Knowing how to present food will make it look more appealing in-person and in pictures. Explore the ways to make your food look beautiful in photos.
You’ve probably heard people say that you eat with your eyes first. This is definitely true. A dish that is organized, colorful, and fresh-looking or perfectly browned will be far more drool-inducing than one that you throw together haphazardly. The importance of presentation also extends to the art of taking tantalizing pictures of the vegan creations you make. If you like to share images of your meals on social media or blogs, you’ll find our ways to make your food look beautiful in photos quite useful.
Consider Light and Shadow
The lighting around your food can make a huge difference on how it appears. Try to rely on natural light over artificial. Lamps and ceiling fixtures can bathe your food in a yellowish hue, making it seem less appetizing. Conversely, sunlight will brighten the many individual colors in your dish so that they appear in your photos as they do in real life. You should also take shadows into account, as they can detract from your food by obscuring parts of it. Setting your food in a shaded area or taking pictures on overcast days can prevent stark, unwanted shadow contrasts.
Think About the Background
While the background isn’t the focus of your photos, it still plays a part in their overall composition. A messy table or a background with colors that don’t fit well with your food could cause your photo to appear much less attractive. So, you should try to place your dishes against backdrops that serve to enhance their charming qualities.
For example, you could introduce different textures with a wooden cutting board and a tablecloth beneath your dish. If the food is on your dining table, you might remove crumpled napkins and ugly mugs that you have sitting around. Adding flowers or ingredients in the background will also add interest while bringing more color into the photo.
Arrange the Food Carefully
Arranging the cuisine itself is a great way to make your food look beautiful in photos. With this, consider the shapes, colors, and textures that you have in the dish. With a mostly brown food item, you might introduce small bits of fresh green garnish to serve as a pleasant contrast. You could also brush up on your essential knife skills in the kitchen, such as dicing and carrying out chiffonade cuts. With clean, even pieces, you can blend ingredients better, incorporate textural variation, and make your dishes look much neater. If your dish has large slices of fruit or you include a few distinct foods on one plate, you may work to create symmetry or balance using these components as well.
