Think youâre the only person taking overhead shots of your brunch plate? Think again. Studies show that half of Americans nowadays take pictures of their food, and chances are that those numbers will only continue to grow.
Of course, taking a gr8 food photo is easier said than done. We reached out to some of our favorite food influencers to share their behind-the-scenes tips on the perfect food Instagram.Â
(Photo: @sweetpotato_sneakers, featuring Coco Cacao gr8nola)
Use Natural Light to Your Advantage
Good news: You donât need to drop major cash on expensive lighting equipment to make your photos look amazing. âOne of my biggest food photography musts is to use natural light,â@sweetpotato_sneakers told us. âMost of the time I take my photos outside, but my second choice is inside by a window.â
Another pro tip: Clouds are your friend. When you shoot during an overcast day, the shadows are more subtle and thereâs less glare.
And donât be afraid to move around your space to find the best lighting. âI usually take pics from a bunch of my favorite spots in the house and then compare for the best,â says @sweatysweetpotato.
(Photo:Â @avokween, featuring Golden Turmeric gr8nola)
Find Your Foodâs Good Side
Chances are you take your selfies with similar setupsâand the same goes for how you should approach food angles!
âMy favorite is the overhead shot, but food like smoothies or parfaits look great straight on. And, sometimes, depending on the food, a 45-degree angle can look great too. Move around the food and try different angles to see what looks best for the dish that youâre shooting,â @jenniemiramadi suggests.
(Photo: @valeriefidan, featuring The Original gr8nola)
Have a Consistent Background
Want to spice up your Instagram photos? Ditch the blank white background. âI always try to have some plants or succulents in the back, and colors that compliment the food,â @bitesbyhay told us. That said, make sure whatever background you choose doesnât take away from the food!
Additionally, youâll want to keep overall Instagram aesthetic in mind. @becksliveshealthy points out that a consistent background makes your photos recognizable: âI want all my food photos to look the same, and if you change up backgrounds or lighting then you wonât get that same consistency.â
Donât be afraid to DIY your own background, whether itâs a linen towel to create texture, or even faux marble contact paper.
(Photo: @ducklet1, featuring Matcha Green Tea gr8nola)
Put Those Editing Apps to Good Use
You donât need a fancy camera for drool-worthy shots. âI shoot on my iPhone 7+, and edit with VSCO and Photoshop,â @avokween told us.
Meanwhile, @valeriefidan explained that you donât have to stick to Instagram filters and gave us a list of her favorite editing apps instead:
- Snapseed for sorting out the basics: âSnapseed is perfect for people that want to do a little editing but maintain that no-filter look.â
- VSCO for all the best filters. She uses the A5 or HB1 filters and plays around to âbrighten up the exposure, clarify, sharpen, and decrease the warmth to get rid of the âyellowishâ color.â
- Facetune for smoothing out skin or patching up a photo. âI also use this for photos that have a lot of white and I need to make it pop a bit more using the teeth whitening setting.â
One thing to keep in mind is that you want your food photos to look natural so that your plate looks as good as it tastes. Adobe Photoshop Fix is perfect for correcting small issues like making the color pop, and Fotograf has become a foodie favorite because of its preset filters.
But one of the sweetest tips comes from @bakeritablog: âWhen doing photography for something chocolatey, photograph while it's still hot and the chocolate is still melted for the most drool-worthy shot!â
Duly noted.
Whatâs your number one tip for taking the best Instagram food photo? Let us know!
