Whether professional chef or amateur “Cake Boss”, all cooks of varying “degrees” enjoy sharing photos of their prize winning dishes with others. While these dishes may be downright mouthwatering our shots oftentimes come out looking anything but appetizing. Here are six tips to turn your next culinary photo spread into a delicious work of art!

Food Photography Tip #1

Use Natural Lighting – Shooting under natural lighting conditions makes for a superior and less frustrating experience. Experiment with different times of the day, distance from the window, curtains for light diffusing effects, etc. Last but not least, avoid using flash. Flash has a bad habit of turning “succulent” into “slimy” in a nanosecond.

Flickr: windysydney

Food Photography Tip #2

Keep a Background Clean – Naturally, props should only be used if the photo calls for it. Otherwise, stick to a simple, solid colored background that allows for plenty of contrast between it and the food. Of course, if that gorgeous wedding cake would look better surrounded by a sprinkling of rose petals and confetti, go for it. Just be sure that the viewer exclaims, “Wow! What an awesome cake!” as opposed to “Wow! That’s some great looking confetti you’ve got there!”

Flickr: higashitori

Food Photography Tip #3

Shoot from Different Angles – Photographing food from the same angle that you eat it, often doesn’t do it justice. In fact, it can make your shot look downright boring! Instead, get down at a level slightly lower than you think is necessary and experiment with a variety of angles (behind, looking up, off to one side). Also, don’t be afraid to move around the food itself to gain a “fresh” perspective.

Flickr: adforce1

Food Photography Tip #4

Zoom In – Play with your macro settings to capture all the finer details and textures of the meal. This will not only allow for a more intriguing shot, but will also excite the viewer’s salivary glands right from the get-go!

Flickr: joeandsarah

Food Photography Tip #5

Adjust the White Balance – When it comes to food, paying close attention to your white balance is crucial. Nowhere is the importance of this factor seen like in the case of photographing meat. Under fluorescent lighting, juicy cuts of meat come out looking blue-ish red, like something straight out of a horror movie. Sticking with warm tones helps avoid this sinister look and provides a nourishing, cozy feel.

Flickr: stuart_spivack

Food Photography Tip #6

Use a Tripod – As food is an inanimate object, there is no reason outside of human error for your shots to be blurry. Stabilize your camera on a tripod. If you don’t have a tripod, use a table, chair or other motionless surface.