12/23/2010

How to Style and Photograph Food

Please welcome our guest couple, Carrie and Andrew Purcell, from Pictures & Pancakes.

When styling food we really try to keep things natural and not too fussy. There are definitely some tricks used in food styling but we hardly ever use those for the blog – we want it to feel real and like what you’d be served for a meal in our home! The only things that I use for the blog that I use when styling for editorial or advertising clients are my q-tips, tweezers and paint brush – all used for tiny details like picking off a stray piece of parsley or moistening dry meat with a little water or oil. And we definitely eat everything we shoot!

We have a cupboard full of props and are always adding to the collection. Whenever we’re in home or kitchen stores and see a bowl, napkin or spoon that we love, we pick one up knowing it’ll be put to good use helping the food look pretty for our readers. Some of our favorite places in NYC to shop for props are Global Table, Fishs Eddy, ABC Home, Ochre and all the different flea markets around town. We love collecting things when we travel as well.

With photography, and more specifically food photography, we really try and keep the food the hero. With the blog, it’s really about the recipe, so we want the photo to obviously be beautiful, but also let the food have the best light it can. On our end, we almost use all natural light, using a few reflecting cards to bounce some light in and lessen the contrast. We also like to use a fairly shallow depth of field, something that we think adds to the mood and feel of the shots. But really, most of all shooting food is about the balance of your perspective and the foods perspective, keeping the food the main hero, but also letting your individual style come through.

Posted in How-To
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9 Responses to “How to Style and Photograph Food”

  1. 1

    Trix — 12/23/2010 @ 4:23 pm

    I believe in keeping it simple as well – the food should always be the star!

  2. 2

    A SPICY PERSPECTIVE — 12/23/2010 @ 6:56 pm

    Wonderful post–very informative!

  3. 3

    Bryan — 12/23/2010 @ 7:08 pm

    comming from a lame-o food photographer thanks… good tips!

  4. 4

    Fresh Local and Best — 12/23/2010 @ 11:14 pm

    These are really helpful tips. I've been to Fish's and Eddy but not ABC Home or Global Table. I will have to make it a point to go out there and see for myself the range of props available.

  5. 5

    Sylvie — 12/24/2010 @ 10:11 am

    Some really great tips, especially about using a shallow DOF to create a mood. Thanks.

  6. 6

    Jo — 12/24/2010 @ 10:39 am

    I think it is really hard to photograph food – I know, I have tried and found it quite a challenge. I love the simplicity of this shot here.

  7. 7

    pierre — 12/26/2010 @ 7:13 pm

    bonjour Nisrine
    passe de bonnes fêtes !Pierre

  8. 8

    Deeba PAB — 12/27/2010 @ 2:44 am

    Love the way you wrote this… DOF? Hmmm…more for me to learn. Thank you!

  9. 9

    A Canadian Foodie — 12/29/2010 @ 11:10 pm

    Great information – now I have to pop by to see your site!
    :)
    valerie
    (Thanks, Nisrine!)

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