Photographing food is harder than it seems. My photos have improved with practice (lots and lots of it). Here are the best tips and tricks I can offer about food photography and equipment.
Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. I only link to products I trust and recommend. Thank you for your support.
Tips for taking great food photos
It’s all about the light! My best tip for beginners is to become aware of the intensity of the light and how it hits the food, and learn to adjust accordingly. Here are some tips for getting started.
- Take photos under natural light. Do not use overhead lights or lamps or your built-in flash. Ever!
- Move around to find the best light source. Don’t feel confined to taking photos in your kitchen. Perhaps the light is best in your bedroom in the morning, and in your living room in the afternoon.
- Try taking photos from multiple angles. Some plates of food look better from above (like, pizza), or from the side (burgers), or at a 45-degree angle (drinks). Try moving around the plate and taking photos at various angles so you can pick your favorite later.
- Minimize clutter. If that spoon, napkin or busy background doesn’t add to the photo, it detracts from the photo. Focus on what is most important, but don’t zoom in so close that viewers can’t tell what the food is.
Troubleshooting common food photography issues
Frustrated by how your food photos are turning out? Read on for potential solutions.
- Your photos are blurry. Blurry photos are caused by camera shake. Solutions include: 1) hold your camera steadier (easier said than done), 2) use a tripod with a remote so your camera stays completely still while you’re shooting, 3) use a faster shutter speed, which will require opening up your aperture and/or moving to an area with more light, or 4) raise your ISO to decrease the amount of light needed (this will reduce image quality, however).
- Your colors aren’t true to life. When you’re editing your photos, if your plate of food looks very blue, yellow, pink or green, use your software’s white balance tools to fix it! Colors come alive when the white balance is set properly. If you shoot in RAW format, you’ll have an easier time adjusting color balance later.
- Your photos just don’t “pop” like professional food photos. Experienced food photographers use lenses that allow them to narrow their depth of field to highlight the subject of the photo. Then they use photography software to tweak the contrast, levels and sharpness of their photos. Sometimes a few little edits can really make a photo pop.
Read on for relatively inexpensive lens and software recommendations that can help you solve these problems and take amazing food photos.
Cameras for food photography
You don’t necessarily need a fancy camera to take appealing food photos. You can probably get by with a point-and-shoot camera for a while. Consult the user manual, use the macro setting and practice!
When you are ready to have full control over your exposure and focal length, save up for a DSLR camera (that’s short for digital single-lens reflex camera). It’s an investment, truly! I typically upgrade my camera about every four years, and currently use a Nikon Z6. It’s amazing.
If you can’t decide between a Nikon DSLR or Canon DSLR, the differences between the two are pretty minimal. Comparable models will produce photos of comparable quality, so choose the best camera available in your price range.
Before you buy, read reviews and go to a local photography store to try them out in person. If one brand’s cameras seem more user-friendly and feel more comfortable in your hand, go for that one. The lens you use for food photos will have more of an impact than the dSLR itself, so I recommend buying the camera body and lens separately.
Lenses for food photography
I prefer to use compact fixed lenses. Fixed means that the lenses do not zoom in or out, so I have to physically move myself closer or farther away from the subject.
I love fixed lenses because they are generally smaller, cheaper and faster than zoom lenses. They often offer wider apertures, which gives me greater control over depth of field and more flexibility while I’m shooting.
On my old cropped format camera, I used Nikon’s 35mm f1.8 and loved it. It produced sharper photos than my old 50mm and was easy enough to use for overhead photos of food on my table.
Now that I’ve upgraded to an expensive full-frame camera, I primarily use Nikon’s Nikkor Z 50mm f1.8 lens. This lens is designed specifically for Nikon’s Z-format cameras. If you have one of Nikon’s other full-format cameras, I’d recommend the 50mm f1.4 lens (the 50mm f1.8G lens is almost as good).
But wait, why did I move to a longer focal length when I upgraded cameras? Because a 35mm lens on a cropped format camera effectively acts as a 50mm lens on a full-frame camera. It’s confusing, I know. Unless you’ve spent thousands of dollars on a camera, your camera is probably a cropped format, but double-check to be sure.
Other photography equipment
Reflectors and diffusers: I mostly use cheap white foam boards to bounce light back onto the plate and reduce shadows. You can also bring out more shadows by using a black foam board. I buy my foam boards at craft stores or Target. Sometimes I hang sheer white fabric over the window to soften the lighting source, too.
Quality tripod: I prefer to shoot with my camera in my hands for maximum freedom, but I’ve finally conceded that my tripod gives me greater control over my settings and helps ensure a super high quality (not grainy or blurry) photograph. To shoot my cookbook, I bought the Manfrotto Studio Pro Triman Tripod and a sturdy arm that lets me shoot overhead. I LOVE this setup!
You’ll probably need to get a tripod head for your tripod, too—I opted for the Manfrotto 322RC2 Joystick Head Short, which is so much easier to adjust than other tripod heads. Just one trigger instead of three knobs!
Recommended photography software
I use Adobe Lightroom to organize and edit my digital photos. I don’t know what I would do without it! I prefer it to Photoshop because it helps me keep my files organized and easy to find, and provides exceptional control over exposure adjustments. It is also significantly less expensive than Photoshop.
Recommended photography books
Pinch of Yum Tasty Food Photography eBook: A solid eBook about food photography (with videos!) by food blogger Lindsey of Pinch of Yum. She provides technical camera setting advice, composition tips, lighting tips, props and setup details, and photo editing and workflow tips.
The best part? You can watch videos of Lindsey shooting and editing photos, which are really helpful. Click here to purchase and download the Pinch of Yum Tasty Food Photography eBook for $29.
Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson: If you really want to understand the fundamentals of photography, I recommend this book! The principles taught in this book can be applied to all photography situations.
Where to buy food photo props
Before you go prop shopping, think about what you want your style to be so you don’t waste your money on props that aren’t “you.” If you’re not sure what your photography style is yet, look to your wardrobe, décor and Pinterest boards for clues. Are you drawn to bright and colorful patterns, or clean lines and muted tones? Shop accordingly.
You don’t need a closet full of props for interesting food photos. You probably already have items at home that will look great in photos. Get creative! Vintage handkerchiefs can make fun napkins and well-worn baking sheets can make an interesting background.
Thrift stores and my parents’ kitchen have yielded some of my favorite finds. Etsy and eBay are treasure troves for unique, handmade or vintage food photo props. My favorite shops for new props and useful cooking tools are Crate and Barrel, West Elm, CB2, Williams-Sonoma, Sur la Table, Anthropologie, Target and Amazon.
More resources on Cookie and Kate
Additional food photography resources
- Principles of Photography series by White on Rice Couple
- Language of Photography Series by Gourmande in the Kitchen
- 12 Things That Have Helped My Food Photography by Bojon Gourmet
- 15 Essential Food Photography Tips from Andrew Scrivani
- Smitten Kitchen’s Approach to Food Photos
- Current Food Photography Styles and Trends: A Case Study by Stephanie Shih
- $15 Food Photography Lighting Set-up by Taylor Mathis
- 10 Affordable Everyday Food Photography Backgrounds by A Beautiful Plate
- 10 Household Tools That Can Improve Your Food Photography by Pinch of Yum
- How to Garnish Foods on How Stuff Works
- Todd Coleman’s Food Photography Tips
Questions? Feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
Ashley-BakerbyNature
What a great write-up, Kate! You’re So so talented, lady ;)
MaryClaire
Wow I just stumbled on this post and it is so thorough & wonderful! I have just started blogging in the past few months, bought a used dslr from my sis in law and started learning about food photography, thank you so so much for doing this & for the wonderful resources I appreciate it so much! I’m excited to follow along on your blog :)
Kate
Thank you, MaryClaire! I’m glad it’s helpful to you and best wishes with your new blog. It’s lovely.
Jen
Hi Kate great tips for food photography,this will come in handy when I start my food blog soon.
Kate
Thanks, Jen! Best of luck with your blog!
Maria
Great post with helpful info! Thanks for sharing!
Eva Spell
Wow thank you so much for sharing all this information. I always chat with people who have cameras asking them what do they use and how and you have given a lot for me to digest more even than I thought of. Thank you so much and by the way I love your blog! I have a cheap point and click camera and it takes okay pictures but I am intimidated by the prospect of buying another camera. I purchased a camera with removable lenses and it was okay but not good enough so I gave it to my son and daughter in law and now have to buy another one. After finding your blog I think I could have made the one I gave away work but I will not ask for it back I will get another now! Thank you so much!
Kate
Thank you for commenting, Eva! I’m so glad you found my thoughts on food photography helpful. Glad you enjoy my blog, too!
Dawn of food
Thank you so much for these tips! Honestly, my pictures were crap until I read this article. Now, I’ve got a few acceptances on tastespotting!
Kate
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found my tips helpful.
Liz
After seeing YET ANOTHER post about food photography flogging Canon, I googled “food photography with a Nikon” and you were the 3rd or 4th link down. THANK YOU.
After 2 P&Ss of the same brand and months of research, I purchased a D5100 and I love it. It’s nice to see that I’m not alone!
Kate
Thanks, Liz. I’m not sure why so many food photographers use Canon! I love my Nikon.
Sebastian
For sure there are many reasons for choosing one above the other. One big thing was that Canon came as first to the market with good low light performance. I was in love with my analog Nikon. Then there was a time to switch to digital. When i bought my Canon 20D in 2005, with CMOS sensor, Nikon was still producing DSLRs with CCD sensors, which were far behind in terms of low light performance. So my choice to switch to Canon was simply because of that. Same with FullHD videos – Canon was first on the market and became a standard.
Now it doesn’t matter – take what you prefer – your pictures can be beautiful regardless of the brand.
Aditya
Well nice explain. Thanks
Jayme Marie
Thanks for this post, Kate! I recently purchased a Nikon D90 from a friend, and I am currently poring over its 300-page manual (!). Your recommendation for the 35mm f1.8 seems to be just the fit for me. I didn’t know where to start. The white balance tip is one I need to remember, as well. Cheers!
Kate
Thank you, Jayme! I’m so glad you found the tips helpful. I absolutely love my 35mm f1.8. It’s all I use these days!
Renee
Love this post! Super helpful. I am trying to improve the quality of my pics for my new blog and these tips are great. I don’t have a dSLR camera (yet!), but I just purchased an ultra-zoom olympus to get used to playing around with macro and other settings. The Pinch of Yum eBook is also on my list of things to buy!
Kate
Thanks, Renee! Glad you’re finding the tips useful. Good idea to play around with your new camera—that’s the best way to learn! I really like Pinch of Yum’s videos that come along with the eBook. It’s so helpful to watch another photographer in action and see how they do things.
Nadia Yassin
Wow, thank you SO very much for all of this wonderful and insightful knowledge. I feel like it’s hard to find great articles regarding food photography as if it’s some secret to those that do not know and are new. >.< Once again, thank you so much; also for your advice about finding your style before even shopping. Smart!
Hope you have a fabulous day!
ela hester
Hi Kate,
thanks for sharing. Simple and clear advise. I’m a beginner, often frustrated but even more often…hungry :) Congratulation on your award! Greetings from Poland. ela
Kate
Thank you, Ela! Glad you found the tips helpful.
Ray
Very nice write up. I enjoy reading about how food bloggers take their photos as well as their equipment. BTW, your photos are great!
-Ray
Lindsay
Hi Kate,
I’m new to the blogosphere and found your tips on starting a food blog extremely helpful – thank-you! I’m now trying to improve photo quality on my blog, and these tips are also very helpful. My question is about the medium you use to display your photos. I have a WordPress blog, and I’m just wondering – is there a certain widget or tool you downloaded to get the big beautiful photo templates you use? Thus far I have just not been able to figure it out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again!
Kate
Hey Lindsay! Glad you are finding my tips helpful. Which photo template are you referencing? The width of my photos is determined by my WordPress theme. If you are asking how I display two photos side by side, I created my own little Photoshop template for those. Google “how to make a diptych” and you should find some other ways to do it. If you’re asking about adding text to my photos, I also did that in Photoshop!
Lindsay
Hi Kate, thank-you so much for your response! I was talking about the way you display your photos side by side, and am going to google your recommendation pronto. Thanks again!
Louise Dimagmaliw
Hi!
First, thank you for this post! It really helped me in my thesis research for my coffee table book! (which is hard for me lol). Mentioning that, being a student who loves food photography ,could you give me some tips on how to capture “rustic” (as my professor told me) pictures of bread. Thank you! :)
Kate
Hey Louise, you’re welcome! Rustic pictures of bread, hmm. First step would be to find a beautiful loaf of artisanal bread. Then I would use well-worn, wooden props in the background—maybe a wood cutting board, vintage bread knife, neutral linen napkins, tea towel or tablecloth. Golden-toned light would be nice, so I’d take the photo while the sun is coming up or going down. Hope that helps! You could probably find some inspiration in my pinterest board.
kb
Fantastic article and resources. A different perspective regardless if using a Canon (I am), or Nikon (will forever wonder if I should have). I wish I wouldn’t have been convinced to buy the kit lens, as I would have explored much sooner. I was pretty convinced finally to get the Canon 100mm macro but now I’m going to rent a few different ones and test them out. Thanks.
Kate
Honestly, if I were to buy a camera now, it would be a Canon because I’ve read about some shutter issues with the new Nikons. Hope you find the perfect lens for your needs.
Salih Seckin Sevinc
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge. I also started to use 50mm lens. Trying to get used to it now. Great blog. Cheers!
Al Drennan
Hello Kate!…I really loved your thoughts on Food Photography,you are bang on the ball!…I’m a London based food photographer and I would love you to see some of my work. I’m currently working on a new Website and also a foodie/photography blog with my partner Iva. We live in Wimbledon…Please get in touch! Best Wishes,Al.
Jessica
Thank you for all the tips Kate! I have been lost at times when prop shopping and now I will be more cognizant of choosing props that reflect my personal style. Why couldn’t I think of that? ha!
Rachel
Hi Kate ~
I was torn between the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G and the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G. I believe you mentioned you have both.
1. When you say fixed, these lens aren’t able to zoom in and out, is that correct?
2. I ended up buying the 35mm to try out. Is this the same as yours?
Thanks!
Kate
Hey Rachel, yes, that’s what I mean by fixed, and you bought the same lens that I use. I think you’ll love it!
Rachel
It’s hard to get used to … I kept using the zoom feature and forgot there is no zoom :(
May I ask:
1. If I can’t get my tripod close enough to the food, do you just hope for the best with shaky hands?
2. What is the difference between the 35mm and the 50 mm?
Thanks again!
Kate
Hey Rachel, I hope you learn to love the lens soon. I (almost) never use a tripod with my camera. I love the fixed lens in part because it’s light so it’s easier to hold steady. If you’re dealing with low light, I find it best to keep the shutter at 1/125 or faster. If you need more light, open the aperture wider or raise the ISO. The main difference between the 35mm and 50mm is the focal length. I found it difficult to take overhead shots with the 50mm because it zooms in more. In my experience, Nikon’s 35mm is sharper and has less ghosting at the edges of white areas than the 50mm.
Rachel
Thanks for the comparison!
Sorry to add to my comment, your link to the Nikon 50mm f1.8 lens shows FX and not DX. Which one do you have?
Thanks again :)
Kate
I have the older lens (this one). The newer lens might be better. Can’t say because I haven’t tried it. I really prefer the 35mm for aforementioned reasons.
Barbara
Hi! I just found your blog and it’s already one of my favorites!! Even if my blog is not about food, I post some recipes from time to time and this post will be very useful! It’s so complete! I’m preparing to face 21 days in the vegan world (it’s a Facebook challenge) and I think I’ll use some of your recipes (linking your blog of course!)
Your way to write is very spontaneous and it’s like reading something writing from a friend (I don’t know if it’s clear…)
Good job!
Barbara
Another thing… I was just trying to decide which lens to buy and know I have no doubt: 35mm!
Jodee Weiland
Wow, am I glad I found you…you’re photography posts are wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Dave
Just found your blog – it’s GREAT! I’ve been shooting with my iPhone 4S for my business, and it’s not adequate. I’ve been researching DSLRs and am leaning toward a NIKON 3100 or 3200 with a 50mm f1.8 lens. Any thoughts on either of the two DSLRs?
Kate
Thanks, Dave! I’m sorry, I don’t have any direct experience with either of those models. I found some pretty extensive reviews when I googled “Nikon d3200 vs d3100”, so you might try that if you haven’t already. Good luck!
Lebinh
Great photography tips! I’ve just purchased my first DSLR today! :)
Nick Boyle
Hi Kate,
I’m literally just starting out food blogging (when I say literally, I couldn’t stress that enough… my blog has nothing on it as I type this), and thought I would turn to a fellow blogger for some directional help!
I recently became a Dad (yay!), and to help my partner out around the house I’ve taken on the task of cooking dinner (amongst other things) when I get in from work.
I love it.
I’ve found a real passion for cooking and love experimenting with different flavours and have found my confidence in the kitchen grow – hence why I’m going to blog about it :)
Now to the point in question…
I’m not at the stage to invest in a great camera just yet (nappies and baby food come first!), so I’m going to use my Samsung Galaxy S5. In your experience, and taking the great tips you’ve provided above into consideration, are there any pointers you could give me (filters to use, apps to use, etc.) that would help me make the colours of my food really jump off the page?
Really appreciate your help – and have loved reading through a few of your recent posts (as I say, I’m new to this… but I will be coming back to read more!).
I’m set to write my first post tonight; on possibly the most unhealthy meal I can cook (comfort food is needed after a sleepless week!!).
Thanks in advance,
Nick
Kate
Hey Nick, congrats on your new food blog! No matter what camera (or phone!) you’re using, you’ll want to find a spot that has nice, filtered natural light. No food looks good under artificial lighting or phone flash. I use an iPhone so I’m not sure which apps to suggest. I think VSCO Cam has an Android app, so try that one!
Richard Bewley
Hi Kate,
what terrific advice and I am so pleased I landed on your blog. I am about 2 weeks since launching www.lovethekitchen.co.uk and struggling to decide whether to continue with my Nokia Lumia 920(most of what I have taken so far has been with this), Panasonic DMZ-TZ40, or dust off my Canon EOS 20D (which has been largely neglected for far too long) with a 35mm Prime lens and make a real go of it.
One minor challenge is that I only photograph a recipe I am about to eat, so spare minimal time to the photography to prevent my swill and fodder from going cold.
Finally, some of your recipes are really close to converting me towards vegetarianism.. ;o)
Kate
Hey Richard, congrats on your new blog! It looks lovely. I really love the vantage point from my 35mm lens. I think, with time, you’ll find a few favorite angles and standardize your setup, which would make taking pictures even faster!
Julie
Wow! What great info! Thanks for sharing. Just starting my own biz. Website and blog to follow but this will help me tremendously when I get to that point of posting my own creations and demo videos. Once again, thanks so much!
Kate
You’re welcome, Julie!
Izzy
Such a useful article, thanks for sharing! I especially agree with what you say about presentation/photo props. I’ve just started my own blog and I’m finding myself using my dresses/skirts as tablecloths, it can get quite messy at times but at least I’m sure my pictures reflect my personal style, haha :)
Kate
Great idea to use your clothes as tablecloths, Izzy!
Andrew Paul
Thank you for the advice. I just made the switch to a DSLR and I can say that I am happy with the results so far. Right now I only have the kit lens that came with the camera, but the 35mm is on the horizon.
Erin Blondeau
Thanks for the wonderful article! It was very easy to understand and you highlighted all of the most important photography tips. Thank you for sharing :)
I recently switched from an 18-55mm lens to a 35mm lens and the difference truly is night and day. I have a Nikon D3200 and I was so happy when I finally decided to use the 35mm. The picture quality is astounding!
I love your work!! My Twitter is www.twitter.com/ShibaMedia if you’d like to check out some of my samples with the 35mm.
Keep up the good work!
Andre Niemeyer
Incredible resource and impressive work! Congrats Kate! Your photography, website style, content layout, … speak volumes on your competence and quality work. You gotta a fan here!
Kate
Thank you, Andre!
Kerri
Hey Kate,
I’m so glad I found you via Twitter. I was checking out some of your other recipes and just stumbled upon this post. Thanks for all the great resources. I shoot in natural light too and just picked up foam board to use for some food and interior shots. I’ll let you know how my next shoot turns out!
Kate
Thanks for the note, Kerri! Hope the foam boards are helpful! I don’t use them all the time, but they help lighten shadows when I want lighter shadows.
Tessa
Wow! I just came across with article and really excited for the information. I think I can start my beginner Photography with this very helpful information.
Thanks Kate! You are so wonderful.
Kate
Thanks, Tessa! Good luck!
Aiden Maddox
Nice informative article Kate. I look for such informative articles for our participants in photography contests including food photography and this one will be a good source for them. Thanks.
Fedi
Hi Kate! thanks for writing this post about food photography, it was really interesting for me, especially all the details and links you shared! I have a Nikon D7100 and I usually use a 50 mm lens f/1.8 and i really like it too for food photography. I still have to get the 35 mm but it’s on my list! What do you think about Macro lenses? I have one Tamron lens 90mm, very very good and I can take very nice macro shots of food. Did you ever use it?
Kate
Hey Fedi! I actually do not have much experience with macro lenses so I can’t comment. My friend Ali (Gimme Some Oven) uses a macro lens for most of her photos and gushes about it!
Houyhnhnm
Fedi,
I can’t afford any DSLR equipment from Canon/Nikon, and FWIW I use Tamron lenses (on a Sony camera). I photograph nature, not food, and I like the limited depth of field a longer lens gives you. This might be a problem with food photography, but it could have the advantage of being more forgiving when you don’t have a perfect background.
Houyhnhnm
mim
i am photography raspberry mille feullies for a assesment task TOMMOROW! and need some prop ideas and lighting and background ideas TONIGHT!
thanx kate…..hope u reply 2 my blog soon!
Mary
This is a great summary. Super helpful. Thank you!
Judith Levine
Love your writing style, delish recipes, beautiful photos, your passion and creativity. Been following you for a while… You are very talented! You’ve become quite the pro in all aspects of food blogging. I so enjoy your stories & vegan friendly, yummy meals! Your emails have become a bright spot in my culinary journey from vegetarian to vegan! Nutrition and physical wellness have been my life’s passion. Nutritionfacts.org has elevated my food science knowledgebase, exponentially, but your recipes with enticing photos and savvy instructions have round out my food prep repertoire. Thank you! Can’t wait to read more! Wishing you continued success and much happiness in 2015 and years ahead. A loyal fan :)
Kate
Judith, thank you! I’m sorry I didn’t thank you earlier. So glad to hear that my recipes have been helpful to you. Happy New Year!
Andi
I know you posted this a while back, but I’m really interested in what you said about props/styling. I didn’t realize people bought special props for their food blog. Can you talk a little bit more about how to find your style (or how you found yours) and pieces to look for when prop shopping? Thanks!!
Kate
Hey Andi, great questions. You don’t need to buy props if you can get by with your own stuff! I think most food photographers (myself included) like to change up their photos by using different props. I own too many plates, that’s for sure. I typically look for smaller plates (like salad size instead of large dinner plates) and bowls, because those look better in photos. I also prefer dishes with less sheen, which can be distracting. As far as style goes, I recommend really looking at the props used in photos that speak to you. Maybe start a Pinterest board to study. Good luck!
Jorshaq
Awesome, as a beginner at posting recipes, I am grateful for these tips.
Georgia
Hi Kate! Thanks for sharing- I love your photography. I’m curious about what you use for your background and underneath your food when you shoot. Is there a certain board you like to place your food on? Where do you buy them?
Also, I was wondering where in your house you take your photos? What room works best for you?
Thank you!
Georgia
Kate
Hey Georgia, great questions. I found the best light is in my office (AKA studio). As far as backgrounds go, I use an old white tabletop from a garage sale, a chalkboard, tea towels and a marble pastry board. Just depends on the recipe and my mood that day.
Renee
Hi Kate, another new blogger here and your information was so helpful. I just read it and I loved your answer to Andi. I too have been using the dishes I have around the house and like using smaller plates and bowls. I am having so much fun trying new recipes and taking the photos. And best of all, it gives me a legitimate reason to buy more fun dishes.
Thanks again,
Renee
Kate
Thanks, Renee! Best of luck with your new blog! Sounds like you’re learning quickly!
Afaf
Great tips!
Thank you so much Kate.
MAYA @ MAYA- KITCHENETTE
Great Photography Tips :) I will implement them soon.
Chai
Hello Kate, I have just started blogging and this post has a wealth of information. I have been micro blogging for awhile and always took pictures with my phone (did the job then). So when I started writing up a proper blog I invested in a new camera but didn’t know where to start with it. This must have taken you ages to put together! Great job and thank you very much. I will be putting it to good use!
Kate
Thanks, Chai! Glad you found this post useful!
Nate Hart
Great Advice, thanks for sharing!
Arnold Carlito
Wow…I go through your blog, and it helps alot! Thanks ;)
Adrienne
Please add a post to caution bloggers on too many photos. It’s so annoying to scroll through photos of pouring milk or chopping herbs, things most people know how to do. Photos should be reserved for the final product and complicated steps.
Costanza
I have found this information so helpful for my food blog which was only started a month ago. Will definitely have to implement these tips. Thanks Kate :)
cherie
Hi! Thank U once again. Just want your advice on Nikon D3300. Is it a better cam than D 5200?
Kate
Hi Cherie! I’m sorry, I haven’t personally used either of those models, so I don’t feel qualified to answer. I would suggest reading reviews for each.
cherie@FoodRecipesEasy
Thank You, Kate. I’ll look for individual reviews.
Esther
This is really helpful. I’m just starting out so I’ll definitely be using your tips. Thank you.
janriav
Thank you for all the great tips. I’m just starting out and this is very helpful!
Roger
Hi Kate,
I have been helping my wife with her Baking Blog for about 9 months. While I am constantly reading, your tips on both cropped format and focal length were priceless (I was set to by a 50mm which would have been problematic in our small house). After playing with our telephoto lens for couple of days it was clear that 35mm would be the perfect fit for our D5200 and our style of photography so we purchased the prime Nikon 35mm f1.8. Just WOW, prime is right! I processed the first batch of pictures this morning for my wife’s next post featuring roasted carrots and the pictures are clearly two steps up from our kit lens. The roasted carrots sizzle, the cured lemons shimmer, the pesto pops – ready to eat right on the page. I also picked up Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson and am about half way through that.
Thanks for the excellent recipes, terrific photos, and gear tips!
Kate
Hooray! Delighted to hear it, Roger. Sounds like you are a big help to your wife. I used that 35mm f1.8 for a couple of years and absolutely loved it!!!
Jackie Valenti
Thank you so much for these helpful tips! I am new to blogging and sometimes my photos don’t come out too great! Now, I have much more needed info to combat that area!
Kate
Thanks, Jackie! Hope they help!
Maria
More and more ecommerce websites are using high definition pictures to reflect the quality of their products. We have seen some really nice conversion results on our website somproduct.com after using high quality photos.
Neva
Hi Kate (and Cookie!),
Thank you so much for your in depth posts on blogging and photography. I am in the process of changing my blog and I am looking forward to putting some of what I learned from your blog into action. Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Neva
P.S. My mom has a schipperke named Jackson, not too many people know about the breed, I bet your pup is a cutie!
Kate
Thank you, Neva! Cookie is a spotted schipperke. :) Bet Jackson is cute!
rozana
hI kATE SO THANKFUL for honest advice)) could you please tell me for example h ow much you can earn from blogging?at beging and for example 2-3 years later? will be realy help me thanks a lot
Kate
Hi Rozana! I’d check out Pinch of Yum’s income reports. They are an example of the best-case scenario, of course, but it’s fun to see how their earnings have grown over time.
Rogy
Thank you Kate for your kind explanation.
Gustav
I love these both Kate. You’ve got a very quality post and i love it. I love healthy foods and i love photography as well. :)
Bethan
Another great post, thanks Katy! So much to learn, but what a great adventure!
Kate
Thanks, Bethan! I like your attitude. :)
Nicolette
I love that you are a vegetarian food blog and there is a McCormick Prime Rib ad at the top of the page! :o)
Kate
Oh man! I hate it when that happens. A lot of those ads are generated based in individual browsing history. Have you been googling steak, perhaps? ;)
Olivia
Hi Kate,
Do you have the 2015 MacBook? I am considering purchasing it, but want to make sure that it has everything I would need to be “blogger friendly” :)
Kate
Hi Olivia! I have a souped-up MacBook Pro that I bought a few years ago. I love it and can’t think of anything that it can’t do.
Cherie @ TravelFoodFun
Thank you for the information.
Erica
Loved this post! Super helpful! I am just starting my own blog that is about the hidden gems of the Bay Area. I’ve never been able to capture food with a camera before, but this is sure to help a lot. I was also wondering, what do you use or recommend to edit your pictures?
Thanks,
E
Kate
Hi Erica! I use Lightroom to edit and organize my photos. I love it.
sophia Moss
Hello,
I love this blog, and the tips have been really helpful for my own food blog. I have two questions for you; when would you recommend buying a domain name? and would you ever have a guest writer on your blog or collaborate on a recipe?
Kate
Hi Sophia! Given the benefits and low cost of a domain name, I would say that a domain is worth it, ASAP. I decided early on that I want all of my posts to have my voice, so I don’t accept guest posts. I’ve never collaborated on a recipe, but who knows? My only suggestion is to try things out and see how they work for you.
Kyler Brown
I am trying to take picture of bakery items for my mother who just recently started up her own bakery business. I’m glad that I read these tips, and I hadn’t realized how important it is to use natural lighting. I’ll definitely use these tips so thanks for giving me a few pointers to steer me in the right direction.
gillian
Hi Kate,
You’re tips have been invaluable during my blog set up this past year.
There is one issue I still struggle with though and that is getting the images from lightroom to wordpress. I was using WP/LR Sync for quite a while until it stopped working for no apparent reason (technicians and the developer have tried to resolve the problem but no one can fix it!). I then switched in October to NextGEN, which was all working fine until yesterday!
I would be really interested in knowing which plug-in you use for getting your images from Lightroom to your wp blog with ease?
Thanks for all your tips. Gillian
Kate
Hi Gillian! I’m glad you found my tips helpful. I actually don’t use a plugin for my images. I just made my own preset in the “export” dialog box (it’s super easy, just select your settings and click “add” to name and save your preset). Then I export the photos to my blog folder (each recipe gets its own folder inside that one). Then I upload my photos to my blog from there. Maybe not the simplest of solutions but the only one I know!
Gillian
Hi Kate,
Thank you for your reply. It’s good to know there are work arounds.
I’m happy to say my WP/LR app is now working again. gillian.
Jam
Great article and lots of great information on improving our food photography! Thank you for all the tips, Kate!
Good job!
Anna Guemperlein
I enjoyed how you covered all aspects of food photography that can be done by anyone with no professional experience. What is your opinion on large companies often using other inedible products and posing them as certain foods for a food photoshoot?
Rusa
I am a doctor .. But have passion of cooking and photography… I am interested with food photography… Your blog is really nice and inspiring.☺
Erik
Thanks so much for these tips, really helpful!
Alexis
Oh my goodness this is exactly what I needed! I’m new to the blogging world and feel overwhelmed at times but this will definitely help me with the visual aspects of my blog. Thank you so much!
Gemma
Thank you for the great tips! I’m just starting out and your blog is very inspiring :)
Khushi
Hi Kate. I really liked your article. I am using photoscape to edit my photos but looking for new photo editor. I got it here. I am also planning to buy a camera and will follow you suggestion. In a short way, I got every information here, for which I was looking for. Thanks.
Mishael @ Witty Vittles
I long for the day when I can afford a decent DSLR. I just can’t right now, so I’m stuck using my old iPad and Kindle Fire cameras. The Kindle Fire, I think, does a little better than the iPad.
I read about the natural lighting tip not long ago elsewhere, so I’ve been using that as much as possible. It seems like whenever I’m able to take pictures during the day, it’s cloudy – and there are always strange shadows everywhere – not to mention cats walking through to create less-than-drool-worthy photobombs!
Never mind the fact my husband thinks I’m crazy for taking 900 (I might be exaggerating slightly there) shots of the same food item, hoping I can just get one decent shot for a blog post. I’ll keep trying, though. Not ready to give up. I’m hoping practice makes perfect. :-)
Houyhnhnm
Mishael,
A DSLR is a waste of money if you’re shooting in bad conditions. Clear out a place near a north-facing window and pose your food there (or east window in afternoon or west window in morning). Prop your elbows on the back of a chair, a table, etc. when shooting to cut down on camera shake.
If it’s cloudy you will get cold light, and of course less of it. Cold light can be OK for shooting cool colors if it’s not too extreme. Most food looks better under warm light, late or early in the day. I use Photoshop to make photos warmer or cooler, but I think Google’s Picassa program will do it for free. Studio photographers use reflectors covered with gold-colored foil to warm up the light.
This is probably a heretical statement on this blog, but for typical blog photos, you don’t need 20 megapixels or $500 lenses. I don’t know what can be done with a Fire, but I used a mid-range point and shoot camera (Kodak EasyShare C180) to take close-ups for posting pictures on eBay (approximately 400×800 pixels) and they were perfectly adequate. National Geographic wouldn’t buy them but they were very sharp, the colors were accurate, and they blew away most of the photos by other nonprofessional sellers (and I didn’t bother to doctor them with Photoshop).
Unless you’re writing a photography blog, you don’t have to compete with Good Housekeeping’s photos. If the info is good, people will read your blog even though you don’t have thousands of dollars of photo equipment.
Helmi
Thanks for all your tips Kate! Very helpful!
Jessica
Hey Katie! Thank you for your tips, they are a huge help. Can I ask, what direction do you shoot your photos in? Like what direction is the light coming in and how far from that light source is your table? Thank you so much. I love your photography so much!
Kate
Hey Jessica, my light comes from the west, so it can be really harsh and unpredictable. I shoot right next to the window.
Jay
Wow I have been reading your info and it is awesome. I am so grateful for all your info you are willing to share. I hope to one day grow and give back like you do. Thank you!
With Gratitude
Jay
Faylinn
During my last semester at college, I got really into food photography. I picked a few restaurants around town and volunteered to take pictures of their dishes. However, I always made sure to take the photos under natural light, but I always struggled once the light grew dim as the restaurants had a dark atmosphere. If a restaurant doesn’t have an atmosphere that provides much natural light, what are my best options?
Kate
That’s a tough situation. I would try to take photos without a flash, if at all possible, or go during the day when you can use natural light. Sometimes the lights in the kitchen are decent for photography.
GregM
So glad to read these tips. I have slowly started following photography and its absolutely amazing if you are passionate about it. I wish to make my career as a food photographer in Sydney like http://cryingoutloud.com.au/ and have my own blogs and website :-) … long way to go!
Foodiemarvel
Thank you so much for this!! Just started my blog a few weeks ago and I love it. I am happy that I’m doing a lot of these already. I have a pretty good camera but I am looking at a few lenses right now. The one I have is a kit lens. It’s good -don’t get me wrong, but I want a couple of other options too.
Sorina
Hi Kate,
Do you think Canon EOS 750D is a good investment for a beginner?
Thanks a lot!
Len Kaiser
Hi Kate, just starting my Vegetarian food blog and I have photography skills already, but what I was wondering is my personal style is gothic really. Do you think that would deter people if the site looked gothic and the photos were more gothic in nature?
Kate
Hey Len, I want to say there is room for every style, if you do it right!
Len Kaiser
Thanks Kate! I’ve already started working on my blog and have the design pretty much done. Now I just need to add my content and I’ll be on my way. (Where, I’m not sure…lol)
Kate
That is so exciting! Hooray!
keef
Great Post but I have a slight issue.
Surely “Your photos are blurry. The root of the problem here is that there isn’t enough light getting to the sensor of your camera. ” isn’t correct?
More light would cause blur, due to the shutter being open longer?
Kate
Sorry, I should probably clarify: The root of the problem here is that there isn’t enough light getting to the sensor of your camera fast enough.
justin
I got a 50mm 1.8G recently and I’m blown away by all the stuff that lens can pull off! So glad I picked one of those up, it’s perfect for this kind of stuff.
Andrea
Great tips! Thanks for letting us in on ways to highlight food without breaking the bank! Super informative, thank you!
Ram
Hi Kate
Just bumped on your site when I was searching tips on food blogging. My wife wanted to start one and sure the info i got from your blog will help us.
Tx
Ram
Jessica Gavin
Hi Rozana! If you’re still curious on the earning potential and perhaps on a slightly smaller scale than Pinch of Yum. My husband and I produce a monthly income report on my food blog. It’s an experiment we’ve been keeping track of for over 2 years and its fun to look back and see how far we’ve come. :)
Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade
I just came across this post, and it is wonderful!! I finally gave in and bought the Canon T6i a couple weeks ago. I absolutely love it, but still trying to get used to the extra weight (I used my cell phone before) and all the bells and whistles. I love that it has wi-fi, so I can download the pics directly to my phone and/or computer. I scour Ross/TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods for props, and have found some great stuff. I’ll definitely be checking out all of your resources. THANK YOU!!!
Kate
Thanks, Karyl! Congrats on your new camera. That’s exciting!
DJ Dellago
Kate
Thanks for the amazing tips. Have you tried using the Sigma 50mm/1.4? I gotta’ say, I like it almost more than Nikon’s 50mm. I feel like it produces sharper images when shooting wide open and the “feel” of the lens is more hefty and sturdy (my opinion of course)
Beth Beeman
Love my Sigma 50mm/1.4!!! So much that I got rid of the nifty fifty on ebay.
Beth Beeman
Love the resources on your website. Just getting started on mine – http://www.italyandme.com and taking a few photography classes. At the moment I’m using a .com wordpress site, but I am familiar with the .org format as I have a genealogy blog using that – .com has come a long way in the last two years, although still lacking in plugins and widgets. Any equipment updates since you last updated this page?
Kate
Hi Beth, congrats on your new blog. I still recommend self-hosted WordPress sites because they basically offer unlimited capabilities, but if .com is working well enough for you, you could stick with that.
Beth Beeman
Thanks!!!! In the end I’m that’s where I will end up. Appreciate the feedback!
William Jhones
Awsome. Great tips of photography. I am also taking photo of food. There are very few industries where visual appeal is more critical than in the restaurant and food business. Capturing a beautiful dish in the right setting and lighting is essential to set the mood for anyone trying to sell food or beverage products or market a dining establishment.
Donya
I should have known just to come straight to you instead of googling since you helped me FINALLY get my blog up! Still working on design but I’m 2 posts in, whoop! Right now I’m just snapping on my cell. I should know better because I was act a photographer for awhile. 2 questions and this first one may seem a bit silly. Are your food pictures strictly for pictures for the most part? I snap while I cook what we’re going to eat. If I spent the time to get a very well composed picture, we’d never eat, lol. Second question. Do you agree with one of the above comments about too many pictures? I kind of like step by step but I agree there’s a fine line to overkill. I emailed you this morning to let you know I was launched! Http://www.adventuresinfoodandlove.com if you find a minute to look. Give Cookie a pet and be well!
MisterSparkyWestchesterNY
thanks for sharing these amazing tips! helpful….
Regards
Kate
Happy to hear you find it helpful!
Elizabeth De Lara
Thank you so much for sharing all of this information! I am interested in starting my own blog and I was excited to see you offered tips because you have been a favorite blogger of mine for quite sometime. Love you cookbook Eat Real Food too!
Kate
You are welcome! I am glad you found it helpful. :)
James W.
Awesome tips. Thanks for giving this wonderful tips and tricks for capturing amazing pictures
James W.
Kate
Thank you, James! I am happy to hear you enjoyed it.
Hannah Steketee
These are great resources! Thank you for putting this together.
Kate
You are welcome, Hannah!
Justin
I know this is an older post, but wanted to thank you for these tips, as well as your post on how to start a food blog. I’m finally taking the dive and trying to get one started, and your articles have been very helpful. Thank you!
Kate
You’re welcome!
Esther Justus
Thank you so much for all these helpfull tips, am currently learning to build my own wordpress website and am planning to start this great new platform for anyone interested in vegan everyday cooking.. although there is very much work still to be done this kind of post hugely boosts my confidence! I can do this!
Kate
Yes, you can Esther! Good luck.