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10 tips for better Food Travel Aesthetic Photography

Updated: Dec 6, 2022

When it comes to traveling, one of the most delightful things to enjoy in a place that isn’t home has to be the food. At least for me, that’s one of the best parts of any trip, experiencing the culture via your taste buds. Anyone else that is a self-proclaimed travel addict will argue that food is essential to the travel experience. Eating captivates all your senses. Foremost of all is our sense of seeing that triggers our appetites.


Guest Blogger: Yone Liau, Flavour Journey


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Taking an aesthetic Food Photo with your mobile? This guide will help you with photo tips and photo hacks for taking beautiful photos of Food!

It’s no surprise that hashtags such as #cameraeatsfirst are popular. After all, we seldom will find people that don’t take a quick snap of their meal before really chowing down right? Yet, it can also be frustrating when you snap your plate and feel dismayed when it doesn’t capture what you are seeing. The phone camera and actual cameras are tools for you to master.


A Complete Guide to Aesthetic Photography


Fret no more! Here are some tips for better food travel aesthetic photography. Some that I've picked up from my travels and others from food photography itself. Hopefully, these can help you up-level your food capture game.


Table of Content: "10 tips for better Food Travel Aesthetic Photography"


Aesthetic Photo Guide. Find the best Photo Tips here to take your photography to the next level. Learn how to take impressive food photos, food images and food travel aesthetic captures while discovering new food destinations.

1: Where’s the best light seat?


At restaurants or cafes, I always try to scout a seat by a window or where natural light works best. Food always looks most flattering with natural light, the idea is to highlight the meal and the area you are in. Same thing if you are shooting outdoors at a market, look for that soft light instead of harsh light.


A Photo Set Up is always better with natural light. Discover more tips, trix and hacks to improve your photography skills in our Guide to Aesthetic Food Travel Photography.

2: Understand your light


Ever had your own shadow getting in the way of your photo? Easy solve, move around! Change your position and see how the light will react, tilt to an angle even. Just like doing crazy Yoga-Esque positions for outdoor photos, and the same goes for food. As in the case where you are sitting by the window, but standing between the window and your food... You will be casting a big shadow over it.


3: Please - Avoid flash photography


I’m not going to rant about this but think about whether would you take a selfie of yourself on your epic trip with the flash on. No, because you wouldn’t look flattering right? Then why would you do it for your meal? It creates hard shadows and it makes the food appear static.


It's not always about your Photo Gear! Learn how to take more Aesthetic Photos in our Guide with 10 easy to follow tips that will improve your photography game.

4: Learn your manual settings

If you aren’t shooting with a phone and have a camera, get out of the comfort zone known as Auto mode. If you want to figure out how to get out of Auto, try learning more about the exposure triangle. Your ISO, shutter speed and aperture will be your best friends to help you craft the image you see in your mind.


Learn useful photo tecniques and step up your photography level in our Food Travel and Aesthetic Photo Guide at Food and Travel Guides!

5: What’s your hero angle?


Food photography has 3 popular camera angles. The most popular for social media is the overhead (also called flat lay). The other two are straight on and 45-degree angles. When taking pictures of your meal, try shooting these 3 different angles and see which one you like best.


Want to take beautiful, captivating pictures of food? Read the Guide How to take better Food Travel Aeshetic Photography here. Improve your photography skills today.

6: It’s not about the camera, it’s the story you want to share


Enjoy the process, when it comes to food what is it that you love about it? Is it the setting you are in? A particular dish? Or is it even watching people making food? What is the mood you want to convey?


Want to take well composed food photography easy? Learn new photo skills in our Guide with 10 tips to take better Food Travel Aesthetic Photography! Easy to follow, easy to improve your photographic quality in no-time!

7: Better composition

If you haven’t turned on the grid on your phone/camera screen - do so now. Beyond that, explore and play with how you want the image to look overall. Venture beyond just capturing the main subject in the middle. Do you want to zoom in or get a wide angle? Think about giving it some breathing space (also known as negative space). Or look for naturally occurring patterns or layers where you are. With food travel photography you don’t have to worry about pairing props but using what you have. Be it your scarf, someone’s hands, or someone pouring a drink in the background.


Free Guide to improve your photography. We give you 10 essential tips on how to improve your photo skills in this easy to follow guide with photo tips, photo tecniques and photo hacks.

8: Take Photos often and with Purpose

Do you not feel super confident about your photography? One of the things that impact my photography to this day is shooting often. Try to practice every day. This will train your intuition and instincts into reacting faster. This not only will improve your ability to read a potential image you see in your mind’s eye but also gets you more comfortable with using your camera/phone swiftly. Go on photo walks even, give yourself a prompt and set off.


Learn how to take beautiful food photos like this food image of delicious sushi! Free Photo guide to improve your photo skills in an instant.

9: Editing with consistency is key


If I can land an image and not have to worry about editing that is a delight to me. It’s no secret with other photographers offer presets or just all the filters on offer by countless image editing apps what a difference it can make. Don’t go too adventurous with trying different ones each time but see which ones you gravitate to and like best. Sometimes the image just won’t turn out as you’d like and editing the image can really make it go from “meh” to “WOW”. Personally, I use Lightroom for editing.


10: Invest in a good camera lens

For those that aren’t shooting on their phone. Often people are too concerned about getting the best camera for photos. But the real game-changer is good glass. You won’t be surprised to find that a nice lens will almost cost more than the camera body itself. The nifty fifty 50mm is a good lens to start with and won’t break your budget.


Learn more about Aesthetic Photography here. Our free photo guide will help you improve your photographic tecnique and give you helpful photo tips and essential photo hacks to take the best food photos.

Like any of the tips? Used them? Please DO tag me @flavourjourney so I can check out your food travel shot! If you have questions go ahead and comment below in this post or drop me a DM on my Instagram.

 
Food Travel Writer Yone Liau from Flavour Journey.

Guest Blogger Yone Liau from Flavour Journey is a Food Photographer, Food Stylist, and Foodie Blogger from Taipei, Taiwan. Discover more about Taiwan and other places on the Flavour Journey Site or follow Flavour Journey on Instagram!



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2 Comments


Sticks & Spoons
Sticks & Spoons
Mar 19, 2021

Very inspiring and great tips to take better photos! Thanks Flavour Journey for sharing these photo hacks! 📷

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Unknown member
Dec 03, 2020

Always

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