Quick & Easy Guide To Mobile Food Photography

When you see an enticing photo of food, you can’t help but drool and feel hungry over a picture. Yes, foodgasm is definitely real. From renowned chefs, food bloggers to food enthusiasts, everyone is hooked up with the phenomenon of taking photos of what they are cooking or eating. Food photography is the modern-day obsession.

food photography

Sure, you did not take any photography class or own a fancy DSLR. However, with the right technique, you can be taking photos like a pro with only a mobile phone at hand. Keep in mind that the ability to take beautiful photos lies on the photographer’s skill and not just the equipment. Anyone can pick up a phone and take a photo but it takes a more skilled photographer to capture exquisite pictures. Put these factors into heart and be on your way to posting mouthwatering photos on Instagram, Pinterest and other social media platforms!

Lighting

All photos need good light. There is more to lighting than just how bright or dark a photo will appear. Lighting sets the look, mood, and atmosphere of your images. The source and direction of light will affect the shape and texture of the subject while the color and softness or harshness of light can change the shot’s entire appearance.

Faro Liloan

If you are at home, you can get up early in the morning and capture a photo with natural soft daylight entering into your kitchen. Or if you are in a restaurant at noon or in the afternoon, get a table next to a window. Nothing beats natural light from the sun. However, if you find yourself in a place with low lighting, find an artificial source of light.

Depth

What most mobile food photography lacks is depth which a professional camera can provide. Fortunately, there are multiple actions you can take to overcome this problem. You can either use a phone with multiple lens to provide you with a shallow depth or you can simply play with angles. Experiment with taking multiple photos in different angles.

Faro Liloan

Focus

Pick your point of focus and use the lock focus on your mobile camera as soon as you find the right angle of the shot you want to capture. Remember that food photography generally demands close ups which is why you have to make sure your shots clearly show the details or elements of the food you are capturing. Locking your camera’s focus makes up for the lack of a good DSLR zoom and is a great technique to completely take control over your shot.

food photography

Apps

As much as you want to directly upload your mouthwatering photos and share it with the world, take the time to edit your pictures. What is great about using a camera phone is that there are tons of great applications specially designed for editing. You do not have to learn the complex interface of commands in Photoshop to edit when you can use filters readily available in Instagram, Snapseed or VSCO with just a few clicks. Do not just choose a filter and then click save. Make sure to explore and adjust the brightness, contrast, exposure, highlight, and other key elements till you see a great photo on your screen.

mobile food photography

Today, anyone can be a food photographer. With a little practice and the right apps and a smartphone with a decent camera, you’re surely on your way to be better than the most.

On to you, do you love taking photos of your food using your smartphone? Would love to hear about your thoughts and suggestions on how to take better photos.

Herbert Kikoy

Surigaonon by birth, Butuanon by heart and now an adopted son of Cebu, Herbert is a hobbyist photographer who focuses on Food, Sports, Travel and Festivals photography.

One thought on “Quick & Easy Guide To Mobile Food Photography

  1. Taking food photos is just much easier using a smartphone. I try to use mine as much as I can. I still struggle with chasing the light and some other aspects so practice really works.

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