For a lot of people, cooking is seen as a passion. Many cook because they simply love doing it and this especially rings true for those who run food businesses. While being able to turn one’s passion into his profession is great, it’s important to know that the food and beverage (F&B) industry isn't all sunshine and rainbows.
Like any other business, F&B brands have their fair share of challenges. Setting operational constraints aside, they'll need to market their products effectively to stay competitive and assert their presence.
If you're an F&B business owner looking to sell food online, one of the best ways to market your products is through excellent food photography.
Food photography is a great way to showcase your products as you build your website or social media page. This guide will discuss proven food photography tips to help you brainstorm awesome food photography iideas!
Food Photography Tips for Your Next Shoot
1. Surround your food with related props
Surrounding your food with related props lets you highlight your dish's ingredients or origins. Whether you're selling a dish that comes from a particular region or uses a special ingredient, utilizing props is a great way to maximize your photo’s appeal!
For example, if you're taking photos of a burrito, you can use the different ingredients in its recipe as decorations. In this case, you can clearly see how the lime was used to to support the main subject!
You may also want to consider your dish's color scheme and how it relates to the other props. But do take note that your choice of props should not be the center of attention in terms of colors and patterns. Remember that your dish is the main focus so treat those props as just supporting elements to elevate the aesthetics of the photo.
2. Experiment with different heights and angles
Similar to how people have their best angles, you should keep the same approach when it comes to your food photos. Experimenting with heights and angles is important because some products may look better when they’re captured from above or from the side.
Overall, you want to make sure that your dish is the sole focus. The background should not steal the spotlight from the subject so you should look to blur your backdrop or experiment with different widths and perspectives.
It would be best if you also were careful with how much you zoom in on a particular part of your dish. You may want to highlight the main ingredient and use flash to freeze and sharpen the focus on your subject.
Generally speaking, it's about mixing and matching what aspects work well. You might be able to come up with your own food photography ideas too.
3. Limit your color scheme for consistency
When thinking about color schemes for food photography, factor in how you would want your customers to feel.
If you're more interested in conveying a mood than a specific feeling, you can use a wide range of colors. On the other hand, if you'd like to create an emotional response in your viewers, limiting your palette to a few colors is probably a better bet, especially for consistency.
Another reason to limit color schemes is that they'll help make your photos more cohesive and easier on the eyes. If there's too much going on at once (for example, the set-up is too cluttered or the colors aren't all complementary), it can be hard for people to focus on the elements that need their attention. But if your end-goal is to make your photo as colorful as possible, make sure that your color schemes won't steal the attention away from the dish.
Some examples of complementary color combinations you can use are:
- Blue and orange
- Red and green
- Purple and yellow
As you brainstorm for ideas, consider making a moodboard for your shoot. Having one will be very useful for your photographer and editor since it will give them a better idea of the concept or style you are trying to pull off!
4. Stay consistent with your branding
Whether it’s your promotional posters or food pictures, always make sure to stay in line with your brand identity. Being consistent with your branding ensures that your business is easy to recall and identify across different channels.
5. Incorporate natural lighting
Natural light is a vital component in photography. Lighting doesn’t only determine the brightness or darkness of a photo; it also has the power to dictate the mood, atmosphere, and the overall vibrancy of your image.
Food photography is all about food, and without natural light, you won't be able to showcase its beauty. Manipulating natural light properly will allow you to capture your food's colors, textures, shape, and form in the best way possible!
6. Minimize clutter
Food photography shows how delicious your product is, so you want to ensure that your viewers can fully appreciate everything they see. The aim is to entice your audience, and a cluttered set-up will likely divert their attention from your food. If there are too many spoons, forks, and bowls around, they may take away the customer's attention from the dish.
7. Use a neutral background
The importance of using a neutral background for food photography is that it helps to create an environment that isn't distracting from the food itself. You can achieve it by using black, white, or gray backgrounds.
A neutral background will allow the focus to be on your dish so that it appears to be more flavorful and delicious. But do take note that the effectiveness of this technique can differ depending on your case. If your dish and background are in the same color, this technique may end up making your image stale.
Keep Them Coming Back for More
If you're an F&B business owner, photography plays a bigger role than you might think. There's so much you can do to make a dish look presentable, but if the photography isn't up to par, it doesn't do the food justice. Fortunately, mixing and matching the techniques above will allow you to capture the best photos possible!
If you're considering shifting your food business to online, you'll need the help of a reliable online store builder. Rush has got you covered as we provide you with the necessary solutions that will propel your business. Get in touch with our sales champs to book a demo!
