So I have resorted to focusing more on the clarity of my pictures and the angles rather than setting up a food shot and using a tripod, etc. For the longest time, I used a simple white table as the background for all my pictures. This was mostly when I was in my old apartment, which had large windows and lots of natural light. I just placed the table wherever there was good light at that time of the day and clicked away.
Since I moved, there’s not much natural light inside the house so I have to take the table and place it out in the corridor, which I have done in a couple of pictures below.
I also do some minimum changes, like adding a cutting board as a base on top of the white table, or a sheet of craft paper that goes with the colour of the food or ingredients I am clicking, so that there’s a different colour and texture for the pictures.
This is a lot of work, bringing the table and accessories and the food in and out of the house, not to mention weird looks from the neighbours and passers-by. So nowadays, I mostly resort to taking pictures on the sofa near the living room window.
The sofa is white and textured so for a while I used that as the base of a lot of pictures using the dark wall behind as a good background.
Then it started getting dirty so I got a dark brown throw to protect it from dust and dirt. This throw now forms the background of almost 90% of my pictures. The light there is not good through the day, only the first half, so I try to finish most of my cooking by then and rush to the sofa corner to get shots before the light fades or I get too tired.
Bottom line, here’re 5 things I go by while taking pictures for my blog. 1. Choose the area that has the best light in your house (or outside!). 2. Decide where and how you are going to place your dish, background, etc. I don’t use a tripod or reflecting board, or flash. 3. Take as many pictures as you can before your back breaks. This is usually my strategy. I click on an average about 80 pictures for each of my dishes (and I have a 1TB external drive that I use to dump these once I am done picking the winning shots – nothing gets deleted unless its blurred). 4. Before you go out to buy props and matching stuff for your food, get the basics – a white plate, a white bowl, a dark coloured plate and bowl and some new spoons and forks to place near the food. Second step would be coloured craft papers and napkins. I went a long time before buying those. Trust me, buying props that go with everything you ever cook is a never-ending process and very addictive! 5. Edit your pictures but don’t go overboard. I prefer simple images and don’t add frames or vignettes to it. That’s just my personal preference of course. But make sure you don’t go overboard when editing your images, just a simple increase or decrease in brightness and overall sharpness should be more than enough. I recommend www.picnik.com for a start. Its free and has pretty much everything to get you started.
Guest Blogging – Food Photography #1 by Namitha of Collaborative Curry.
Paaka Shaale says
Loved the post. Very enlighigtening 🙂
RAKS KITCHEN says
What u has written in the intro is so true. I always admire her style of writing and the clix very much 🙂 its simple yet rocks….
Nags says
thanks for giving me this opportunity lubna 🙂 i barely even remember writing this actually, so was fun to read again!
Priya Sreeram says
lovely post nags and thanks for sharing this lubna
divya says
awesome…
Archana says
thanks a lot. I dont think I have said it before thanks to your posts I have started becoming more interested in photography. I am hosting Fast Food not Fat Foot event. Do check out my event and send me your entries.
Pavithra says
Nice Post Nags and thanks Lubna. Yes as you said I started my blogging with no props so i agree with u Nags 🙂 Beautiful write up.
Poornima Nair says
Loved reading that Nags…ur pictures are wonderful. I don't use many props either, for the same reason as you and mainly because I'm not very good at setting them up around the food:)
Anonymous says
Lubna, Thank you so much for presenting this refreshing post on photography by Nags. She puts forward true essence of photography by simple natural style.
If you see around, food bloggers are running around to stuff their pictures with classy and rustic props but it turns out so unnatural. Every simple dish is decorated beyond need and final result appears like magazine style picture. It fails to display individual personality of the blogger.
Nags pure natural style is catchy and inspiring.One don't need expensive DSLR and stylish props to click beautiful food pictures. Keep it simple,instinctive and natural.
Thanks, Lubna and Nags. I will check your other posts on photography.
Uma says
I am the silent watcher of your blog for photography tips and posts. I enjoy all of them and you are doing a very great and healpful job for all the amateur food bloggers like me. Expecting more abt ISO, Whitebalance on the upcoming posts.Cheers,Uma
Prathibha says
Nice post nags and thanks to lubna for the series..Nags has her own style in fotography n I love it..:)its simple yet stylish
Jay says
wow…love this post..thanks for sharing dear..:)Tasty Appetite
Kelly | Eat Yourself Skinny says
Speaking of food photography, I've got a fabulous giveaway going on right now offering the book Plate to Pixel, it's so helpful! :)http://www.eat-yourself-skinny.com/2011/10/plate-to-pixel-food-photography.html
Shabs says
Beautiful pics and Thank you for visiting my blog , will be back to explore more 😀 .
Anjali Shukla says
That's awesomely awesome…one of the best posts I've read by any blogger….of course the reason behind is the photography trick u r sharing with everyone that no one else shares…thanks for sharing this. 🙂
Aquascoop Anti Aging Serum says
I don't use many props either, for the same reason as you and mainly because I'm not very good at setting them up around the food.
Rituparna says
What an amazing contrast. I first read Deeba's post & then came here. Two very different approaches & yet to beautiful blogs. That is what Deeba meant by choosing your style and sticking by it. Very informative & helpful.