Food Styling for Photographers

SETS AND SETTINGS

BASICS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

An empty plate can be beautiful. But let’s assume you

have a plan to photograph food on that plate. You’ve

looked at tear sheets, thought about the food, and made

some decisions. Maybe a specifi c food item is the driving

force for your planning. You are ready to start choosing

a plate, its color and pattern, the arrangement of food

on the plate, and the set surface. What about a napkin,

textures, colors of the set, etc.? Do you want fl atware in

the shot? Glassware? Flowers? Do you feel a little over-

whelmed? Don’t. Asking yourself some specifi c ques-

tions will take the guesswork out of your planning and

give you a specifi c direction for your project.

WHAT’S THE POINT OF THE SHOT?

First of all, what’s the point of the shot? Is it to sell a

specifi c food or to sell plates or fl atware? Are you more

interested in an artsy editorial shot? And my favorite

question: Is the shot you are planning going to be used

strictly as a portfolio piece? I love asking this question

because I have seen so much portfolio photography that

was well executed and beautiful, but the shots didn’t

have a point. I have to admit that I committed this

crime myself back when I was starting my career. I

worked with photographers on portfolio shots and the

goal was always the same: to achieve a beautiful shot.

Now when I see such shots, they don’t appeal to my

emotions, my intellect, or my appetite. After being in

the world of food and food photography for over 30

years, I fi nally get it.

If you are going to spend time creating a beautiful pho-

tograph, make sure you can identify a focal point for the

It’s someone’s birthday!