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You are here: Home / Food Photography Tips / Food Photography – Learn From Yourselves

Food Photography – Learn From Yourselves

February 18, 2020 26 Comments

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I had this thought when I was in the shower. Or maybe it was when I was watering my lone curry leaf plant. Anyway, that’s not important. What’s important is, how can we all take better food pictures, right?

I am constantly looking at others’ pictures and wondering how I can emulate the nice stuff in my clicks. How do I get that dark background that Sunita has achieved in the first ‘wrap’ picture in this post? Or how can I dream up lovely set ups like Meeta does? How do I make every day food look so gorgeous like Sala does? Or how do I take step by step pictures for every recipe of mine, like DK so patiently manages?
While its great that we always look and learn from others, probably the best place to start is from our own pictures. Sounds silly? Think again!

Here’s one of the very first food pictures I took.Pin
Looking at this now, I am thinking.. I really like that picture. Its true that the lighting could be better and I can find a better place now to click it without that part of the stove showing up on the right side and maybe, I should choose a fresher looking green chilly but really, I am too lazy now to actually do a set-up for any of my pictures.

But I like that I made the effort to cut up a lemon wedge, find a curly long green chilly, add a blob of butter (just behind the blog of kothamalli chutney). The colours are nice, they balance well and I would want to bite into that sandwich if I was hungry. Right?

Now, my pictures look like this. 

Pin

Or this. 

Pin

I am getting tired of the white background already! While the picture quality has definitely improved, its like I have lost my creativity in the process.

Each of us has a ‘style’.  A technique that makes us stand out from the gazillion other food bloggers out there. Looking back, I feel like I have only worked on the quality of the pictures and never really nurtured the creative side. Its true, I may never do elaborate set ups or buy those studio lights any time soon but I can still take my pictures to the next level by going back, taking a look at what I was capable of and then building on it from there.

So dig into your archives, its similar to going back to looking at your college pics, getting amazed at how thin you were and then going on a crash diet. Only, for this exercise with your food pictures, you can still eat whatever you want 🙂

This is the post I had started typing on Monday and posted accidentally. Forgive the glitch!

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By nags Filed Under: Food Photography Tips, Uncategorized

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Comments

  1. MeetaK

    May 19, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    be true to your style nags! i like this post because it motivates us all to try harder but stay true our style. while i like setting my sets simply and to create a story others do not – they prefer a simple food shot without any knick-knacks. and we are here to help each other so if you ever have a question for me – ask away! thanks for this post!

    Reply
  2. Aps

    May 10, 2010 at 7:47 am

    Same here befor i was so poor in clicks now they r far far better 🙂

    Reply
  3. Shyla

    May 9, 2010 at 12:59 am

    Great tips, you are an amazing food photog and chef! So glad I found you!

    Reply
  4. Chez Us

    May 7, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    Great post. I have thought the same thing many times and when I look back on my photography – what a huge difference even a few months makes. There still is so much to it though & I have been started taking classes as well I have started a company that conducts photography workshops with professionals in their fields. Excited as our first food one will be with Sara Remington & Romney Steele – can't get any better than that.

    I also agree with the white backgrounds. I have started shooting the actual table setting or using black as a background – much more interesting. As well …. everyone is using white, why be like everyone!

    Keep up the great job!

    Reply
  5. DK

    May 7, 2010 at 12:59 am

    Luks like someone is doing some real thinking! but then as we talked about it earlier – the photography starts with a motive! What is your motive behind taking a food picture. Pin point on it – there cud be multiple ones – but try to arrange them on a scale of 1-10. 1 gets the prominence and the rest follows. As far as enjoying the food goes – your photos are excellent and always a pleasure not only on the eyes but also on the taste buds….With that successful, the rest will slowly follow – I am sure your creativity will overflow soon and not get contained sweets..Dont u worry 🙂

    Reply
  6. Maaya

    May 6, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    the photos looks amazing. i try to capture the taste and aroma in the photos i take but its not easy…nice post good ideas

    Reply
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I am Nags, the face behind Edible Garden, a food and recipes website for the busy (and sometimes lazy!) cook since 2007. My recipes are meant to be quick yet healthy and delicious - Nothing fancy, nothing too difficult. Follow Me On Instagram for real-time food and life updates.

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