foodpanda interviews one of its top-photographers to
guarantee glamorous food snaps
Nowadays, everyone
loves taking pictures of their food, whether it’s fiddling with filters to
enhance images, or using special lenses for professional results - before
actually digging in and enjoying a meal. But according to foodpanda, there are
several even simpler tips to ensure masterful food photos without having to buy
professional gadgets!
- What is considered to be most important when taking food photos?
It’s pretty
difficult to pinpoint ‘the most important’ aspect to consider when taking
photos of food, because a good photo depends on many factors, from lighting and
technique to having an aesthetic eye, and of course the food itself. However,
one of the most important things to consider is authenticity and to stay true
to your individual style. Once you have your own style, you should stick to it,
as it will serve as an expression of your personality.
- Do you need a professional camera to achieve the above or can you
take cool pictures with a smartphone?
You can certainly
achieve all of this with your smartphone! Having a professional camera has
great benefits, but you are definitely not limited with a smartphone. If you
know what factors to consider when taking pictures, you are guaranteed
professional-looking images. You can also always edit pictures with the help of
white balance settings or playing with one of the countless photography apps.
- Do ingredients play a role in pictures?
That’s a pretty
good question, because it doesn’t cross most people’s minds, but the contents
of the dish do play a role in photos. There are many dishes that don’t
photograph well, so you need to consider adding fresh ingredients that would
enhance the picture. The next time you order food that is not photogenic,
consider using fresh ingredients with great colours available in your kitchen.
Feel free to arrange them nicely and test the angle.
- Should you use raw ingredients around the dish in photos. What is
the benefit?
Raw ingredients
make for great extra props, especially with foods that don’t photograph well.
As mentioned, the addition of raw ingredients make the photo look fresh, while
bright colours would make your photos pop.
- If a dish looks crowded, will the picture be less appealing?
Yes, simplicity is
key. The plate should be nicely arranged and not in an overwhelming way. To
help you envision what that means, think about how you can keep the outer white
space of the plate clear. I would suggest to just use a small portion of your
meal to take the photo, and then later on enjoy it in its entirety!
- What about including hands in the photo? Is that a no-go?
Adding a human
element to your pictures actually makes for a good picture, as it shows viewers
that you are taking the picture from your own point of view and creates a sense
of presence. You could take a picture holding cutlery, or you could simply lay
your hand on the side. Holding ingredients in hand (rosemary, cranberry etc.)
is a great idea. Just test the angles and you’re sure to take a perfect shot!
- What are the best angles to use when taking food pictures?
Angles are the
visual language connecting you and your audience, and my two favourite are the
top angle and the front angle. Of course, there a lot of different angles that
work, but these are my personal favorite when taking food pictures.
- And is there any
necessity for professional gadgets?
If you’re not a professional photographer, it’s not
necessary to invest in technical additions. Improvisation couldn’t be easier!
Here are some super helpful tips:
●
Decorate - use a wooden board to place
your food, white baking paper or paper bag as a background, even spread some
baking powder around for that extra effect!
●
Use a napkin to take out excess
oil from some dishes - oily dishes don’t photograph well and it will taste just
the same.
●
Put your food close to a window.
Natural lightning is key to the having best pictures.
●
Don’t have a selfie stick to take
pictures from a high angle? Stand on a chair!
●
Use styrofoam as a substitute for
reflectors, they work wonders!
●
Set the focus point correctly on
the main dish - simply click on the screen of your mobile phone.
- Any obvious tips? Golden rules?
It might seem
obvious, but it needs to be said that you should always keep the plate clean,
especially when shooting close-ups. If there are smudges or imperfections, it
would make the food look unappealing. Another tip would be to set up your
perfect shot before your meal arrives -- food comes last in the composition
process. Lastly, arrangement is a golden rule, as it is the key to a successful
picture.
Food photography
ultimately amounts to your interaction with your meal. Specific arrangements,
differing camera angles, the use of natural lighting, and the human element are
just some of the things to consider. This process takes time and postpones the moment
of eventually taking that very first bite of a delicious meal. But the
anticipation makes this experience all the greater, so take out your camera and
enjoy snapping some cool shots using the above tips. Just don’t let that meal
get too cold!
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About foodpanda:
foodpanda is
dedicated to bringing food lovers around the world their favorite meals from
curated local restaurants. Since its creation, the on-demand food delivery
service has grown to more than 14,000 partner restaurants in more than 30
cities across 9 Asian countries globally. foodpanda is active in Hong Kong,
Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan, Philippines, Bangladesh and
Brunei. It belongs to Delivery Hero, worldwide leader of the food delivery
industry. For more information visit www.foodpanda.ph
How it works:
Through the
foodpanda website or via the new iOS and Android apps, customers can enter
their area and view a curated list of restaurants serving their neighborhood.
Once they have found their meal of choice, they can place an order in the
comfort of their home or office, paying online through foodpanda’s secure
platform. The order is then carefully prepared by the restaurant, picked up by
the foodpanda rider and delivered straight to their doorstep.