It doesn't take having a foodstagram to know that the look of a dish is just as important as the taste sometimes. While ugly delicious foods deserve their own respect, sometimes getting the perfect shot of a drippy yolk or perfectly plated avocado is the make or break for an Instagram brunch post.
That being said, it can be hard to get that perfect food photo—especially when you're not quite sure how to make your food pop. Here are five easy tips to get the best food photos so all of your brunches are drool worthy.
1. Try to get the best lighting possible
© Sherry Zheng Food Photos Good photos depend on good lighting, with natural light being the ideal. When possible, avoid flash, direct sunlight, and indoor lighting to get the best shot. If you do have good lighting, always make sure to front light, since backlighting creates a darker overall look.
If you're really committed to getting a good shot, request a table by a window at restaurants to get the best possible lighting for your shakshuka or cappuccino.
2. Keep it clean
© Hannah Glickenhaus Food Photos When staging your food, make sure to avoid clutter. This means that while you're staging you should clean up any messy splatters of sauce or crumpled napkins on the table. You want to make sure the main focus of the photo is the food, not the mess.
Getting a mix of items is also a surefire way to make your food photo pop, which is the perfect excuse to having a nice dinner with friends.
3. Don't be afraid of some color
© Anya Gupta Food Photos Eating the rainbow is especially true when it comes to getting the best food photo. Monochromatic meals aren't the most exciting things to look at, so highlighting the range of colors in your meal is an easy way to get those Instagram likes.
Try to make sure there are complementary pops of color in the photo as well. This tip is good for your health as well, making it an easy and tasty way to make your photos look great.
4. Give your photos some action
© Sarah Anwar Food Photos Things like eggs and grilled cheese look even better when they're being played with, so don't be afraid to add some action into your shots.
Adding some action into your food makes photos more exciting, and usually makes the food look even better. Besides, what's better than a noodle pull?
5. Make your photos feel "human"
© Sherry Zheng Food Photos Along with giving your photos some action, adding a bit of life into your shots is a simple way to make your photos more exciting. Crafting intricate shots can make your photos feel a bit artificial, so adding human elements like hands or bodies grounds them.
This is especially true when posting your food on Instagram. While your brunch spread may look great, adding a bit of yourself and your friends into the shot makes the photo even better.
Hopefully these tips can help make your foodstagram feed even sweeter!