How to Photograph Food in a Restaurant
- 1). Wait for a window table, or sit outdoors to take advantage of natural light. While this isn't always possible, good food photography requires good light, and natural light is an unobtrusive way to command this. If you choose an outdoor table, look for one with an umbrella, which diffuses the light.
- 2). Move elements of your place-setting out of the way, so they don't compete with the food. Napkins, salt shakers, water glasses and flatware clutter a shot, so move them aside or incorporate them strategically to frame your food. Photographer Darren Rowse recommends setting the stage before your food arrives, since dishes ---- especially desserts such as ice cream ---- often age poorly.
- 3). Get your camera out when the dish arrives. Turn it on and look through the viewfinder to arrange the shot. Then get up close to the food. Photographer Taylor Young recommends shooting at table level, not eye level, and recommends a 10 degree angle from the plate.
- 4). Snap away. Take several shots from slightly different angles. Zoom in close to the food.
- 5). Afterward, use third-party software or your computer's photo editor to edit the images. Adjust the image hue or saturation, or crop the photo, using your editor.