Food Photo Updates

When I started blogging, I had no idea how difficult food photography can be, especially with a point-and-shoot camera like I have.  One day I will have a fancy high-tech camera like all good bloggers have, but for now I am learning how to make the best of the one I have.

Because my blog is all about real life, many of my food photos are taken in a hurry as my family is waiting to eat.  I do the best that I can, then we all dig into the food.  Many times the meal is made when it is already dark outside, so I have no natural light to work with and end up holding the dish as close to the dining room light as I can.  Sometimes, I want to get a delicious recipe to you so I go ahead and post without a decent picture.  Today I had the time to improve upon a couple of photos while I had some good natural light coming in the window.  

First up, the oatmeal pancake.  

Before:
Mom, can we please eat now???

After:
Time and light = a great combo.

Next, Curried Lentil, Potato, Cauliflower & Spinach Soup:
Before:
Holding up to the light and trying not to spill!
After:
Not perfect, but definitely better!
To all of you bloggers out there, do you own a fancy camera?  If not, how do you make sure to take good photos?



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  • ~alex February 8, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    I have a point and click camera also, and struggle with getting good photos of my dishes. I'm thinking the only way around this is to cough up the money to get a good DSLR.

    If you haven't already, check out the blgo http://www.101cookbooks.com/. The author does a wonderful job with her food photography and she has a link at the top of her blog regarding photography with some great information and resources on this topic.

    Here's a link to her blog specifically with Food Photography Tips: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001451.html

    Good luck!

  • Mama February 8, 2011 at 10:56 pm

    I do own a fancy camera! It's arranging, lighting and getting a good angle that hinders me. I also have a tiny kitchen without a lot of free counter space for clean shots. That and I'm in need of new dishes!

    I just recently started my cooking blog and I've been busying checking out what other people do to make their pics look great so that I can get better.

  • Jessica & Tracie February 9, 2011 at 12:14 am

    Alysa, I've got the big fancy camera and editing software but sometimes being a Momma comes first. I dont do alot of food photography although I've got a couple posts coming up with some of our family Korean recipes. But when it is dinner time no one wants to stop and wait for me to take a picture even IF it is still light out.

    If it's not light out I let the lens go wide open as to let as much light in as possible. For me I can do this manualy with my dlsr but with a point and shoot you could select your action/running man setting. Should give you the same effect. Just be sure the camera is stable. Because the longer the lens is open the easier it is to take a blurry picture. Even if the image is properly exposed blurry is still no good! haha

    When all else fails I run it through photoshop and mess with the RGB curves feature. If you dont have photoshop I've heard picnik is a good FREE alternative. Or even iphoto on a mac.

    Finally check out this post from Ms. Dinsey at ruffles and stuff…

    http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2010/03/few-photo-tips.html

    And this post by Ms. Ashley at Lil Miss Momma…

    http://littlemissmomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-create-and-photograph-blog.html

    Both very informative and easy to understand without getting into apertures and f-stops! haha

  • Jessica & Tracie February 9, 2011 at 12:14 am

    Alysa, I've got the big fancy camera and editing software but sometimes being a Momma comes first. I dont do alot of food photography although I've got a couple posts coming up with some of our family Korean recipes. But when it is dinner time no one wants to stop and wait for me to take a picture even IF it is still light out.

    If it's not light out I let the lens go wide open as to let as much light in as possible. For me I can do this manualy with my dlsr but with a point and shoot you could select your action/running man setting. Should give you the same effect. Just be sure the camera is stable. Because the longer the lens is open the easier it is to take a blurry picture. Even if the image is properly exposed blurry is still no good! haha

    When all else fails I run it through photoshop and mess with the RGB curves feature. If you dont have photoshop I've heard picnik is a good FREE alternative. Or even iphoto on a mac.

    Finally check out this post from Ms. Dinsey at ruffles and stuff…

    http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2010/03/few-photo-tips.html

    And this post by Ms. Ashley at Lil Miss Momma…

    http://littlemissmomma.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-create-and-photograph-blog.html

    Both very informative and easy to understand without getting into apertures and f-stops! haha

  • Tracy Simmons February 9, 2011 at 12:42 am

    I have a simple point and shoot, just like you and I have a heck of a time taking good shots. I had one of my photog friends do a few guest posts about how to take better pics. The tips really helped me a lot. One day I will get a fancy camera šŸ™‚

  • Becca @ Our Crazy Boys February 9, 2011 at 4:18 am

    I have a DSLR, but I rarely have the time to set up photo shoots… especially of food!

    I love your blog, your recipes, and your pictures (both before and after).

  • Nour El-Zibdeh, RD February 9, 2011 at 5:07 am

    Hi Elisa,
    I have a DSLR but I still struggle with lightening. It's much harder now that the days are short and it's not always convenient to have dinner ready at 3 for a good picture. I've been told to try construction lights to place them where there are shadows but I haven't tried them yet.

    Good luck and will come back to see if others posted more tips!
    Nour

  • Lauren February 9, 2011 at 11:46 am

    Great topic, I have a good camera but end up out and about and often take photos with my blackberry!! Talk about lame. I agree with what you said. It's real life a blog and not Saveur magazine. With that said, I'm buying a construction light šŸ™‚

  • Jiggs February 9, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    Thanks for starting the sharing of comments Alysa! I thought I was the only one struggling with a 2.1 megapixel camera, and/or my Droid's crummy photo quality… Nice to see what others have been doing to overcome, and that it's not just us that can't wait to eat until after the picture is taken.

  • Carrie February 9, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    I need this advice, too. I find myself using my iPhone frequently and holding dished up to a light, too. I'm usually too busy to open photoshop and make any changes. I think you always have nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

  • Alysa February 10, 2011 at 2:57 am

    Thank you for the comments, tips and links. Sounds like we are all trying to get better at our food photography!

  • homemom3 February 10, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    I use my cell phone as a camera. I do want a real camera though with a long lens, just not sure which one yet. I love the way the lentil soup looks. Yummy.

  • Dayna February 23, 2011 at 10:37 am

    I own a fancy camera but have to admit that I barely know how to use it. Most of the time it is on auto and I just adjust the one lens.
    We just weren't catching those quick kid moves with the point and shoot. We love it!
    I NEVER would have guessed that you didn't have a fancy camera. Your pictures are amazing and the visuals of your blog are stunning šŸ™‚

  • Christa October 27, 2011 at 8:33 am

    Alysa,
    I love your examples of how much you can improve your photos with a simple point and shoot and good lighting. I am not sure I want to share this info with my husband as I was hoping for a newer camera:)