Great food photos that don't need expensive equipment – just a little technique. Lighting, appropriate shooting angle and some easy -to -editing procedures can turn your daily meals into granted masterpieces.
1. Light inspection
Even before presenting food, the first thing to check is light in different areas in the house. Can choose different rooms depending on the time of the day or mood you want to convey.
Light can create or ruin your photo, so learn how to look and use natural light to benefit you. Can also use artificial light. Learning how to use lighting in the studio is a great way to improve your photography capabilities. In addition, you are not limited to breakfast and lunch, especially if you live in the Northern Hemisphere.
2. Arrange image layout
There is a difference between shooting and creating images. If you focus on the layout or how to arrange the factors in the scene and intentionally take photos, the image will stand out. So, learn some basic layout rules to improve your food photos.
The rules of one third, standard roads, rules and gold ratio are great techniques to start. Following these rules will help you guide viewers' eyes through the image. Initially, you will have to practice these techniques in a purpose, so that they will turn into skill.

Researching artwork is a quick and easy way to improve the layout. You can also learn many things from art museums and art galleries in your neighborhood. Practicing another type of photography will also benefit. For example, get inspired by natural photos when choosing colors or props for your food photos.
3. Find a story to tell
This is the point that many new photographers have failed. You may have completed the layout and brainstorming to find harmonious colors but still feel missing something. It is likely that you don't have a fascinating story. The most powerful images you see every day have one thing in common: all evoke strong emotions.

Adding a story is the most important thing to attract the attention of the viewer and connect with them. The simplest way to add a story is to choose props thoughtfully. Do you want to create a cozy and close feeling? Add rustic wood, old cutlery and dark napkin to the context. For a modern, solemn feeling, use a wooden background or marble, shiny cutlery and plain colored napkins.
You can add human elements to your photos to get emotional reactions. As long as their hands can increase the appeal of the story.
Create a scene table about what you want to take. In this way, you guarantee that you are thinking more about the story, adding all the details and props related to your scene. Can draw the scene table in Adobe Fresco with Apple Pencil on iPad, or pen and paper. It is important to imagine the scene.
4. Try different perspectives
While taking pictures of food, the key is to make food look plump and rich. You can do this by adjusting the viewing angle. Using smaller disks and close -up images will also be helpful. But sometimes, you have to take wider photos to bring the story in. The key is to know when to use each perspective.

A photo taken from top to different foods on the family dining table can show the cohesion. On the other hand, a sandwiches taken at the eye will be more interesting than the angle from the top down. 45 degrees angle suitable for soup and salad to show classes and depth.
5. Using photography application
If you want to control more for your photos and imitate the use of DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, you can download the camera application on your smartphone. These applications allow you to control the three parameters of the exposure triangle: aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

There are many free camera applications and paid for Android and iOS.
6. The external lens can help
Like the application, the lens can be helpful to make your image look more professional. You should buy a macro lens to capture the texture of the food better. There is a good reason why all food photographers prefer a 100mm macro lens. Even if your camera has integrated macro lenses, the quality from separate lenses is better, especially for beautiful bokeh effects in the background.

Different perspectives from the lens can also help you tell stories and show abundance.
Tip: Avoid using special effects such as super wide -angle lenses or ankle lenses, if you want your food to look as natural as possible.
7. Photo editing
Whether you take photos with a modern mirror -free camera or a modest phone camera, the editing is important to make the final image stand out. You can use the original editing application on your phone, but the specialized editing software can give you more options.
The basic adjustments such as brightness, bright spot, darkness and contrast are sufficient to improve the image. Adding saturation can also make the image stand out.

As people still say, not tools but skills are the decisive factors. You do not need a top mirror -free camera to take beautiful food photos. Smartphones can also do this. Pay attention to the light, layout and the story you want to tell. If necessary, use your app and edit your photo.