Thanks to ever-improving mobile technology, it’s no longer necessary to spend thousands on expensive camera equipment, courses and software in order to capture great share-worthy food photos. All you need to nail that perfect picture is a smart phone and to follow these 5 quick tips:

1.Lighting

Where possible, always harness natural light and resist the temptation to use flash. Turn auto-flash off on your built-in smart phone camera app. Using  a flash in phone photography can wash out colours, create very dark shadows and give sauces and moisture on food a coagulated and unpalatable appearance. It can also be disruptive and impolite to other diners.

Photograph your dish in a brightly-lit area, but if it’s dark and you absolutely must use the flash, unfold a paper serviette to a single layer and place a corner of it over the flash bulb of the camera. This will diffuse the harshness of the flashlight and yield better results.

2.De-smudge and Focus

Due to being handled frequently and kept in pockets or handbags, the lens on your phone may have finger prints or a bit of dirt or dust on it. This will result in blurred or out of focus shots. Make sure your phone’s camera lens is clean. When you have ascertained that, point your phone at the subject you are photographing and double tap on your phone’s screen, on the area that you want focused in your picture, preferably the foreground. If it won’t focus you may be up too close, so pull back a bit. Often an image in sharp focus can be the difference between a poor picture and a great one.

3.Cropping & Composition

Learn to play with your composition. It’s pleasing to have things in the dead centre of your shot, but thanks to the wide angle lens built into most smart phones, it’s possible to have space in your composition to play with. Most apps will have a grid to assist with composition, so use that and shift things into the top third of the shot, side, bottom – crop things off in a way that can create interest and visual tension in the photo that keeps the viewer engaged for just a second longer. Just don’t photograph too close to your subject; if it’s necessary to come close give it just enough room to allow the viewer to recognise what is being photographed. Food photographed too close can look unappetising or become too abstract to be discernible.

Experiment from different angles. You don’t need to stick to photographing downwards from a seated position or directly from eye level. Don’t be afraid to stand up and take a picture directly from above (or cheat and put the dish on the floor!). You can also exaggerate the size of the dish, if it’s tall, photograph from below.

Fun Background

Add some detail to your picture, to anchor it and give it context. It can tell a story or hint at the ingredients in the meal. Often having some fresh herbs or a roll, condiments, a glass of wine or similar elements can be the difference between showing a plate of food or expressing the enjoyment of a meal.

5.Editing

Almost all phone camera apps allow photo editing. If the colours are a little dull or you want to create more focus on your subject, use the tools available. There are many free apps for both Android and iPhone OS that you can download to allow you to enhance and improve on your shot.

It’s mastering these simple but integral basics that will result in boast-worthy pictures. Don’t forget to have fun and experiment, enjoy the process and develop your own original style. And, most importantly, enjoy this excuse to always play with your food!

Hotel School

Author: Shirley Berko