R27.CREATIVELAB / Blogspot

Adriana Mullen gives us a brief insight behind the success of creating images good enough to eat.


Photographing food is one of the most challenging kinds of photography out there. It's considered difficult by most professional food photographers because there is a time constraint in the whole photo shoot. Since the marketability of the food itself depends primarily on how it is seen in print, food photographers should be skilled in order to come up with satisfying results.

It's all in the art of lighting. Like in any photography styles, lighting or available light can make or break any photograph. Direct light is harsh and produces heavy sharp shadows. It is safe to say that in food photography this is a bad thing.

Know your camera well. It is a must that you familiarize yourself with all its features and functions especially the basic operations like focus/auto focus, exposure compensation, white balance, image resolution and size, and flash modes operation. Know when to use these features in order to highlight the best angles of your subject. Also, familiarize yourself with other equipment. Knowing the proper use of a tripod or stabilizer will help you focus on your subject better and will also avoid camera shake that usually causes blurring.

Simplicity is the key to emphasize the subject matter. Paying attention to the set-up. If there are distracting elements in the background, if there is something missing in the set up, thinking of something else that would fill the empty space or gap. Preparing the garnish, the props, and other materials needed for the shoot.


Timing is critical in food photography. A good photographer will take the photos on-site instead of in a studio. Doing this ensures the food is as fresh as possible. While the chef is cooking, the photographer and food stylist can use stand-ins to make sure the lighting is right for the photo. This means that the food will be fresh when it's time for the picture instead of dried out from the strong lighting. Sometimes vegetable oil and cold water is applied for adjustment to give the desired effects.

Adriana Mullen

WEB: adrianamullenphotography.com
BLOG: adrianamullenphotographyblog.com