Be A Food Inspo!

Love photographing your recipe creations or sharing your culinary adventures on social media? Take perfect shots with tips from the pros

- Mary Comber

Sumptuous smoothies, sun-drenched salads, beautifully styled breakfast bowls. A quick scroll through Instagram doesn’t just leave your mouth watering, it can give you serious creative envy. But fear not, with a few insider secrets up your sleeve, you can turn that hastily snapped al-desko lunch into a work of art before you can say #eggsandavocado. Here’s how.

1. GO NATURAL!

Good lighting is the key to a striking shot, and natural light is king. ‘You want lots of light and natural is always best,’ says Dani Tucker, food stylist and founder of @the_social_ kitchen, working with MOMA Foods. Diffused sunlight is best; too direct and it will create shadows. ‘Experiment with angles and try to eliminate harsh shadows created by anything in the way of your subject,’ says Tucker.

Wonder why your restaurant shots are always disappointing? Indoor light can suck the life out of your photos and using the flash will bleach out your plate of food. Instead, ask to be seated by the window and, if light is still limited, try increasing the brightness by editing the image on your phone or camera afterwards.

2 THINK ABOUT THE DETAIL