Six tips for capturing beautiful food photographs with a mobile device and improving your iPhone food photography skills.
Let’s be real, you know it’s not just bloggers taking photos of their food these days. Am I right? Whether you’re grabbing lunch with friends, cooking dinner at home or out on a date night, everyone wants to capture that killer food photo to post on Instagram or SnapChat. (Oh hey – do you follow me on SnapChat? @TheLemonBowl)
Well guess what? I’m right there with you. In fact, it’s time I let you all in on a little secret: up until just a few months ago, every photo featured on this website was taken with an iPad or iPhone! The truth? I don’t even own a DSLR camera. As a result, I am always asked the same question: “How do you take such beautiful photos of your food with an iPhone??” Let’s get right into it.
Always Shoot in Natural Light:
In my early years of blogging, I would cook dinner and shoot my food once the sun had set using the super yellow artificial lighting in my kitchen. The result? No bueno. The minute I changed around my schedule and started photographing food in daylight hours my food photos instantly improved. If you’re out to eat and want to capture a beautiful photo of your food for Instagram simply look for a table near a window and try to get there before sunset. Whatever you do, do not use the flash.
Style Your Food:
A little food styling goes a long way when it comes to photographing food with an iPhone. Sprinkle on fresh herbs, drizzle a little Sriracha or use a colorful platter to add a pop of color. You don’t have to go over the top, you just want to put a little thought into making the food look as beautiful as it tastes. After all, people eat with their eyes first.
Choose the Best Angle for Photographing the Food:
In general there are three types of angles for photographing food: overhead (sometimes called birds eye), 3/4 angle or straight-on. Each shot is ideal for different types of photos. For example, if you’re photographing a juicy burger with lots of tasty toppings, straight-on photos will allow you to see all of the ingredients. On the other hand, if you’re photographing a beautifully garnished platter, overhead shots will give people the perfect visual to see what’s in the dish. Play around with all three to see what works best.
Keep the Shot Up Close and Tight:
iPhones are best for up close, tight photos without huge, pulled back settings. The good news is that you don’t need to worry about elaborate food styling over overly stylized scenes because really it’s all about the food, right?
Never Use Zoom:
No matter what, never use the zoom when photographing food with your iPhone. Whenever you use the digital zoom, you reduce the quality of the image. Instead, just move yourself closer to the food.
Edit Like the Pros:
The secret to a professional looking iPhone food photo is all in the editing. Two of my favorite apps to use are SnapSeed and Big Lens. SnapSeed is completely free and allows you to brighten the photo, reduce shadows, boost saturation and much more. Big Lens is $0.99 and is especially great because it provides aperture control allowing you to change the size of the focal point and blur out the background like you would with a DSLR camera.
Ok now it’s your turn fellow iPhone food photographers! What are your best tips for beautiful food photography? I’m all ears!
Your fork is waiting.
NapaCasual
Do you have an auxiliary light that you use?
Liz DellaCroce
Nope
Tatiana
Do you attach a lenses to your iphone camera? I have been looking into those, if so what kind?
Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
I’ve never done that before but I have heard of people doing that!
Kelly
I was thinking about buying a camera but really didn’t want to spend the mondey right now. I just bought the Big Lens App, thanks for the advice
Liz DellaCroce
Oh awesome!!! Enjoy!
Kate
Cool! Great tips. I need to check out those apps!
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you like them!!!
Andrea Escobar
Wow. Had no idea you used an Iphone. This was a great post. Thanks for the tips. Helps a lot!
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad it was helpful Andrea!!
Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It
As a poor college student who can’t afford a pro camera, I LOVE these tips! Everything is shot on my iPhone! I’ll definitely have to download Snap Seed and Big Lens too. Right now I use the Foodie editing app and I love it!
Liz DellaCroce
oh I’m so glad to hear you found this helpful!!! Enjoy the tips!!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I love, love, love SnapSeed! It’s literally my favorite phone app for edits!
Liz DellaCroce
It’s so great!!! Just be careful not to over do it – it can be easy to do sometimes. :)
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
Liz,
That’s interesting about outsourcing your photography. How did you find a local person? (I assume it is a local.) And do you make, say, 5 things in one day and have the person over to photo them all at once, or what?
Liz DellaCroce
Hi Dorothy – We shoot twice a month and typically photograph 6-8 recipes per shoot. He is a local photographer that I’ve worked with for personal and professional photos for 4 years so it just worked out for him to start photographing my food as well. I hope that helps!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
Thank you Liz, that makes sense!
Patti
Great post! I own a DSLR and I still use my iPhone 95% of the time :)
I love the app Camera+. I’ll be sure to check out the apps you suggested.
Happy shooting :)
Liz DellaCroce
I know SO many people who own DSLR’s but use their iPhones much of the time!! You’re not alone!!
Emma {Emma's Little Kitchen}
Whaaaaat?! Thats insane. Fab tips, I need to up my instagram game for sure. No excuses now!
Liz DellaCroce
haha Shhh don’t tell!! :)
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
These are incredible tips lady! I often think for overhead shots iPhone does much better than a DSLR. Shooting in natural light is definitely key. I need to check out those apps!
Liz DellaCroce
You know that’s a great point about overhead – I sometimes agree!!
Kelly | Eat Yourself Skinny
Such great tips! I never realized all your photos were taken with an iPhone – they’re beautiful!!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much Kelly!! Every photo prior to January 2016 is from an iPhone! I started outsourcing my photography this year. :)
Vijay from NoshOn.It
Wow! I totally had no idea that you didn’t shoot with an SLR. This is your best kept secret!
Liz DellaCroce
Don’t tell anyone!! Just kidding. ;) I should note that I hired a photographer this year but every photo prior to January is from an iPhone. :)