Almost everyone who’s a confessed foodie wants a food blog for sharing rave-worthy experiences. And how else to savor delectable moments but through posting photos at par with the real thing? But before you go typing your first blog post, check out these food photography tips we’re dishing out!

By Joselle Custodia

Know your cam. Although it might be tempting to get the latest SLR, if you don’t own one, work with what you have first. A compact camera or a point and shoot is fine. Educate yourself with the capabilities of your camera.

Instead of going full auto, there’s the ISO and white balance for you to explore. For indoor shooting, an ISO setting of 400 and up is recommended.

For white balance, sometimes auto does the trick, but depending on the ambient lighting indoors, you might need to use tungsten or fluorescent.

Most cameras have the macro shooting mode that’s perfect for taking food photos you shoot up close. It’s usually the flower icon on your camera’s control buttons.

Look for the right angle. Carefully choose the best angle for taking the picture. Clear the table of any distracting clutter you don’t want to include in your composition. This includes tissue holders, utensils or ogling people.

Place your subject where its shadow falls in front, or on its side. It gives your chosen delicacy depth, making it look more realistic. A big light source such as a window will illuminate your subject without eliminating its details. Then position your camera 30 degrees from the table.

Do not use your flash. Unless you’d want your photo to look like a food mug shot, do not use your built-in flash. It makes the food look flat. Using the flash straight on creates harsh shadows that are not at all appetizing. Work with natural light. It’s safest to position yourself near a big window with a white curtain to diffuse the light.

Play with color & props. A garnish serves a purpose: it makes the food look appealing.

Chopped parsley on a spaghetti brings out the crimson color of the sauce. Herbs and spices sprinkled on soup, or a swirl of cream on dull brown liquid makes a big difference.

Food from hole-in-the-wall eateries may come in styro plates or cracked bowls, but watch out for interesting pieces like bottles of vinegar with lots of garlic and siling labuyo. Printed napkins, condiments, and utensils also make good props.

Learn to color balance. Window tint, wall paint, and too much mood lighting are the usual culprits in making your dishes less delish than they’re supposed to be.

Experiment with your camera’s white balance to correct color: tungsten to remove an orange cast and fluorescent to get rid of the cyan. If it doesn’t work, you might need to do a little post processing.

Get close. Zoom in. You want your audience to feel so close to the food that they can taste it. Fill the frame with its mouth-watering goodness. Use a tripod, or prop your camera on a high-back chair to help avoid getting blurred photos.