The digital world we live in has changed the trajectory of many things and food photography is no exception. With the increased capabilities provided by the technologies, like smart devices, our culture has now shifted to capture and share the foods we eat at a nonstop pace.
Food photography has been around since the 1840s, but the recent surge of interest in food photography over the past few years has created a frenzy, especially by the photo and video sharing apps like Instagram, and Snapchat.
After all, an image says a lot in the era of social media!
In an interview with Food and Wine, Andrew Zimmern shared his thoughts on food photography: “Food is good. Food with a story is better. Food with a story you’ve never heard of is best of all, and food with a story you’ve never heard of but that you can relate to is the holy grail.”
Here’s looking at the food photography trends:
Less perfection: “Everything lies in perfection!” Well, this statement doesn’t always hold true. Now the audience wants to see food that is real and not staged for hours. Showing the raw attributes of your dishes, including blemishes is no longer taboo, but rather it creates a feeling of genuineness for your brand.
Ugly Delicious: The Netflix show of David Chang shows the images of half-eaten meals, dinner plates stacked up in a sink post-meal, kitchen messes, wayward bits of food: Illustrating the process, pleasure, and joy of cooking.
Image source: Google
The story of color: We must thank food for giving us some of the interesting color names: Mint green, burnout orange, etc. In this trend of food photography, we will see food images having colors in more interesting and arresting ways that will bring out the texture in the food and will highlight every element in a dish.
Movement and action: Showcasing the moving elements in a recipe preparation can add a new level of effect and drama to an image. Like, pouring juice, or cutting vegetables, etc. Capturing a single moment of movement showcases a story that pulls audiences more towards the image.
Food created by the people: Documenting the people behind food is a trend that was cemented by the rise of cooking shows. The next iteration of this trend is highlighting the people who are typically not shown in the limelight. Which includes: Humble and hardworking farmers, producers, and artisans. People connect to their food more when they know where it is coming from and the people who are involved. Create those images that put real people at the center of the story.
Behind-the-scenes or candid images: Don’t shy away from reality, embrace it! Posting some behind-the-scenes or candid images will make the audience connect to your brand more. It will bring a sense of authenticity to your brand. For example, you can post shots of your produce in the field.
Bottom line
However, you photograph your food: whether it’s honest, or ugly, abstract, or stylized, it still has to look delicious. After all, we eat with our eyes first! And, food can’t look fake or photoshopped, in fact, food photography should display an effortless look.