Food is one of the best subjects for photography; it is very patient, it does not ask for a lot of breaks, and it will not blink when the flash goes off.  While it may seem very simple to just take a camera out and start taking pictures of the desired food you want to highlight, there is a lot that goes into getting the perfect food shot that is going to make everyone crave it:

1. Choose simple backgrounds:

When trying to show off food, it is important to remember to keep the background simple so that the star of the show can be featured.  Choose silverware that will compliment the food well and not clash with it.  Also, stick to plain backgrounds such as wood, metal, marble, or just plain white surface.  

2. Less is more:

Watch your portions.  Smaller portions of food always photograph better because it does not overwhelm the viewer. It is more aesthetically pleasing to look at a smaller bowl of food as opposed to a huge bucket of pasta, it may also subconsciously encourage the viewers to make smaller portions.

3. Lighting is still important:

Just like people, food has its good sides and it’s bad sides.  You want to make sure you are making the food look as delicious as you possibly can.  You can even incorporate the lighting to go with the time of day the meal would be prepared (using a softer, sunset lighting for a dinner meal, etc.)

4. Oil it up:

Adding a little bit of oil to meals, especially pasta and vegetable dishes, will give it a nice, finished shine that will make the food stand out.  If you are not planning on eating your meal after, you can pile on the oil a little more.

5. Keep it clean:

Food can get messy, so it is very important to make sure to clean up all of the drips, spills, and extra ingredients in order to get a quality photograph.  Make sure to give your plates and extra wipe-off before you start shooting.

6. Add a variety in camera angles:

Food is very forgiving in the sense that it looks great from both far away and close up.  With that being said, if you are looking to create a food portfolio, it is important to have a wide variety in the different shots you take.  It is always a good idea to get a large range of shots when shooting food so that you can always pick the best angle.

Follow and these steps and you will be well on your way to becoming a food photography master!