1. Composition is everything
Try to avoid filling the frame with a lot things. Using different colours and negative space to create a clean break and draw attention to the main focus. Aran Goyoaga (of Cannellevanille.com) uses a good mix of colours, negative space and shadow to create a great frame.
2. First, always try the top shot
With food, usually the top shot works best. It’s easy, low on effort and allows you to still get to your meal before it cools down. Maunika Gowardhan of Cook In A Curry proves this strategy right with the notoriously-difficult-to-photograph Indian cuisine.
3. It doesn’t need to look perfect
Food is about having fun and your shots don’t need to look perfectly made up. Food writer and stylist Kiran Tarun proves the point.
4. Play with your depth of field
If you tend to struggle with depth of field, the important thing to remember is to make sure the subject is in focus. Chef Bhakti Mehta of Little Food Co plays with it to prove how a usually difficult to shoot food (eggs) can be made appetising.
5. Follow day light
There’s a reason professional photographers insist on shooting with great day light. Chitra Agarwal of Brooklyn Delhi manages to make to make dinner rolls look special.
6. Don’t be afraid of going in too close
With food, beauty is in the details and vibrant colours. Amisha Gurbani of the Jam Lab captures these bright-coloured popsicles using the trick.
7. Control the background
If you ever feel like there’s too much going on in the background or it doesn’t work with your image for some reason, try holding your meal up against a plain or nice light coloured wall. Works every time. Just ask Too Handy NYC.
8. Explore editing software beyond filters
Your picture naturally won’t super sharp and your white balance won’t be perfect but there are apps that can help with that. Try playing around with Snapseed first. It lets you adjust brightness, contrast and temperature. You can also rotate the image or correct the horizon. Once you’re done there, try different Instagram filter to see what suits your style best. It’s how you’ll get professionally shot looking pictures like Buzzfeed Food.