So I completed the 30 days to Better Food Photography course and I can honestly say my food photos have improved massively.
I’ve really started to analyse and understand why a food photo is good or bad, what elements need to be included, how to balance a scene and use the right props.
I’ve also had the chance to spend time with my new umbrella boxes and get to know how they perform too and I’m looking forward to doing a portrait shoot over Christmas with the family (once our Daughter is back from University).
What have I really learnt from the course;
- That food photography is a genuine skill and a genre of photography as worthy as Street photography or Portraiture or Architectural photography or Landscapes.
- Although you see a lot of #foodporn on Facebook or Instagram, I no longer look at them in the same way – these are (in the vast majority of cases) just snapshots and I can now see the deficiencies that separate these from “professional” images.
- That’s not to say that taking a snap with the phone isn’t a good way of spotting an idea for a shot, just as a maquette is a prototype model of a sculpture to be developed and refined.
- A special level of patience and attention to detail is required – all too often my photos were taken in a rush while I was actually cooking the food, or preparing to dish it up, resulting in areas that I could improve.
- When done correctly, a great food photograph can produce the same level of satisfaction and “wow factor” as any other photo because it is a work of art.
- I am definitely going to continue on my foodie journey, and plan to approach a local coffee shop that has just opened to see if they want some photos taken of their coffees and cakes.
The course is great fun, and the community engagement on Facebook is as valuable as the lessons. I would recommend anyone interested in any type of photography to sign up for the next one (click the link in the left side bar) – the basic course which I did, is free – so what have you got to lose?
Cheers!
