On the heels of seeing a hilarious post about how Martha Stewart recently uploaded some terrible food porn to her social media channels, I received this helpful info from the folks at Swanson (yes, the Chicken Broth people) who want to make sure our holiday eats are ready for their close-up.
With Thanksgiving just 1 week away, here are some food styling and photography tips to help make this T-Day the most beautiful one yet:
- Capture the Cooking Process – There’s no need to wait to the meal hits the table to start capturing your holiday food photos. Start with some action shots in the kitchen, like stirring the pots on the stove or pulling the golden brown turkey or Moist & Savory Stuffing out of the oven.
- Choose the Right Serving Dish – Using a smaller serving bowl for stuffing or mashed potatoes makes the dish look full and plentiful, while taking up less space on the holiday table. Choosing a dish in a contrasting color helps the food pop.
- Add a Garnish – For photo worthy dishes, add a garnish of an ingredient that is found in the dish or that complements its flavors. For example, butternut squash and sage soup can be topped with fried sage leaves, creme fraiche, pumpkin seeds and even pomegranate seeds to add color and texture. If your dish features a signature ingredient like stuffing with cranberries, reserve a handful of berries to sprinkle over the top before it goes into the oven.
- Hold Steady – For crisp food photos, make sure your smartphone doesn’t shake. Brace your elbow against the table to cut down on movement or turn on the “anti-shake” setting available on some phones.
- Change Your Angle – Try changing the angle to make your food photos feel fresh. Photograph the holiday table from directly above for an interesting shot or capture a finished dish from the side like with these glazed carrots.
- Incorporate Color with a Tablescape – Choosing a colorful background can really make your dishes pop. Try a tablecloth in a saturated hue that works well with the different dishes you’ll be serving.
- Try a Filter – When capturing food, avoid over-filtering your photos; food looks most appetizing in its natural colors and doesn’t need a rainbow of effects.
oxox
-mom a la mode
{I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions expressed here are solely mine. Images courtesy of Swanson.}
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