It’s always best to get your photo right in the camera, but most of the images can be improved with a little post processing.
By recording images in RAW (if your camera permits) you have the possibility to make color and exposure corrections without degrading your image very much.
Every image on my blog has been processed. It takes time, but I want to present a story with a special mood, so I need to post processing. My camera will not present that feeling that you get when you see a food image and you just want to eat it in that moment.
As you can see, the after image is the same as composition but has a stronger vibe.
All this post processing can be done in any soft. I did my in Lightroom, but you can use any software you feel comfortable with.
The image I took with these beautiful prunes was RAW and had these specifications:
- CAMERA: NIKON D700
- FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
- ISO: 125
- SPEED: 0,6 sec
- APERTURE: F 5/6
- NO FLASH
I had just some basic adjustments like sharpening, exposure, cropping and contrast.
I used contrast to make a bigger visual impact and exposure to make my photo a little brighter. Sharpening is done at the end because the effect can be negated by other techniques if you apply it early on in your process.
Most of these techniques are easy to use, once you start playing with them. It will take a while to learn them, but in the end you will become better. Use them carefully because in the end you want to show your food looking the best and real.
Cooking Without Limits 
Thanks for the tips 🙂 Really helpful and great insight into how others work with their camera 🙂
You are welcome
Great tips. Food photography is the toughest around. Styling is equally important I think.
Thank you
And I would say that it isn’t just limited to food photography either.
Of course
I definitely agree. Styling is what I really struggle with for food photography.
Awesome tips! Food photography can be so tricky
Thank you
Nice tips, my happy pixel! As a food blogger I find them so helpful.
Love, thp
I am happy to help.
At one point do you think that owning a DSLR or processing becomes a must?
Depends what you want to do. I think that if you want to have more than a food blog you need to have very good images, but this is just my opinion and I am very subjective.
First off, I absolutely love your photos, they really bring your food to life.
I think I understand your point of view, I figure that if I can’t master my own photos, then I would need to pay for the right to use someone else’s or have a photographer, which is a little inconvenient.
Thank you. We all have choices. I wrote this post because a lot of bloggers ask me to tell them about my post processing. I am happy to help.
Personally I don’t think a DSLR is necessary some of the best photo’s I have seen were taken using a phone camera. There are some fantastic free post processing programs out there so you can experiment to see if it is for you without losing anything other than time.
The main thing is that you are happy with the photos you have taken and you will find that you gradually improve as you take more and notice what does and doesn’t work
I will never say buy a DSLR, because I think is wrong to give you this advice. I show you what I do in post processing with my tools, but you can do the same thing with your tools: compact camera, telephone, tablet. Photography is so personal, so all you need to find is your path.
Thank you thank you!!! I just got a camera and I was so confused about lens length, aperture and all that. This is so helpful!
You are welcome
Good tip re sharpening last!
Thank you
I want to thank you so much for this article! It’s gonna help me out a lot :)!
https://veggablonde.wordpress.com/2016/11/01/super-easy-vegan-pancakes/
You are welcome. Happy to help.
Thanks for the photo tips!
You are welcome
Great tips, Gabi, but mine is a point-and-shoot Canon camera that doesn’t have RAW capability. Here’s to hoping this will improve…
I have to tell you this. I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog, all your recipes and your terrific pictures, and your tips!. This is why I have nominated YOU for the Mystery Blogger Award. Congratulations!
Your participation is voluntary, however I’d be honored if you accept it. Let’s do a great good by promoting each other and spreading the word.
Here’s the link https://comeinsitdown.wordpress.com/2016/11/02/mystery-blogger-award/
Thank you,
Anna
Thank you for your nomination. You can process your images even if you don’t shoot Raw.
I have always wanted to learn how to take better pi tires. Now that I’m a food blogger, I am forcing myself to learn And I found your tips helpful. If you write about using Photo Shop, let me know. I just use auto fix but feel I should be doing more.
I will make a post about Photoshop too.
Great! Thanks!
You are welcome
Your photos are beautiful. Thanks for the tips.
You are welcome
Pictures are something I need to work on and this has given me some ideas of things to try
Recently I have been at Ferran Adria’s El Bulli set of cookbooks and the photography in them is amazing, and it has really got me thinking about what I could do to send my pictures in that direction so this post couldn’t have came at a better time
I am happy to help.
Your posts and beautiful photos *do evoke moods, and it’s so interesting to learn more about your process❕ Thank you for sharing 🙂💟
You are welcome
Excellent article very informative Thank you
Thank you
Oh I get you! I edit every single picture on my blog too 🙂 In time it becomes an obsession 😀
I think your photos are awesome! I edit my photos too, but they are not at the level I want them to be at. One of my goals is to get much better at photography, but it does take time (and equipment costs). I took photography courses back in the day, but food is a very different subject!
Thank you. Food is difficult to shoot. With practice you will get better.
I’ve been afraid to shoot in RAW but I’m going to give it a shot! Thank you for these great tips!
You are welcome
Love this! Would love to get into food photography!
Thank you
No worries! Please check out my new blog 🙂
I like it. Keep shooting!
I’m just learning food photography now . I sux 😦
Happy learning!
Which software do you use ??
Lighroom
Thanks for sharing! Great post. 😊
Thank you
I try to only shoot in raw. It’s more time consuming, but you are right, you have a much better chance to add depth to your images.
Love your blog!!
Thank you
I need this badly I’m terrible at photos 😂 thank you!
You are welcome
Thanks
You are welcome
Which software would you recommend? I would love to know.
The one that you are comfortable. Software is like a camera. You need to find the one that you like, is easy to used and feels comfortable. If you loose in front of the computer for a photo is time wasted. you have Photoshop, Lightroom, Photo Pos Pro, PhotoScape, Gimp, Photo.net, Paintshop, etc.
I’m still a beginner and still understanding food photography – but your post helped a lot – please have a look on my blog for my pictures – they won’t be upto your standards but I’m guessing it’s a start 🙃
Happy to help. We all learn at one point or another. I will check your blog.
what kind of food is that?
Prunes