Food Photography Essentials
As a food and beverage photographer, I get lots of questions asking what it took to build my photography skills up to this point and what tools I use. Though I'm not in the education space myself, I figured that it might be helpful to put together a list of food photography essential resources that I've used up to this point.
Tools
From cameras to backdrops to reflectors to props, you can easily drop thousands of dollars on equipment for food photography. Here are, in my opinion, the essentials to start with:
Do I need a DLSR to take food photos?
When anyone starts talking about food photography, one of the most common questions I get is "Can I use my iPhone?" Look. You can. People have done it and curated beautiful Instagram feeds and blogs. But in my opinion, if you're really pursuing a career in food / product photography, investing in a DLSR (hint: digital single-lens reflex) camera.
When I started out, I used only my Canon Rebel that I bought on a whim (on sale!) in college. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, how to use it, or what would change if I flipped the switch from automatic to manual. Even after I learned those ever-so-slightly important details, I used my Rebel for another year until I finally upgraded to my Canon EOS 6D, which I absolutely loved. I used that camera for a long, long time until its tethering port broke and then bought a Canon EOS 6D Mark II, which is a gorgeous, slightly newer model. I bought it used, and I highly recommend that for anyone looking to invest in a camera.
Which lenses are best for food photography?
I have two lenses in my camera bag: the 24-100mm that came with my camera body and the 100mm macro lens that my parents gifted to me a few years ago. My Rebel had a 50mm lens that I loved, but when I upgraded, I opted for the 24-100 because of the pure versatility. Whether I'm on set at a restaurant shooting interiors or in my home studio getting a detail shot of risotto, this lens works great.
When I first started using the 100mm macro lens, I didn't really understand the purpose of carrying it around. Now that I've grown my capabilities as a photographer, I understand how much of a game changer this lens can be. The amount of detail this lens can capture helps me with really complex, technical shoots. I've pulled it out three times in the last week, once to capture a close-up food photo to be used on the packaging, once to capture fabric detail, and once to play around with how far away I could get from my sleeping kitten while still grabbing a cute pic. If I was just starting out, this is one I'd put on my wish list for later. Unless you know how to use this powerful tool and really need that amount of detail, you can skip it for now.
Macro lenses can allow you to capture small details in beverage photography.
Do you need tripods for food photography?
I just recently got on the tripod train, and now I can't stop. It's so nice not to have to worry about how much coffee I've had, and how that affects my pictures. There are TONS of tripods out there, and I have more than a few myself. In terms of what you should be looking for, make sure to get one that you trust to hold the weight of your camera and that you can screw into your camera to lock it in.
What backdrops do you use for food photography?
I've used a bunch, including Replica Surfaces, Best Ever Backdrops, CBL, and ones that I made myself. The thing nobody tells you is that you really don't need fancy backdrops to take good photos. If there's a great table you love, pull it over to the window. If you're obsessed with your floor, pop that bowl of soup down and use that. I also think that the use of linens and unexpected textures can’t be overstated. Using textures like this can set you apart.
Where to Buy Props for Food Photography
Honestly, the place I get most of my props? Goodwill. Places like CB2 and IKEA are great for more modern lines and standardized plates/silverware, but the random, funky tableware you find on the shelves at Goodwill and thrift stores rarely disappoints (and is also muuuuuch cheaper).
All of these photography props were purchased at thrift stores, Goodwill, and resale shops.
Do you use natural or artificial lighting?
For a very, very, very long time, I staunchly believed that natural lighting was the only way to take good photos of food. To tell you the truth, I was terrified to get into artificial lighting and didn't know where to start.
I now own several artificial lights and shoot with them almost exclusively. I am so obsessed with them and how they have completely changed my capabilities that I just might have to write a whole post about them. From speedlights to strobes to continuous lighting, you can do so much more with artificial lights. If you’re going to seriously get into photography, I’d recommend looking into the options.
Educational Resources
Anyone who has asked me about how I got started in food and product photography knows that I would not be where I am today without a few key mentors and classes that I took along the way. Some of these opportunities come with a higher price tag, so I separated them out into free resources, online classes, and masterminds.
Free Resources
Instagram is a great place to start looking for free photography resources. Some of my favorite follows for tips, inspiration, and more are:
Online Classes for Food Photography and Styling
Almost everyone I mentioned above offers some sort of paid online class in food photography and styling. Here are the ones I've taken:
Foodtography School: This course, led by Sarah Crawford of Broma Bakery, was the first class I took in this area. For that reason, I give Foodtography School a lot of credit for jumpstarting my photography journey. It was the first time I had ever heard anyone talk about food photography AT ALL let alone how to build food photography into a business. If you're not familiar with how your camera works or how to style food, this is a good place to start. My only caveat is to consider how to use Sarah's tips to create your own style instead of mimicking hers.
Retouching Food Photography: This course, led by Rachel and Matt Korinek of Two Loves Studio, was the single most important course I took to understand how to level-up my editing. I've always been comfortable in Lightroom, but Photoshop was a different story. Now, I feel fluent in both, which has allowed me to really enhance what I can offer to clients.
Karl Taylor Education: This was another game changer. For $19/month, you get access to the entire library of courses offered by Karl Taylor, a super talented professional studio photographer based in the UK. The courses range from technical introductions to different cameras and lighting set-ups to behind the scene breakdowns for incredible photos. Pay for it for a few months if you can commit to watching these videos — they're priceless, but only if you have the time and energy to commit to learning.
Moodelier Creative Course: It's unclear to me if you can still gain access to this course, but I wanted to put it on here for one reason: it supports bridging the gap between food and product photography in terms of client management and offerings. It has really helped me build out a client process and shoot flow that results in incredible images.
Masterminds
Mastermind programs are always more expensive than online classes because there's an element of mentorship built into the curriculum. Though I've only participated in one (read more below), I would highly recommend investing in a mastermind if you're at a point where you're seriously thinking about making the leap to full time and you have a solid foundation for your business. It's a LOT of money to invest, but I really did feel like my investment was worthwhile.
I enrolled in Sam Adler's Profit in Style mastermind a few years ago, and I can say that it completely changed the way I thought about myself as a photographer, business owner, and artist. I struggle with courses that don't hold you accountable, so having a Slack channel and a weekly call really helped me grow. I happened to be at a critical juncture of deciding whether or not to go full time with my blog / photography business when I met Sam, and I firmly believe that her mentorship helped me set Page & Plate up for success.
Of course, deciding to invest money in a mastermind is something I was incredibly privileged to be able to do. If you love the idea of accountability and collaboration, find a few friends who are at the same level as you and ask to start a weekly call!
The Other Stuff
I have A LOT to say about this topic (obviously). At the end of the day, I can't freaking believe that I'm lucky enough to work for myself and do what I love, and I support anyone endeavoring on this journey. A few other random tips before I sign off from this post:
Register as an LLC yesterday. Open a business bank account.
Get an accountant. GET AN ACCOUNTANT. I cannot stress this enough.
Remember that photography is an art, and practice your art weekly.
Read The Artist's Way.
Ask questions! Reach out to people! Ask for support!
OKAY. Lots of information. If you have questions, hit me up at laura [at] pageandplate.com.