The Good, The Bad & The Yummy
July 9th, 2010 | 
Author: By Toni, Contributor, Hemp and High Heels (@tonisue)
One of my favorite things about reading other people’s blogs, is finding new recipes. I am a recipe addict. I love searching for and trying out new dishes. But, I have one major complaint that no one seems to be addressing: Taking pictures of food.
Oh man, there are some BAD food pictures on blogs out there. Let’s walk through the worst offenders shall we?
This set is what I like to call “Look at everything but the food” pictures. The pictures are all taken so far back, that I can’t see the food clearly. Instead, I focus on pan, spoon, stove, etc. These photos are the worst offenders.
Now, let’s look at where each picture went right or wrong.
-Picture #1 is taken under the stove light with a flash. There is a reflection of flash, and the darks are overexposed.
-Picture #2 is taken with no flash, but still under the stove light. It gives all of the picture an all-over yellow wash.
- Picture #3 is taken in natural light, but with the flash on. Here again, you get the reflection of the flash in the picture, and the darks are overexposed.
- Picture #4 has the best lighting. It is taken in natural lighting with no flash. However, great lighting still can’t save the composition in this photo.
This set is a little better. You can see that the photos are cropped in. However, the food is still in the pan, with the spoon still present. It takes away from the artistry of the recipe. The first picture is taken under the stove light with a flash on (Bad), the second picture under the stove light with no flash (better, but still not great), and the the third is taken in natural light with no flash. While it’s the best of the trio – it is still lacking mightily.
The last set is finally on the right track. The food is on a plate! But all four pictures need a little tweaking.
-Pictures one and two need to be zoomed in. Just like the first set, instead of focusing on the food, all I see is what is going on around the plate. The first picture is taken in natural light with a flash, and the second in natural light without flash. You can see what a huge difference that flash makes.
- The bottom two finally get it right, but need just a bit of work to make the photos look professional. The third is taken in natural light, but with a flash. Number four is in natural light, no flash. The fourth is the the clear winner, but to take your pictures to the final level, even this picture needs a small bit of editing.
This picture is focused on the food, which is where it should be. The lighting is natural. I brightened the highlights, sharpened the photo just a wee bit, and moved the colors from more yellow to more blue (blue negates yellow). You can clearly see exactly what I made, and aren’t distracted by the background.
No get out there and post your recipes! I can’t wait to enjoy your works of art.
Related Posts via Categories
- Super Bowl XLVI – Game Changers
- Is Mom Going Back To School? 5 Strategies to Help Organize!
- A Surprise is Coming Your Way in the Mail… But it’s a New Tax Form
Posted in 
Tags: 
I’m hesitant to say come to my blog for new recipes. My pictures are dreadful. I try to take a lot of them outside as my camera works better. But I could still use a little editing likely. I try to remember that they will never be professional quality and not let that deter me from adding pictures.
Kristin-
I loved your blog!! You are doing a great job!
So many times the recipe gets lost in the picture. I grew up in the food service industry (my family had it’s own restaurant), and learned at a young age that presentation can make or break a dish. I think a lot of people don’t realize that a fabulous recipe won’t get tried by others if the picture makes it look unappetizing.
Thanks for tips! Every Tuesday I post a new recipe to my bog…guess I’m gonna have to work on making the pictures more “presentable”!
[...] Click here to read more…. [...]
Great tips! I too post recipes on my blog and, although I don’t think the pictures are terrible, they probably could use a little more digital enhancement, so to speak! Thanks for sharing your insight!
~Kati
I’ve recently posted some recipes – one for stuffed peppers & the othe for cherry coke pork roast – but I’m pretty sure my pictures aren’t winning anyone over!
[...] like the ones from Toni regarding photographing food for blog recipes have made a difference too. Sadly, I have a serious lack of natural light in my kitchen, but I’ve [...]