Workshop: Photographing Food on a Phone

Checklist: how to photograph the perfect dish on a phone 1⃣ Preparing the scene (70% of success)

Remove everything unnecessary

Only the following should remain on the table:

• the dish

• cutlery

• the background

• one or two decorative elements The rule: if in doubt, remove it.

Choose a simple background

The best options:

• wood

• stone

• a white table

• fabric (linen/cotton) Avoid:

• bright patterns

• glossy surfaces

• coloured plastic surfaces The background should support the food rather than compete with it.

Add “life”

At least two elements:

• a napkin

• a spoon/fork

• spices

• crumbs

• a hand in the frame Food should not look like a “museum exhibit”.

2⃣ Light—the main secret

Ideal light

Shoot beside a window.

The best arrangement:

• light from the side

• the dish near the edge of the window

• you stand at right angles to the window This gives:

• volume

• texture

• soft shadows

What not to do

❌ Shoot under a ceiling light ❌ Use flash ❌ Mix yellow artificial light with daylight If the light is poor, the photograph is already beyond saving.

The napkin trick

If the shadows are too harsh:

• place a white napkin opposite the window It will act as a reflector.

3⃣ Choosing the angle

Remember this permanently:

90° (from above) Best for:

• breakfasts

• pizza

• tables with several dishes

• flat lays 45° The most versatile angle:

• plated food

• desserts

• restaurant presentation Dish level. Best for:

• burgers

• cakes

• drinks

• dishes with height If there are layers, shoot from the side.

4⃣ Phone settings

Before shooting. Always:

😄

• wipe the camera lens

• switch on the grid

• turn off the flash

• disable filters

Exposure (the most important technique)

Tap the screen → lower the brightness slightly.

An underexposed photograph = a more “expensive” look.

Focus. Always focus on:

• texture

• the most appetising part of the dish Not the centre of the plate—the centre of deliciousness.

5⃣ Composition in ten seconds

Use the rule of thirds:

• place the dish off-centre

• leave “air” in the frame Add:

• a foreground (crumbs, a piece of cutlery)

• a background (a blurred object) This creates depth.

6⃣ Colour and appetite. Remember the psychology of colour:

Warm colours stimulate appetite:

• red

• orange

• yellow

• brown Contrast = a tastier image. Examples:

• green salad + dark background

• pasta + a white plate

7⃣ Take a series, not a single photograph

At minimum:

• a wide shot

• a close-up

• a detail Professionals never take just one shot.

A quick final checklist

Before publishing, ask yourself:

☑ Is the light coming from a window?

☑ Are there any unnecessary objects?

☑ Is the food’s texture visible?

☑ Does the image have depth?

☑ Do I want to eat this right now? 📸 If the answer to all five is “yes”, the photograph is ready.

As German film director Werner Herzog aptly observed:

“I am deeply convinced that cooking is the only alternative to filmmaking.”