In my previous blog post, we took a look at the use of good photography to promote your business or sell a product. However let’s not forget the best thing about photographs, how much fun they can be! Weather good or bad, they are a still image of a moment in the past which prompt a memory! We all have photos we love, as well as ones which make us cringe at our hideous outfit choices or dodgy hairstyles; nonetheless, looking back on old photos can be quite the source of entertainment!

One of my favourite things to do, as I’m sure many of you will agree, is to whip out old pictures and sit around to a photo session either alone or with family or friends. Every image sparks a story, an emotion, a feeling of nostalgia and an overall warmth within! There are so many creative ways to enjoy your memories. While it is still nice to traditionally display your photos in your home and office, why not consider some of these ‘fun’ ideas for a new twist.

Scrapbook

A scrap book allows display your photos any way you desire, while allowing space for the addition of captions, souvenirs or anything else you wish! They also make fantastic presents which the receiver will cherish for years to come.  If you have children, why not start a family scrap book while they are young, and build on it as they grow. Either make one for each child or just one for the whole family. Include your annual photos from birthdays, family outings and holidays etc.  Include notes and written memories about the year or special occasions. Your children may not appreciate your effort now, but they will thank you when they get older!

Slide Show

Give a slide show a go! There is nothing quite as fun as sitting down with your family to view your photo sessions on the big screen in HDTV. With the advancement of technology, it is easy to put together a DVD with music and other special effects, like captions and transitions. Make a copy for all those featured; it will be something that they will treasure forever!

A slide show is also a great idea for display at birthday parties or family gatherings.

Online Photo Album

Another advantage of technology allows you to put together amazing online photo album that you can share with friends and family all over the world. As long as your friends and family have an Internet connection, they will be able to share in all of your memories. Online albums are free and easy to make.

This is particularly good for sharing photographs from weddings or other special events. It also allows those viewing the album to save digital versions of the photos they like! It is also a more personal, private and secure alternative to sharing photos on social media sites.

We spoke last week about our how our newsfeeds are becoming increasingly filled with Instagrammed images of tasty treats we’ve either purchased or spent hours creating in the heat of the kitchen. Capturing and sharing photos of our food is something which we all seem to enjoy and there’s no doubt it is great fun!

Food is in front of us every single day, and if we are not eating it we are talking about what we just ate or about what we are going to eat! We are what we eat; our diet reflects our lifestyle, our choices and our beliefs, therefore it is not surprising that the food industry is the single biggest and most prevalent industry the world has ever seen.  After all, everyone eats food, and our want for choice and variety lends the new foods and food branding being produced every day to being photographed. In this sense, food photography can be more than just a bit of fun. The competition to sell food, whether you retail from a shop, café or restaurant , is immense, so it is essential to sell showcase your food in the best possible way. The photos which appear on your adverts, website or social media marketing need to make you stand out from the crowd, and make people want to eat and therefore buy YOUR food!

When it comes to food photography, hiring a professional is most certainly the most ideal way to go to ensure you get top quality pictures. I recently did some work with ‘A Taste of Ballyhoura Country’, an initiative to showcase the region’s artisan foods. This amazing produce needed to be captured in such a way that the superb quality of the food could truly be appreciated and appeal to the senses of those viewing the photographs. I would strongly recommend downloading their free recipe book from www.atasteofballyhouracountry.com and I assure you, it won’t disappoint. If the visuals don’t get your mouth watering and eager to give these recipes a go, I don’t know what will!

However, I am aware that some smaller companies may not have the budget to hire a professional photographer, especially when they are starting off, so don’t fret, I have put together a few hints and tips which, if followed correctly, should result in pretty decent photos!

1. Choose fresh and locally grown ingredients, don’t over manipulate the food and keep it simple.

Work with the way the food naturally sits or falls.

2. Let the food tell you how it wants to be photographed

Look at what aspect of the food or dish has caught your attention. The shape, texture or colour will determine what type of lighting you will need, hard or soft. When you are aware of this, you will be able to choose the best angle for capturing your food with ease! Let the food inform your approach to photographing it.

3) Keep observing your subject.

The food is the primary focus of your photograph, so keep this in mind. Select props and a background which compliments your food without being overpowering. Embrace colour and keep an eye out for contrast.

4) Capture the shot you had in mind, then switch camera angle.

Be adventurous. Explore and experiment with your shots, the best shot is often not the one you planned. Don’t be afraid to take shots which may, in theory, be ‘wrong’.

5) Use a Tripod

A tripod, especially when photographing food, is essential in ensuring all detail is captured and any chance of a camera shake is reduced. A tripod will also permit longer exposures which are particularly handy in restaurants and pubs where the lighting may be dim.

6) Utitlise White Balance

As mentioned above, lighting may be dimmed in restaurants and bars, so this is why I advise using White Balance (WB). Every modern camera, even point and shoots, have a control for WB, so use it. Sometimes an orange cast makes for a warm and intimate mood but sometimes it’s just annoying. As well as this, the white balance control can be used as a creative tool, so play around with it, you will be surprised at the results!

7) Choose a suitable lens

In general, shallow depth of field works brilliantly with food because it isolates the main subject against the background which draws the viewer’s attention straight to it. If I had to recommend just one lens for food photography, it would be a 50 mm f 1.8: it’s small and light, it’s not expensive. It’s a fast lens and can be used for any other type of photography too.

8) Go for the details and fill the frame with your subject

Sometimes less is more, especially when the food is the focal point.

9) Try to get the picture right in the camera

Post processing will improve flaws in photos, but don’t rely on it too much. Focus more on getting the right picture in your camera. Ideally you should only spend 2 to 5 minutes editing each image.

10) Take plenty of reference shots

Take shots of the lighting set up, shots of backgrounds and props. This will highlight where you’re going wrong. Remember practice makes perfect. Seek other people’s feedback and let them inspire and there will be no stopping you!

Ah… one more thing, enjoy eating the props!!

As mentioned in my previous blog, our fascination with visually capturing our lives and sharing these images via social networks is something which is eternally growing! Not only do we want to share photos of who we are with or where we are, but also what we are consuming. Taking photos of food and drink has become somewhat ‘trendy’ and our news feeds are often flooded with Instagrammed snaps of tasty, sweet and savoury treats!

The culture surrounding us has changed. We no longer view food as something which is simply consumed only for functional reasons or as an obligation to our bodies, we now eat to enjoy, to savour and to experience food as an art. Eating certain foods can be viewed  as a means of projecting a certain image, for example, to appear sophisticated or urbane. Baking and preparing our own food is also a way of expressing our personality and creativity.

Subsequent to this evolving food culture, it is the need to possess photographic evidence of the food we enjoy which makes us snap-happy. Since we rarely leave home without our smart phones and tablets, mobile technology is always on hand.

This mobile food photography revolution has become so popular that people have dedicated websites to pictures of other people taking pictures of food! I’ll never say no to a bit of satire! Check out my personal favourite, pohtpof.tumblr.com.  It is, at the end of the day, all a bit of fun, and who knows, you may even capture a photo worth framing!

So if you haven’t given into this trend yet, I recommend giving it a go! Here’s some tips on how to do it right, or if you’ve been busy snapping already, hopefully these might help you take a better photo and wow your followers!

Capture

Take a numerous shots, to obtain best focus and capture the mess. Cooking is messy!

Lighting

Embrace natural, ambient light to show off fresh ingredients. Turn off the flash if goof light is present.

Avoid using the Zoom

Hold your phone close to the food and avoid using the zoom feature.

Backgrounds

Use neutral backgrounds to bring out textures in the food.

Story

Set the scene to tell a story and don’t be afraid to get your hands involved.

Colour

Use colourful ingredients and off-white plates to serve up, if you have made the food yourself. Otherwise, make sure you focus on the most colourful parts of your dish.

Angle

Find an interesting angle; try shooting from a height or a side view.

View

Adopt the point of view of the creator. The same applies before eating!

Consideration

Lastly, show consideration towards fellow food connoisseurs, and also to the chefs. If you are unsure, ask the permission if it is ok for you to take pictures in their restaurant, establishment and of their food!

Embrace Photo Editing Apps

Photo editing Apps such as Instagram can add filters, frames and adjust lighting to help improve your photos; however the natural photo can often look just as good! While I would say yes to embracing and to experimenting with these apps, be sure not to overdo it!

Finally, have fun with your food photos, and don’t forget to share them to make your friends jealous of your tasty treats and your artistic endeavours!