Food makes for great subjects, although because of their nature it isn’t always easy. When photographing food, it is all about making it look appealing: the goal has totally been missed when it doesn’t. The visual appeal plays the biggest part & it should be moved around & conceptionally be played with, to get the right shot, where the contrasting dilemma of usually having light plates with dark meats be dealt with in both being as well-lit & exposed as possible.

Some foods have the tendency to lose colour, melt or dry out after a period of time, but with most foods the pro is that you could spend the whole day photographing for that perfect shot. Lighting many foods has an artistic feel to it, and although it can be done in a studio, it is almost better to keep it as natural as possible & use natural window light that is softened usually by something such as net- or lace curtains. Window light is highly underrated & so much can be done with it. It has graduated fall of light, & creates dimension: a photographer’s strive.

Food photography may not be for everyone, but the brilliance of colour & the interesting lines, many times the repetition of texture or patterns, makes the opportunities of what could be done, endless.

Depth of field should be used to advantage to keep proportions & dimensions natural, & always try and get it as perfect as possible, in regards to fresh, colourful food, good plating, clean cutlery, eliminating hotspots in surfaces such as glass & making sure there aren’t distracting reflections in things like cutlery.

Yolandi Jacobsz