How to Take Pictures of Food: 7 Useful Tips for Taking Pictures of Food on Your Phone

Have you often encountered this situation – obviously the food looks super tasty, but the photos come out mediocre? Don’t worry, today I’m going to teach you a few tricks to take drool-worthy food photos with your cell phone! (Yes, you can take stunning pictures of food without a fancy camera!)

1.Natural light is the best filter

The lighting is not right, the food is scrapped!

How to do it?

Try to shoot as close to a window or outdoors as possible, natural light will make the food look more tantalizing.
Avoid direct light, soft light works best.

Why is it effective?
Natural light can truly restore the color of the food without making the photo yellowish or bluish.

2.45-degree angle, the universal shooting angle

Which angle is the best for flat, overhead and oblique shots …… A 45-degree angle is the least likely to make a mistake!

How to do it?
Tilt your phone slightly to layer both the food and the background.
Suitable for most foods, especially burgers and cakes that have height.

Who is it suitable for?
First choice for newbies, easy to shoot with a professional look!

3.Don’t let the plate be empty

Too little food? Add some toppings to make the picture richer!

How?
Sprinkle some spices, put a slice of lemon, put a fork, and the picture will come alive.
But don’t overload your plate. It’s better to leave some space.

Bonus Tip: Use the same color of tableware to make the whole picture more harmonious.

4.Focus! Let the food be the protagonist

A blurred background makes the food stand out.

How to do it?
Open your phone’s camera and click on the part of the screen you want to emphasize the most (e.g. the texture of the steak).
The background is automatically defocused and the main character immediately stands out!
Caution! Don’t shake your hand, hold it steady to get a clear shot.

5.Color matching is very important

Red with green? Red with green? Watch out for the “dark cuisine”!

How to do?
Contrasting colors are more eye-catching (e.g. green salad with red tomatoes).
Similar colors are more sophisticated (e.g. coffee with caramel-colored cookies).

Who is it for? Those who want to take INS style photos!

6.hot and steamy? Hurry up and shoot!

Freshly cooked food has the most appetizing feeling!

How do you do it?
Snap a photo as soon as the noodles are steaming and the coffee pulls are still hot.
You can blow gently to make the heat more visible.

Why does it work? Dynamism makes the photo more “aromatic”. 7!

7.Post-production fine-tuning, save the waste

Don’t send the photo directly after shooting, simple retouching is more perfect!

How to do?
Adjust the brightness, increase the contrast, the food will be more colorful.
Use VSCO, Snapseed and other apps to enhance the texture in one click.
Caution! Don’t over retouch, natural is better.

BONUS: 3 common mistakes, don’t make them!

Using flash – it will make the food reflect and look like plastic.
Cluttered background – trash cans, rags in the picture? Deduct points immediately!
Shaky hands blur – focusing clearly is the most basic requirement!


Taking pictures of food is not difficult, remember these 7 points, HOW TO TAKE PICTURES OF FOOD can be easily mastered! More practice, you can also become a circle of friends “food photography master”!

Back To Top