7 Food Photography Tips for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when people gorge on food. A variety of delicious dishes are prepared and families get together to enjoy a great dinner. With so much food, it is a golden opportunity for photographers to get great pictures.

If you are a food photographer, then this is the best opportunity to take great photos. Even if you are not one, don’t miss this chance to take impressive food photos.

Don’t worry if you haven’t done this before. We give you seven useful tips to help you take the best food photographs this Thanksgiving.

Image via Dreamstime.com

The Best Food photography tips

1) Understand your equipment settings

It goes without saying that you would have a good quality camera (preferably a DSLR). You would also probably have zoom lenses to take close-up pictures. Ideally, choose a 50 mm lens considering in mind, you will be shooting in front of the dinner table. You need to have a clear understanding of your camera settings to get the best photos.

Do some experimentation before you master the use of various settings. Here are some tips on the best settings to use:

Use the RAW format to shoot, so you can capture more detail. RAW format is easier to edit later.

An aperture of f/1.4 to f/2.8 is used by most professionals. It will allow more light into the lens when you don’t have enough light.
A faster shutter speed is a good option. A speed of less than 1/60 is recommended.
Use the timer to give yourself time to join others in the photo. The timer also ensures there is no camera shake (when you use a tripod).
The ISO settings should be 800 or 1600 for most indoor photography. If you have an external light source, then the settings can be changed to 200 or 400.
Adjust the white balance depending on the type of lighting used in the house (fluorescent or tungsten). This is important to get the perfect color of the food in your photo.

2) Do advance preparation

Find out what is cooking in advance. Once you know the items on the menu, you can plan your shoot better. You will know how many dishes would be served and what the main dish is. Knowing how many people would be attending will help you plan well. You can also understand the table layout better, so you can plan your shots.

3) Style the photo

To get the best food photographs, you need to add an element of styling. Try and get neutral tableware, so the food stands out. You can consider adding decorations or lights to the dining table to create a great effect. Garnishing the food or brushing some oil on it are good ideas to make it appear all the better. Ensure there is no clutter and focus on details to get the best shot.

4) Try different angles

For Thanksgiving, you need to take photos from different angles. The top-down shot is best when you are shooting the table spread or want to capture details. A higher angle will help you get close-ups, so you can focus on specific dishes. A 90-degree angle will show any layers in the food. A 45-degree angle will help you see the plate clearly.

5) Compose your shot well

Compose your shot well, so you get the best photo. You can follow the rule of thirds to compose your shot. Fill the frame well. Apart from food, ensure there are other items like glassware, utensils, pumpkins, etc. These create a better visual effect on the photo. Make use of various props to enhance the photo. Antique plates, wood pedestals, attractive linen, and candles are some props you can use.

6) Try to show action

Action while shooting food photography seems tough, but it can be easily done. Capturing movement in the photo makes it action-oriented. It can enhance the quality of the photo. Capture a photo of food being served or a drink being poured. Something simple as sifting sugar powder on a cake makes for a great photo.

7) It is not only about food

This is not merely food photography, it is Thanksgiving photography. Apart from food, there are people who form part of your life. Make sure you capture people in your photos. Show people smiling, laughing, or chatting excitedly. Don’t forget to feature children in your photo. Children looking in awe and excitement at food make for a great photo.

Hope these tips help you nail down the best Thanksgiving pictures!

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Kelly Tate

Kelly is a full-time supermum, caring for two kids and a hardworking husband. A cook, a cleaner, a carer and all round hard worker, striving for the perfect family life (with a few bumps along the way!) Eternally honest and sometimes brutally forward, no topics are off limits with Kelly.