Saturday, 03 September 2022 18:48

How to professionally photograph food

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- When taking a photo of a dish, it is worth taking care of elements that will make it even more attractive. Fresh herbs and kitchen accessories are a great addition, which will distinguish our staff from others - says Maciej Zaczek, a photographer cooperating with the "Lubella inspires and educates" program.

 

 First, we eat with our eyes - this is a principle that culinary masters know very well. The appearance of the dish is as important as its taste. A delicious and properly served dish will be associated with pleasure for a long time, which is worth coming back to.

More and more people pay attention to the visual side of meals. It is especially visible on social networks, where users post photos of not only the specialties they had the opportunity to taste in restaurants, but also those prepared by themselves.

This fashion has also been adopted by teenagers who are willing to share their ideas e.g. on Instagram - the most popular channel of visual communication among this age group. In this way, they also provide inspiration for their peers. This is a very positive trend, thanks to which young people also start paying more attention to the quality of food. Their plates, which they want to present to their colleagues, are becoming more varied, colorful and thus healthier.

A plate in the garden, i.e. a way for a well-thought-out frame

So how to make our dishes look effective in the photos? Maciej Zaczek, a photographer cooperating with the "Lubella inspires and educates" program, argues that you do not need professional equipment. All you need is a mobile phone. "Most smartphones have a really great quality camera," he says. - What to start with is the right choice of light. It is best to use daylight, which gives a very nice yellow glow.

Czekek adds that it is worth enclosing a photograph with a story and making sure that the captured frame is well thought out and planned. It is worth considering the context. For example, if we put a plate on a chair in the garden for no reason, we have to reckon with the fact that the idea will be perceived as misplaced and not creative. We will only get the effect of chance. However, the same composition, which is to illustrate, for example, a picnic in an unusual arrangement, will be perfectly justified.

Herbs bathed in water: add sparkle to your dish!

- When photographing the subject, pay attention to the perspective. Pictures of dishes are best taken from above at an angle of 45 degrees. If we want to show the layers of a dish, e.g. a burger, then we should take a horizontal photo - advises the photographer.

It is also worth taking care of elements that will make the photo more attractive. - Our dish can be diversified with various compositional additives, e.g. fresh herbs moistened with drops of water, thanks to which they seem even juicier. Let's not be afraid to use characteristic kitchen accessories. Let's combine the old with the new. An old fork or a sophisticated paddle will make our photos stand out perfectly - sums up Zaczek.