Professional food photography is a specialized field that requires a keen eye and attention to detail. Creating mouth-watering images that make viewers crave the food takes more than just a camera and some lighting. And typically, as delicious as the foods in photos appear, they are nowhere near edible.  
 

Here the team at NTP2 will reveal the secrets to professional food photography that can take your images from yuck to yum!  

Stretchy Cheese or Glue? 

One of the biggest secrets to food photography is the use of glue in place of actual cheese. That’s right, glue! Glue is easier to work with and creates that perfect stringy or stretchy cheese effect that we all love to see in photos.  

Perfect Pancake Stacks 

Achieving the perfect pancake stack in food photography takes some skill. One trick is to use cardboard or Styrofoam in between each pancake layer to create the illusion of height and stability.  

Condensation Drops and Fake Ice 

Condensation drops and fake ice are two tricks that can help add depth and texture to a food photograph. For condensation drops, simply spray the glass or bottle with water before taking the photo. For fake ice, use acrylic ice cubes or gelatin cubes to create the illusion of a chilled drink or dish. 

Keeping Veggies Looking Fresh 

When photographing fresh vegetables, it's important to keep them looking vibrant and crisp. To achieve this, mist them with water or a light oil before taking the photo. You can also place them in ice water to keep them looking fresh. 

What’s All That Steam? 

Steam adds an element of realism to a photograph of hot food and makes it even more appetizing. There are many ways to achieve the look of steam here are some common ways:  
 

• Incense  

• A cotton ball or tampon soaked in boiling hot water 

• Clothing iron or steamer 

• E-Cigarettes 

Pin(ned) Up Cheeseburger 

Everyone loves a good cheeseburger, but we often see the ones in the photos look much better than the ones we get. Why’s this?  
 

The key to a perfect burger photo is to ensure the layers are visible in the photo. This can be achieved by using fillers such as paper towels or small pieces of cardboard between each layer. Another trick is to use toothpicks or pins to hold the ingredients together in full visibility while also keeping the burger itself stable for the photoshoot.  

Or, slide the top bun off a tad like the photo above!

What’s Under All That Food? 

When there’s a photo of a large bowl of food such as a salad, chances are the bowl isn’t full of the food being shown. Instead, a “filler” is likely being used such as flour, an upside-down bowl, or foam. Fillers also help to add height and dimension to the photograph. 

Make Your Customers Hungry with NTP2 

The main goal of food photography is to make the viewer hungry and gain an appetite for the item being shown, leading them to the restaurant or shop the food is from. The dishes being photographed need to look fresh and be presented in a way that appeals to the eye (and stomach). 

With my keen eye for detail and attention to the latest trends in food photography, I can deliver high-quality images that will set your restaurant apart from the competition. So, if you're looking to take your restaurant's marketing to the next level, reach out to NTP2 Photography and book a consultation today!