Photography Education: i-Phone Food Photography
Sometimes the best pictures are ones that have no been planned and just happen to be the right lighting, composition and angle. However, there are a few tips and tricks one can follow to ensure that the lighting, aperture and iso setting follow certain criteria.
The first rule is to get as much natural light as possible to emphasize the shapes, textures and colors of the food subject. This type of lighting is crucial for great food photography with an i-phone. To be a little more specific, defused light, either from a window or using a diffuser such as cloth or tracing paper could make or break your shot. You can move a table next to the window to help, or just merely shoot outdoors on an overcast day.
The next rule is to use shadows to your advantage. Direct sunlight should abolsutly be avoided, unless you specially want to showcase those harsh dark shadows. A picture with little to no shadows can also look awful and flat. That’s why finding a middle ground is important. I like to use my curtain to block off direct sunlight, and again a diffuser can come in handy.
If you are just starting out in food photography, a great investment is a little white card on a stand or a reflector. I’ve made some bounce cards available on the market, both white and blag to help highlight and deter shows. (check out LTL Photos Shop) You can place the bounce card or reflector where the harsh shadows are present and this should do the trick.
I keep emphasizing to my students that neutral backgrounds are the best, as they keep the focus on the subject. Some great ones are wooden boards or even white marble or paper. You can choose from a. variety of backgrounds from various sources. I like to use Ink & elm https://www.inkandelm.com backgrounds.
Make sure you choose the correct angles. Sometimes a fruit bowl looks good as a top down flat lay shot, whist a drink needs to be shot front on.
Also make sure to experiment with different angles and space. If you want you could use human hands in the pictures to make it more user friendly. Just keep in mind that the hand model should have well manicured hands. Use what you have. I have tea towels, fake ice and some backgrounds, so don’t be afraid to explore.
Another tip that is usually over looked is to wipe off fingerprints and take away crumbs. This simple tip could save you a lot of time in post editing.
