We are besieged by food photos everyday but we stop seeing it after a while. But maybe that’s why we love food – because we see it subconsciously everywhere!

When you see some of the professional photographs of food you may think that you may never be able to take such good pics but you could surprise yourself. Much of food picture taking is about technique and tips and tricks.

Light is the King when it comes to photography. When you get it right you get the results and when you mess it up we have all seen the results. Like any other form of still photography taking the time to get the lighting right will pay huge dividends in the results.

One of the best places to photograph food is by a window where there is a lot of natural light – perhaps supported with flash bounced off a ceiling or wall to give more harmonious lighting that cuts out the shadows. This daylight helps to keep the food looking much more natural.

If you are going to be doing a lot of food picture taking then think about setting yourself up a food light box to make your job easier and quicker. This consists of a framed area covered in diffusion screens with lights behind on stands or attached to flexible tubes so you can move them easily into position. The food sits on a plain smooth single coloured background cover that is usually white so there is no background to remove with Photoshop later. Make sure the cover is easy to wipe in case of food splashes.

Slow shutter speed is king for food photos to capture the depth of the image. Make sure your camera is well mounted on a strong tripod and of course you should be using a shutter release cable to stop any camera movement resulting in blurring.

Use the right props with your pictures and they will bring your photos alive. We eat food literally with our eyes first so feed the eyes with lots of variety and colour.

Do not skimp on your equipment if you want to do good food photography. Having a top quality SLR camera with a good lens will make all the difference. You must have full control over all the settings – shutter speed – aperture setting – zoom – to be able to create top shots. Using good quality lighting will also pay massive dividends.

Find out more about the best Food Photographers who are also top in their field for Bridal Photography.