Foodie photos are part of vacation memories, 5 food photo tips

Foodie photos, Food photo tips, photo by Cristine Struble

Natural light

In a dark, poorly lit area, food photos can look unappetizing. The shadows can make a brightly color dish appear muted. Plus, a flash can totally change the appearance of a dish, not to mention blind the guests around you. When possible, natural light can make a huge difference.

Natural lighting doesn’t alter the colors on the plate. A flash, or artificial lighting, can turn colors in a way that you don’t see with the natural eye. For example, the bright orange sauce made from puréed carrots could look like a brownish blob. No one wants to see a brownish smear on a plate.

Unless you’re sitting on a patio or directly by a window, natural light may not be a possibility for your food photos. But, the picture perfect food memory isn’t lost. A good photo can happen in even the darkest room.

Use the light that is around you. From the candle on the table to a dining companion’s phone, work with what you have. In a pinch, filter the flash through a glass of water (clear glass, no ice). The diffused light can work wonders. Yes, the situation may not be ideal, but it can better than nothing.

Even if you can’t make the light work in the moment, edit the photo afterwards. Don’t miss the opportunity to take the picture because of bad lighting. Several photo editing programs, like LightRoom, can add the exposure, highlights and brightness after the fact. Any photo can be re-worked. Why dismiss the opportunity if the conditions aren’t perfect? Just because you take the photo doesn’t mean that you have to share it with the world.