How To Take Food Photos With Your Phone For Beginners
You’re sitting at a restaurant when a steaming plate of Insta-worthy penne alla vodka is placed in front of you. You have to share this with the world! But you forgot your camera at home and all you have is your phone. Fear not—whether you are just starting out in photography or you simply forgot your camera at home, here are some tips to help you improve your phone photography skills and get that penne alla vodka on Instagram.
Go Towards the Light
Lighting is arguably the most important aspect of photography. When I adjust the lighting in my photos, I think about where I want the light to come from. Our eyes respond positively when light comes from a diagonal direction.
Rather than relying on the usual dark yellow light most restaurants use, sit by a window. This will balance out the unflattering artificial light and provide some great directional lighting.
2. Use a Reflector
Building on tip #1, using a reflector such as a napkin or a piece of tinfoil can be a great way to add highlights and shadows in your food photography. White napkins or tinfoil can be used to direct light onto the part of the subject you want to emphasize, while black napkins can be used to create darker areas in a photo.
3. Move Around the Background
Working with a phone camera can make it difficult, if not impossible, to control the aperture. Keep in mind that whatever is closest to the camera will be in focus, and the farther away an object is, the more blurred it will appear. If you are struggling with the background, create more space between the subject and the background and less space between the camera and the subject to achieve a blurred effect.
4. Clean up the Table
In a restaurant, things can get messy fast. Condensation from your drink on the table, a set of car keys next to your food, or dirty napkins will all show up in your photo. Clean up the table and intentionally place any drinks, linens, or cutlery around your dish.
5. Utilize Condiments
As we all know, some things just look better oiled up including our food. To create more dynamic dishes, add a touch of olive oil to foods like olives, hummus, pasta, and even hamburger buns. Adding a bit of shine helps build highlights by giving the light something to bounce off. See how light rules everything?
