A Food Blogger’s Little Secrets to Better Photographs

Part of the Food Photography & Styling Series | Season 1, Guest Post #8

Food photography has always been one of the most exciting parts of food blogging. From choosing the right camera and finding beautiful backgrounds to experimenting with plates, cutlery, props and natural light, there is so much to learn and enjoy.

When I started this Food Photography and Styling series, I never imagined how many aspects of food photography we could explore together. One of my aims was to share practical tips that would help food bloggers take better pictures, even if they didn’t own a DSLR camera.

For this eighth edition, I am delighted to welcome Sandhya Hariharan, fondly known as Sandy, of Sandhya’s Kitchen.

I have always loved the warmth and simplicity of this series, where fellow food bloggers share their personal experiences rather than simply listing technical photography rules. Sandhya’s contribution is particularly special because she reminds us that we don’t need expensive equipment or a cupboard full of photography props to get started.

Sometimes, all we need is good natural light, a little creativity and the willingness to keep practising.

Let’s hear from Sandy as she shares her approach to food photography, styling, props and backgrounds.

Food Photography Tips for Beginners — By Sandhya of Sandhya’s Kitchen

Hiya!

I was quite overwhelmed when Lubna from Yummy Food invited me to write a guest post. And when I read the second part of her invitation — food photography — I was almost dumbstruck!

Could I really write a post about photography?

I decided to grab the opportunity, although I told Lubna that I would need a few months to put everything together. I am grateful to her for being patient with me and giving me the chance to share what I have learnt so far.

Let me begin by saying that I am an absolute amateur. I am not a photography specialist, and I am still learning something new every day.

My advice is simple: practice, practice and practice!

Keep taking pictures. It doesn’t always have to be food. Photograph a beautiful view, a portrait, your little one or anything that catches your eye.

If you look at the photographs on my blog from the early days, you might find some of them quite horrid! Back then, I would be extremely pleased with a picture, thinking it was one of my best.

As we continue photographing and spending more time understanding our pictures, we begin to notice what works and what doesn’t. With every post, we learn a little more.

Don’t you agree?

Our delicious, lovingly prepared food deserves photographs that make people want to stop, look and appreciate it. Here are a few simple food photography tips that have helped me along the way.

1. Make Natural Light Your Best Friend

Light is everything in photography.

Whether you use a point-and-shoot camera, a DSLR or a smartphone, photographs taken in good natural light can make a tremendous difference.

Whenever possible, photograph your food during the day. A table near a window is a wonderful place to begin experimenting with food photography.

Pay attention to how the light falls on your dish. Move the plate slightly, change your position and observe how the food looks from different angles.

Soft daylight can bring out the colours, textures and details of your food beautifully.

Avoid Direct Flash When You Can

My rule has always been simple: no flash, please!

Direct flash can create harsh highlights, unwanted shadows and an unnatural appearance. For the soft, inviting photographs we often want in food blogging, window light is an excellent starting point.

If the sunlight is too strong, try diffusing it with a sheer curtain. A white surface placed opposite the window can also help bounce some light back onto the darker side of your dish.

You don’t need a complicated setup. Learn to observe the light available to you and make the most of it.

2. Remember That Less Is More

An uncluttered photograph allows the food to take centre stage.

It is tempting to fill the frame with beautiful plates, colourful napkins, cutlery, flowers and other decorative details. But too many elements can distract the viewer from the dish you want to showcase.

Before taking a photograph, look carefully at everything within the frame.

Does each object serve a purpose? Does it complement the food? Is there anything unnecessary that you could remove?

Sometimes, a simple plate against a beautiful background is all you need.

Think about the colours, shapes and textures of the food and allow them to guide your styling choices.

The goal is not to decorate every empty space. It is to create a photograph that feels balanced, inviting and natural.

3. Plan Your Food Photography Setup Before You Shoot

When I first started taking food photographs, I could easily take 100 to 120 pictures of a single dish!

With time, I began to plan my setup more carefully. I would visualise the table layout, decide on the background, choose the plates and napkins, and arrange the cutlery before beginning.

This made the process more enjoyable and helped me concentrate on the photographs rather than constantly changing everything around.

Before you start shooting, think about:

• The dish you want to photograph.
• The background and surface that will complement it.
• The plate, bowl or serving dish you want to use.
• The colours and textures you want to include.
• The direction of the natural light.
• The camera angle that best showcases the food.

Take several photographs as you make small adjustments to the composition, focus and angle.

You don’t have to take hundreds of pictures to get a good one. A little planning can save time and help you understand why one photograph works better than another.

4. Use Simple Food Photography Props You Already Own

Props can make or break a food photograph.

Even when the background is blurred and the main subject is in sharp focus, the colours, shapes and textures around the food influence the final image.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to spend a fortune on food photography props.

Look around your own home. Your kitchen probably contains plenty of things that can be used for styling.

Some of my favourite everyday props include:

• White plates and bowls in different colours.
• Spoons, forks and other cutlery.
• Cloth napkins and kitchen towels.
• Table runners and tablecloths.
• Wooden chopping boards.
• Baking tins, trays and muffin cases.
• Glasses, cups and small serving bowls.
• Textured fabrics and simple pieces of linen.

You can also ask friends, neighbours and family members if they have old plates, cutlery or kitchen items they no longer use.

A little creativity can turn ordinary household objects into useful food photography props.

Look at Everyday Objects Differently

For one of my photographs, I used two glasses, a wooden board that belonged to my little one, a coir mat from an old grocery bag and a white bedsheet as the background.

None of these items was purchased specifically for photography.

That is what I love about this approach. A wooden board can become a rustic photography surface, an ordinary tea towel can add texture, and a bedsheet can serve as a simple white background.

You can create beautiful food photographs without investing in expensive equipment.

Experiment With Textures and Colours

Wood, linen, cotton and other simple surfaces can add character to your images.

Try a wooden board for a rustic look, a white cloth for a clean and airy photograph, or a muted napkin to introduce a subtle hint of colour.

You can also explore recycled wood pieces for interesting backgrounds, provided they are clean, stable and safe to use around food.

Remember that the props should complement the dish. They should never compete with it for attention.

5. Choose the Right Food Photography Background

Backgrounds have a significant influence on the mood and appearance of a food photograph.

Sometimes, we become so focused on the main subject that we forget to check what is happening around it. Unwanted objects, clashing colours and distracting patterns can easily take attention away from the food.

I like to think of backgrounds in two simple categories: supportive and distracting.

What Makes a Good Food Photography Background?

A supportive background works harmoniously with the dish and helps it stand out.

Here are a few ideas to try:

• Use complementary colours: Choose a background that works well with the colours of your food.
• Create contrast thoughtfully: A dark surface can make a light-coloured dish stand out, while a light background can work beautifully with darker food.
• Add ingredients with purpose: A few herbs, spices or raw ingredients can help tell the story of the dish.
• Experiment with depth of field: A softly blurred background can draw attention to the main subject while keeping the photograph visually interesting.
• Keep textures simple: Wooden boards, linen and other understated surfaces can add character without overwhelming the food.

You can also use ingredients related to the dish in the background. A few mango pieces beside a mango dessert, for example, can reinforce the subject and make the photograph feel more complete.

Avoid Distracting Backgrounds

A background becomes distracting when it draws more attention than the food.

A bright, colourful cup beside a delicately decorated mango cake might compete with the dessert rather than complement it. Similarly, a busy pattern or an unrelated object can make an otherwise beautiful photograph feel cluttered.

This doesn’t mean that black backgrounds, bold colours or strong contrasts are always wrong. They can be wonderful choices when they suit the food and the mood you want to create.

The important thing is to make deliberate choices.

Before pressing the shutter, take a moment to look at the entire frame. Remove anything that doesn’t belong, adjust the background if necessary and make sure the food remains the hero of the photograph.

6. Learn to Use Depth of Field

Depth of field refers to the area of a photograph that appears acceptably sharp.

A shallow depth of field keeps the main subject in focus while allowing parts of the background to appear softly blurred. This can be useful when you want to draw attention to a particular detail, such as the texture of a cake, the garnish on a curry or the layers of a dessert.

You can experiment with this effect using a camera that offers aperture control. Many smartphones also provide portrait or background-blur features, although the results can vary depending on the device and subject.

However, a blurred background is not always necessary.

For a photograph showing an entire table spread or several dishes together, you may want more of the scene to remain in focus.

Choose the approach that best tells the story of your food.

7. Use a Simple Reflector to Soften Shadows

Sometimes, the side of the dish facing away from the window looks too dark. A simple reflector can help brighten that area by bouncing available light back onto the food.

You don’t need to buy a professional reflector to experiment with this technique.

A white foam board, a clean white card or a piece of white cardboard can work well.

Place it opposite the window, on the shadow side of the dish, and observe how the light changes. Move it closer or farther away until you achieve the look you want.

This is an easy, inexpensive way to improve your food photography lighting at home.

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Edit Your Food Photographs

Post-processing is a natural part of digital photography, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with editing a picture when it needs a little adjustment.

The aim is to make the photograph look closer to what you saw and intended to capture.

You can begin with a few simple edits:

• Adjust brightness and exposure.
• Correct the white balance so the food’s colours look natural.
• Improve contrast gently.
• Crop the photograph to strengthen the composition.
• Straighten the image if necessary.
• Remove minor distractions when appropriate.

You can use your camera’s built-in editing tools, a smartphone photo editor or dedicated photo-editing software.

Try not to overdo the adjustments. Excessive saturation, strong sharpening or unnatural colours can make food look less appealing.

Keep the food looking delicious, realistic and true to its original character.

9. Practise, Experiment and Find Your Own Style

One of the most rewarding things about food photography is that there is always something new to learn.

Look at cookbooks, food magazines and photographs by other food bloggers. Observe how they use light, choose backgrounds, arrange their props and compose their images.

When you see a photograph you love, ask yourself what makes it work.

Is it the light? The colours? The simplicity of the composition? The styling? The way the photograph tells a story?

Use these observations as inspiration, then experiment with your own ideas.

You don’t have to copy another photographer’s style. Allow your preferences, experiences and creativity to shape the way you photograph food.

And please don’t be discouraged by your early photographs. We all start somewhere, and improvement comes from practising, making mistakes and trying again.

Final Thoughts: Enjoy the Process of Food Photography

Food photography is a journey of learning, experimenting and discovering what works for you.

You don’t need an expensive camera, professional lighting equipment or a collection of elaborate props to begin.

Start with what you have. Find a spot with good natural light, choose a simple background, arrange your food thoughtfully and take a photograph.

Move the plate. Change the angle. Try a different napkin. Remove a prop. Add a reflector. Compare the results.

Most importantly, enjoy the process.

The more you practise, the more confidently you will begin to see light, colour, texture and composition. And little by little, your photographs will start to reflect your own style.

Above all, keep experimenting and have fun!

About Sandhya of Sandhya’s Kitchen

Sandhya Hariharan, fondly known as Sandy, shares her love of cooking, recipes and food photography on Sandhya’s Kitchen.

She generously contributed this guest post to my Food Photography and Styling series, sharing the practical lessons she had learnt through her own photography journey.

A heartfelt thank you to Sandhya for taking the time to share her experiences with us. I love how her advice reminds us that beautiful food photographs are not just about the camera or the equipment — they are about patience, observation, creativity and practice.

This post was originally published on Kitchen Flavours in December 2011 as part of the Food Photography & Styling series, Season 1, Guest Post #8. It has been refreshed for today’s readers while preserving Sandhya’s original experiences, practical approach and the spirit of her contribution.

All the images and content is sole property of Sandhya of Sandhya’s Kitchen.