How to shoot food for blogs - 7 simple rules for a delicious shot

I prepared this material for novice food bloggers. I often notice and I'm not alone, that even the screensavers of videos with recipes on YouTube are not presentable, to put it mildly.

Instagram is a little better., if we talk about food blogs, but otherwise, everything is far from ideal, but does not reach the concept of "DELICIOUS". Or everything is gray and faded, or some kind of porridge or tear out your eyes due to filters.

BUT what to do someone will ask, if there is only a phone and what type is, so we shoot.

Before moving on to tips, how to shoot food for blogs, that's what I would like to note – if you decide to get serious about shooting recipes and start a food blog, the most important thing in this area – no taste or smell. After all, a YouTube or Instagram user can't smell, what have you got there – olive or machine oil. the main thing – this is visualization, DELICIOUS picture. And to make the picture delicious, at first you do not need to spend hundreds of thousands on equipment – you can meet thousands in 20 rubles. These investments are not for one shoot.. Equipment, with which the frames were taken in this material, you have enough for several years. But if there is no such money or you are not ready to invest yet, then you can do with that, what's at hand – smartphone and light from a window or table lamp (better two)

So let's shoot right:

We do not use dirty dishes and do not remove on a dirty table. Wipe everything before shooting. Duster table, the edges of the plate with the dish with a paper napkin. If you have a drink, then wipe the dishes with microfiber, so as not to leave fingerprints. The plans will be large and fingerprints on the glass are clearly visible;
We do not shoot with a flash on the forehead – the picture will be ugly. Better to shoot, using natural light from a window or lamp light, shining on the side of the dish. It is better to use diffused light – i.e, cover a window or lamp with plain tracing paper. But if there is a possibility, then we shoot with flashes – use or 2, or 1 and reflectors;
We use accessories – beautiful forks, napkins, cutlery. Or shoot close-ups;
Shooting a dish from multiple angles. it happens, that they are filming a series of cooking dishes in one angle – eg, from above. Add a close up and side view of the finished dish;
Don't be afraid to cut the frame – plate floor or glass floor can look stylish;
If you remove the prescription, then the first frame – this is the product layout. Lay everything out nicely on a table or background with salt shakers and oilers, and remove from above or at an angle, so that all the ingredients are in the frame;
Process photos, do not post them as they are. But fanaticism in processing is also not needed;

I myself love to cook and even once was a professional chef and had 4 discharge, but now I only shoot for stocks and food photography gives more than half of all sales.

A variant of making burgers is presented, removed by a set of equipment, which covers the needs of the budding food blogger of the year for 2-3.

Equipment:

camera – old SONY SLT-A77 with whale lens – 15 thousand used units in good condition
Outbreaks 2 – inexpensive chinese (on Avito for one and a half thousand you can buy)
two flash stands per thousand
Synchronizers were new – Photo quantum – 2 500 rubles
Two backgrounds – painted furniture boards – 600 rubles

That is, you can meet the amount of about 20 000 rubles, but this is already a good kit for further work. Well, you can also shoot on the phone – only you will need to take a more serious approach to shooting planning. And you still have to bribe something – at least a tripod and a couple of LED lights would be nice – that is in 3-5 thousand you can meet. You can just do with table lamps. Here is the algorithm – the less equipment, the more time you need to spend on preparation and the more careful you will need to take photographs.