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    Home » Uncategorized » My Food Photography Journey and Lighting Tips

    My Food Photography Journey and Lighting Tips

    Last Updated November 9, 2022. Originally Posted September 9, 2014 By Maggie Unzueta

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    When I first started blogging, I didn’t realize how important food photography was. People visiting your blog can’t smell it, touch it or taste it, but they can eat with their eyes. I am not claiming to be the best food photographer or know everything about food photography. This is just one of many posts I hope to share about my journey in learning the skill of food photography.

    Food photography

    Some of the things I think about even before I start cooking:

    • LIGHTING!!!
    • Time of day I’ll be shooting
    • Color of the ingredients
    • Color of the finished product
    • Potential props
    • How I will be plating the food
    • Picture angles

    Samsung Galaxy camera

    This is a Samsung Galaxy. It was lent to me by Verizon to try out and retails for $449. It’s a sweet, little compact camera. Perfect for restaurant reviews because of it’s size. A great starter, point-and-shoot camera. If you’re not into carrying huge DSLRs, this camera might interest you. The best feature about it is the WiFi compatibility. You can take a pic and send it to Instagram, Facebook, etc. However, I didn’t really use the social media features. I sent all my pictures to Dropbox, and from there, I edited.

    Samsung Galaxy Camera

    If you’re not sure how to set your shutter speed for light exposures, the Samsung Galaxy has automatic settings to help you like “Action Freeze” and “Landscape.” My favorite for food pictures was not the “Food” setting but the “Macro.” I took this picture of the Watermelon Arugula Salad using the “Macro” setting.

    Watermelon Arugula Feta Salad

    Let’s talk lighting, shall we? Don’t EVER EVER EVER use the built in flash on your camera for your food pics. The picture above is a close up, showing the true colors and details of the food. You can’t do that unless you have good lighting. This picture was taken in natural light outside by a pool and in the middle of summer in sunny San Diego.

    breaded chicken

    Study. Learn. Practice. I look at food pictures ALL day long. I check out what other food bloggers are doing with their food photography. They each have their own style. Over time and practice (a lot of practice), I finally feel like I’m developing my own style. Right now, though, it’s all about practice.

    Beef tacos and avocado

    After all that, I’m also learning video editing for my shows. Sigh…

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    Filed Under: Uncategorized

    About Maggie Unzueta

    Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joann Woolley

      September 14, 2014 at 3:10 pm

      These are great tips for the novice photographer who wants to work on their photo taking skills for their blog or otherwise – thanks for sharing Maggie!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        September 22, 2014 at 7:10 pm

        Thanks, Joann. I’m glad you liked them.

        Reply
    2. Christina

      September 28, 2014 at 4:22 pm

      I enjoyed reading your take on food photography. I’m still learning and I definitely struggle with lighting the most!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        September 29, 2014 at 1:19 pm

        I’m learning as I go. Just bought a new camera. More posts on my photography journey coming up!

        Reply

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