use ingredients as props
While most food photos include props, they don’t necessarily have to be objects that have nothing to do with the dish. You can also use the ingredients themselves as additional visual elements.
Berries, flour and fresh herbs are all great ways to introduce color, pattern or movement to your compositions. Just be careful not to overdo it. Too many props will clutter your image, while too few can leave it looking plain and lifeless.
Choose your props wisely
Dishes, glasses, utensils, napkins, cutting boards and textiles can be used to establish the mood and setting of your photo. But props shouldn’t just serve as decoration.
Choose items that fit with the context of your food. For example, if you’re shooting a rustic loaf of bread, a wooden board or slate might work best, while a clean white ceramic plate would be more appropriate for minimalist editorial-style food photos.
Keep in mind the scale of your props. Large items might overpower the food, while small objects might get lost in the background.
Play with texture
Texture is key to creating food photos that feel more real and tangible. Look for ways to combine smooth and rough textures, soft and hard materials, glossy and matte finishes.
For example, placing a creamy dessert on a textured ceramic plate or bowl can add depth and visual interest. Another great source of texture is the food itself. Crisp crusts, crumbly toppings, fresh produce, grains, sauces and herbs are all great ways to add dimension to your image.
Don’t try to make things perfect
Many amateur photographers make the mistake of trying to create too-perfect scenes. A few crumbs here, an unevenly folded napkin there or a stray ingredient placed off to the side can lend your images a more natural, relaxed feeling.
The key is to make things look just slightly imperfect. Nothing should look random or unintentional, but your photos should look like they could easily exist in the real world.
Think about the image from the camera’s perspective
What looks good to the eye may not look so great through the lens. Once you’ve set up your scene, view it through your camera or phone and see what the actual frame looks like. Walk around the table to find the best angle and discard any distracting or unnecessary elements.
You might discover that a prop works better if part of it falls outside the frame, or that an ingredient needs to be placed closer to the main subject. In short, styling and composition should be considered together, rather than separate processes.
Keep it simple
You don’t need a lot of props or specialized skills to create appetizing food photographs. Simply start with your dish and select one or two complementary props. If an item doesn’t add anything to the image, delete it.
With practice, you’ll gain a better sense of which colors, textures, surfaces and ingredients work well together.
Wrapping Up
Food styling isn’t about making your food look unrealistic. It’s about preparing your food in the best possible light and creating a scene that helps tell the story of your photo.
Start small and pay attention to the details. Always evaluate your styling through the lens of your camera. The more you experiment, the more you’ll learn how small changes can make a big difference.