Learn five simple tips from expert food photographers to elevate your Instagram feed and entice your followers
In today’s visually-driven world, where we eat with our eyes before our mouths, the art of food photography has gained unprecedented significance. Instagram, the social media platform that thrives on captivating visuals, has given birth to a phenomenon known as “foodstagramming.” It’s a delightful blend of food appreciation, culinary exploration, and artistic expression, all captured through the lens of a camera.
However, as anyone who has attempted to snap a picture of their meal knows, it’s not always easy to make food look as enticing on screen as it does in person. The challenge lies in capturing the flavours, textures, and colours that make our taste buds dance, and conveying that sensory experience through a simple photograph. That’s where the expertise of food photographers comes into play. From arranging ingredients to perfecting lighting techniques, they have mastered the craft of showcasing food in its most appetising form.
So, whether you’re an aspiring “foodstagrammer” or simply someone who wants to up their culinary photography game, we’ve gathered insights from experienced food photographers to help you unlock the secrets behind their stunning images.
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1. Style food in a “triangle” formation
Styling subjects within a food photograph in a triangle formation or a formation resembling a familiar shape can work wonders in creating visually appealing compositions, as shared by the experienced food photographer Nicholas Ee. When subjects are strategically placed to form a shape, it taps into the mind’s natural inclination to associate visual patterns with familiar shapes, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing image. Furthermore, the triangle formation offers an added advantage by creating guiding lines within the composition that effortlessly direct viewers’ gaze towards the main subjects. The beauty of this technique lies in its versatility—the triangle doesn’t have to be equilateral, providing ample creative space to arrange subjects within the photo in unique and imaginative ways. To see the technique in action, see the visual example showcased above.
About the photographer: Nicholas Ee, a foodie-turned-photographer, honed his distinctive style at Singapore’s PS.Cafe group, before capturing the artful plating and captivating interiors of renowned establishments like Jaan and Odette.