How To: Take Food Photos Like a Pro

Listen to an expert if you want your food photos to be worthy of the 'gram'.

Look, we all do it. You’re at a restaurant, the food arrives, and before you even pick up your fork, you reach for your phone. Maybe it’s instinct, maybe it’s the fact that the dish in front of you looks like a work of art. Either way, you want to capture the moment—but when you check your camera roll later, your masterpiece looks more like a dimly lit crime scene.

Sound familiar? Don’t worry. I’ve been photographing food professionally for years, and here’s the thing: you don’t need a fancy camera to take great food photos. You just need to know a few simple tricks to work with what you’ve got.

And let’s be honest—it’s not just about snapping pictures in restaurants. If you’re taking the time to plate up a meal at home, why not make it look as good as it tastes? Dining in should feel just as special as dining out, and that includes your food photography game. Whether you’re capturing a pasta night at home or a perfectly plated dish at a Michelin-starred spot, I’ll walk you through the three things that matter most: lighting, composition, and editing.

Lighting: The Most Important Factor

If there’s one thing you take away from this guide, let it be this: lighting is everything. Good lighting can turn an average food photo into a great one, while bad lighting can make even the most beautiful dish look unappetizing.

Use Natural Light Whenever Possible

The best food photos are taken in natural light—so if you’re shooting at home, position your dish near a window. Morning or late afternoon light tends to be soft and diffused, creating natural highlights and shadows. If you’re outside, find some shade to avoid harsh, direct sunlight. Overcast days are actually ideal for food photography because the light is even and diffused.

What If You’re in a Restaurant?

Shooting in a dimly lit restaurant? That’s where things get tricky. Here are some tricks to help:

• Find a table near a window – If you're dining during the day, this is the best way to get clean, natural light.
• Use a soft handheld light – I carry a small, dimmable light with a rubber diffuser (about $40–50). It’s subtle and doesn’t disrupt the ambiance.
• Never hold your light directly overhead – Think of your plate like a clock. Holding the light at 9 o’clock or 10 o’clock creates soft, natural shadows, giving your dish depth.

Phone Camera Trick: Adjust Your Exposure

Most people don’t know about this, but on an iPhone, you can manually adjust exposure. Just press and hold the subject of your photo (like a plate of pasta) for two seconds until a yellow box appears. Then, drag the sun icon up or down to adjust brightness. This helps bring out details in dim lighting without overexposing the shot.

Composition: How to Frame the Perfect Shot

Great lighting is step one—but how you frame your food makes or breaks the shot. Over the years, I’ve found a few composition rules that work every time.

The Best Angles for Food Photography

Not every dish should be shot from the same angle. The secret to great composition is choosing the right perspective for the dish you’re photographing.

• Flat foods (pizza, tarts, bowls of pasta with little height) → Shoot top-down (bird’s eye view). This captures all the details without distorting the shape.
• Plated dishes with height (burgers, sandwiches, layered cakes, pasta with meatballs) → Shoot from a 45-degree angle to highlight textures and layers.
• Tall foods (cocktails, stacked burgers, ice cream cones) → Shoot from a side angle to emphasize height.

Make the Shot More Dynamic

A static shot of food can look sterile. Instead, add some movement:

• Lift a pizza slice to show off gooey cheese.
• Twirl a forkful of pasta to capture movement.
• Hold a cocktail just above the table to create depth.

Take a bite! A half-eaten croissant or a fork cutting into a cake makes the photo feel more natural and inviting.

Editing: The Final Touches

Editing is where your food photo really comes to life. But you don’t need fancy software—your phone’s built-in editing tools are more than enough.

Use Your Phone’s Editing Features

After taking your shot, click “Edit” on your phone. The key adjustments I recommend:

✔ Brightness → Increase slightly to make the dish pop.
✔ Contrast → Reduce slightly for a more natural look.
✔ Warmth → Increase slightly to make food look more inviting.
✔ Saturation → Increase slightly to enhance color (but don’t overdo it).
✔ Tint → Most people’s photos are too magenta. Try shifting it -2 or -3 toward green for a more balanced look.
✔ Structure → Adds a little definition, but keep it below +5 or your food will look artificial.

Final Tips for Next-Level Food Photography

• Find your style → Shoot often and experiment with angles, lighting, and settings.
• Edit with a light touch → Over-processing makes food look fake. Keep edits subtle.
• Think about storytelling → The best food photos tell a story—whether it’s a pizza fresh from the oven or a cocktail being poured.

Food photography isn’t just about taking pictures—it’s about capturing the feeling of eating something amazing. Whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android, the key is good lighting, strong composition, and a few simple edits. Try these tips, and your food photos will instantly look more professional.