One of the hardest subjects to lit in photography is food. It requires a different approach then most of the subjects. Everyone knows the food images that look like the food has already been eaten and spit out again. This article will tell you how to prevent that by using the right light in your food photo's.
In general there are two different light sources, natural light and flash light. Neither of them is better or worst then the other for food photography they both have there advantages and disadvantages. Natural light is obviously cheaper, but you wont have as much control over it as you would with flash light. Flash light is easier controlled and shaped then natural light.
Natural light
Natural light comes in a lot of different variations, sunny, cloudy, hazy. They all have there different ways and looks. The easiest one to start off with is a cloudy day. This will give you nice soft shadows and makes it easier to let to food look good. What also works really well is non direct light from a window. Try to get the light from behind the food, this will make the food shine and bring the detail out. This is probably the most important part from food photography, with other types of photography the light usually comes from the front of your subject. To make sure the front of your food wont be to dark, you will need to bounce back some light on the food itself. You can do this easily with a mirror, a sheet of paper or anything else that reflects light really. I suggest you always use a tripod when you use natural light to get your shots steady.
Flash light.
Flash light could be a bit harder for most people at first, but nearly the same rules apply to flash light then natural light. Make the light come from behind. With flash light you can use many different reflectors to shape your light. The most common one to use is a big softbox, so that your food gets covered in a bath of light. To give your photo an extra kick you could use an extra strobe with a grid or snoot reflector pointed directly to your food. This will create even more shiny parts. Then again you will probably need to fill the dark parts in with a mirror or something else that's suitable.
So if you try and use these basic tips your food will most likely look a lot tastier and that's how we want it it to be right?
In general there are two different light sources, natural light and flash light. Neither of them is better or worst then the other for food photography they both have there advantages and disadvantages. Natural light is obviously cheaper, but you wont have as much control over it as you would with flash light. Flash light is easier controlled and shaped then natural light.
Natural light
Natural light comes in a lot of different variations, sunny, cloudy, hazy. They all have there different ways and looks. The easiest one to start off with is a cloudy day. This will give you nice soft shadows and makes it easier to let to food look good. What also works really well is non direct light from a window. Try to get the light from behind the food, this will make the food shine and bring the detail out. This is probably the most important part from food photography, with other types of photography the light usually comes from the front of your subject. To make sure the front of your food wont be to dark, you will need to bounce back some light on the food itself. You can do this easily with a mirror, a sheet of paper or anything else that reflects light really. I suggest you always use a tripod when you use natural light to get your shots steady.
Flash light.
Flash light could be a bit harder for most people at first, but nearly the same rules apply to flash light then natural light. Make the light come from behind. With flash light you can use many different reflectors to shape your light. The most common one to use is a big softbox, so that your food gets covered in a bath of light. To give your photo an extra kick you could use an extra strobe with a grid or snoot reflector pointed directly to your food. This will create even more shiny parts. Then again you will probably need to fill the dark parts in with a mirror or something else that's suitable.
So if you try and use these basic tips your food will most likely look a lot tastier and that's how we want it it to be right?
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