Food Photography Tips

Street food photography can be a challenging project. Here are some great tips courtesy of London based food blogger Mike Tsang. 

Image: Mike Tsang

He likes to use the Canon EOS M5 he also suggests if you are an amateur photographer take a look at the Canon EOS 2000D.

It’s great for food photography and the auto functions are perfect for capturing that delicious sizzling burger.

When you are confident with your shooting start using manual mode and adjust aperture, shutter speed and ISO to the specific shot and conditions. With time you will get some great shots out of your equipment.

Here are some great tips from Mike on how to shoot street food photography:

Apply the basics of food styling         

‘Whether you are taking pictures of the street food from above or from the side, there is much one can do to improve the styling.

Evenly distribute and fill empty spaces with plates, side dishes, glasses and cutlery in a way that frames the food you want in shot. If eating from a small table, distribute the food and drink evenly to ensure you capture everything in shot using the Canon EOS 2000D and experiment by adding a little motion to the image. Pouring sauce onto the food is another creative way of filling the frame.’

Fried chicken tacos at Pergola, Paddington, London.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk93bJvAWhZ/?hl=en&taken-by=freshmikeeats

Apply a little creativity

‘If you want your photos to stand out on Instagram it’s important to think creatively about how you showcase the items you photograph. You shouldn’t be afraid to have a little fun and try something different to encourage the viewer to ask “how did they do that?”

By setting your Canon EOS 2000D camera to a very wide aperture f/ 1.4, adjusting the ISO sensitivity to 200 and shaking the cup, you can capture drops of melting ice falling off your frozen tea!’

Yifang Fruit Tea, London

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlVyn63gSx-/?taken-by=freshmikeeats

Shoot from the side with no angle

‘Everyday street food such as hamburgers, kebabs and sandwiches can come in different heights and layers and are better captured close-up and from the side. For this photograph consider using a 35mm lens setting with an aperture of 1.4, then position the camera at the same height and as close to the food as the focus will allow. This will result in an impressive picture that highlights the food’s intricacy and deliciousness in stunning detail.’

Black Bear Burger, Hawker Union, London

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkryhQxAotT/?hl=en&taken-by=freshmikeeats

All images were taken with the Canon EOS M5 using the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM. Mike Tsang also uses the Canon EOS 2000D for capturing street food photography.

Images and tips courtesy of Mike Tsang and Canon.

Hopefully these tips will help you with your food photography. I would love to see your food photography so comment below or tweet me with your latest food shots.

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton