How to Shoot Food Photos

Look at the food on the plate and determine what is most important visually, such as a chocolate swirl on a cupcake or barbecue sauce on a sizzling steak. If you are preparing the food yourself, make sure it is prepped and served quickly. Use vegetables and fruits as garnishes to add color to the photograph. Orient the food on the plate so it creates depth in a picture by spreading out the different elements.

Set the food in a well-lit location. For example, placing the food near a window with natural light streaming in is a good spot. If you're using your own lighting equipment, use a small light. Small lights give the food more detail and texture. Make sure that the light does not cast harsh shadows onto the food or plate by using a strong fill light to decrease shadows created by the small detail lights.

Pick out props for the picture. A prop is the item that goes in the background of the photo. Choose props that accentuate the food or communicate a theme. For example, party favors or colorful tablecloths can complement cupcakes.

Frame the picture in your camera. The challenge in food photography is to make the food look three-dimensional. Set your camera up at a 45-degree angle to show two sides of the food. Photograph the food from a low point, but don't cut off the top of the food. You may want to use a tripod to hold the camera in place.

Focus the camera on the area of the food you want to accentuate. If you have a camera that has adjustable aperture, use a wide-open aperture to focus on a small part of the food or a smaller aperture to focus on a larger area or the whole object.

Snap the picture. Check the results if you have a digital camera. Make adjustments such as rearranging the food, props and lighting if necessary. Film photographers don't have as much flexibility with checking the results. However, to make sure the shot looks good, take a test shot with a Polaroid camera before using the whole roll of film.