Food Photography: Composition Techniques to Create Captivating Food Photos

1. Class Introduction: Are you struggling to create compelling compositions for your food photos, or maybe you are looking to elevate your food photography and create visually captivating images that engage and delight your viewers? In this class, you'll learn composition techniques that will transform your food images from ordinary to extraordinary. Hello, and welcome. My name is Rose. I am a food and product photographer and a Skillshare Top Teacher. Most of my work is dedicated to helping small businesses increase sales and online presence through scroll stopping food photos. Just like you, I started as a beginner, overwhelmed and clueless of where to put different elements in my scene. I created this class to demystify composition and share what I learned from years of photographing food for personal projects and clients. We will start with why composition and expanding your visual references is important in our food photography. We'll then move on to the power of storytelling where you'll discover how to construct a narrative within your photographs, making your images not just visually stunning, but also emotionally compelling. Next, we'll explore the impact of shooting angles on composition. Then we will move on to creating a sense of balance within your composition, where you learn how to distribute visual elements effectively. We'll also delve into the concept of depth and explore techniques for incorporating foreground, midground and background elements to add dimension to your images. We will also explore layering, lines, shapes, patterns, repetition, and adding human touch. Finally, I will guide you through different cropping techniques and orientations for different storytelling purposes. I will end the class with two demonstrations that will take you through the process of arranging a minimalist composition and a busy scene. By the end of this class, you'll have a solid understanding of why composition is essential in food photography, different composition techniques, and how you can practically use them to create stunning and captivating images that make your audience crave what they see. This class is perfect for beginner photographers, food bloggers, recipe developers, small business owners, social media influencers, and absolutely anyone who wants to learn more about composition in food photography. You can either use your smartphone, DSLR, or any camera to join this class. Now if you're ready, let's get started. 2. Class Project: First of all, I'm so glad you're here. I will do my best to make it worthwhile for you and for you to really get the most out of this class. However, that involves your active participation. In order for you to get the most out of this class, you need to see the essence of composition in food photography through your very own food photos. With that said, I strongly recommend that after you finish this class, go get your hands dirty and take photos. To do the class project, you just need to apply the composition techniques that you will learn from this class. You can either create a simple and minimalist composition or a more complex and busy scene. A minimalist composition will challenge you to convey a sense of elegance and sophistication by embracing simplicity. Composing a busy scene, on the other hand, will challenge you to create a visually complex and captivating image through careful arrangement of the elements in the scene. The things that you will be needing are a food subject or subjects, a camera, it can be your smartphone, DSLR or mirrorless. Next is lighting. It can be natural light from the sun or any type of artificial lighting like lamps, LED lights, studio lights, etcetera. In my case, I will be using my multipurpose continuous light with a softbox. You'll also need a backdrop. This could be as simple as poster papers, fabrics, or any type of background that you have access to. For my project, I'm using this double-sided waterproof backdrop that I got online. Finally, you will be needing props to help tell food stories. You can be creative and innovative with this. You can repurpose whatever you have at home, but I won't stop you if you want to go shopping. In my case, I will be using this cake stand, dessert plate, and cake forks for my simple and minimalist composition. Then for my busy scene, I will be using this set of bread plates and mugs, as well as this pitcher set to create an afternoon tea party vibe. I really want for you to succeed in doing the class project, so I included a downloadable composition guide under resources. Once you're done with your photo or photos, you just need to click the "Create Project" button under projects and resources, put a project title, upload as many photos as you want, including your process in creating your food photos, then choose your most favorite photo to be the cover image. After all of that, you just need to click "Submit" so we can all see it in the project gallery. Feel free to check out your fellow students work too and give it some love. I'm super excited to see how you will put the learnings from this class into practice. Good luck, and have lots of fun. 3. Why Is Composition Important in Food Photography?: Have you ever wondered what makes some food photos standout while others don't? The answer lies in composition. Composition refers to how elements are arranged within a frame to create a visually pleasing image. Composition plays a vital role in capturing the viewer's attention and conveying your intended message. It can make the difference between a mundane snapshot and the captivating food photo. How does composition affect the viewer's perception and engagement with the image? First, composition determines where the viewer's eye is drawn within the photograph or within the frame. It directs attention to the key elements you want to highlight, such as the main dish, ingredients or textures. For example, these are images from the same photoshoot. I was trying to create a tempting photo of these chocolate pancakes. In the first photo, I was trying to highlight the process and ingredients of the pancake. In the second photo, I wanted to highlight the main dish. In the last photo, I wanted to highlight detail and texture to really tempt the viewer's eyes. As you can see from the examples, how we frame and compose our shots can help us highlight the details that we want to emphasize. A well composed photograph guides the viewer's gaze and ensures they focus on the most important aspects of the food. On the other hand, a poorly composed image can be distracting and confuse the viewers visual journey. For example, this cringey photo belongs to my early years of photographing food, I honestly did not know much about composition back then. I just threw props and ingredients in my scene, hoping that it would work out. As you can see from this example, it did not work out. My poor composition is distracting and confusing. If I were to give feedback to my younger self, I would say to just remove that distracting bell pepper at the top, as well as the shiny dessert fork on the left and replace it with a dinner fork and maybe put it inside the plate because there's so much empty space. Composition also allows you to control the mood and story of your food photograph. By arranging elements in a certain way, you can evoke emotions, tell a narrative or convey a specific theme. It's like composing a visual symphony that speaks directly to the viewer senses. For example, I shot these photos for a local cake shop near our house. This cake is one of their best sellers and their main way of marketing is Facebook ads. If only people could taste their cakes just by looking at the photos right? So that was my challenge. I needed to show first how pretty their strawberry cake is and how delicious it is through my food photos. In my first composition, I wanted to show how pretty this cake looks if their target customers decided to include it in their celebrations. It's simple, but it's elegant and pretty. In the next photo, I wanted to show a closer look so the viewers can see the strawberries more and hopefully start to crave the cake. Finally, a shot of the sliced cake showing its layers, texture, and flavor. This is why composition is very important in food photography. Compositions don't just guide our viewers eyes within the frame, it also helps in capturing attention, conveying a message, and emphasizing key elements. The good news is, you don't have to start from scratch. In the following lessons, we will explore the composition techniques I used in my photo examples to help you get started. We will also talk about expanding your inspiration and finding visual references. We'll delve into shooting angles, distance, creating a sense of balance, adding depth, utilizing lines, shapes, patterns, and so much more so I'll see you in the next lesson. 4. Expanding Your Visual References: No one creates images out of thin air. As photographers and visual storytellers, it is crucial to have a wide range of visual references to draw inspiration from. These references can come from different sources, such as cookbooks, Pinterest, food magazines, social media, movies, paintings, and everyday objects. By exposing ourselves to diverse visual stimuli, we broaden our creative horizons and develop a stronger visual fluency. Why is finding visual reference so important? Well, inspiration is everywhere waiting to be discovered. By actively seeking out new sources of inspiration, we open ourselves up to fresh ideas and unique perspectives. It helps us break away from creative ruts and fuels our imagination. When we compose our images, our brains are subconsciously running through a visual library of what we've been exposed to. The more visual references we expose ourselves to, the more ways we have to express ourselves creatively. It allows us to develop a deeper understanding of composition and storytelling techniques. For example, in this macarons photo, I got my inspiration from Pinterest. I love the light and airy feel from this photo and the way the macarons were styled in this other photo. I added my personal touch to it and was able to create this image as a result. Here's another example. I was greatly influenced and inspired by Bea Lubas in choosing my backgrounds and props. I love her work so much and noticed that she uses matching backgrounds and props most of the time, so I tried doing the same thing too. Although we have different styles, her best practice really helped me to simplify my process of choosing backgrounds and props. I also get inspiration from cookbooks, food magazines, food documentaries, and social media. But my quick and go-to place is Pinterest. As you can see, I have created so many mood boards already, whenever I am photographing a particular subject, let's say croissant, I just check my board and scan through the photos that I pinned. From here, I have so many ideas to start with. The goal is not to replicate or imitate what you see, but to study and absorb the elements that speak to you. Develop your very own style by combining different influences and infusing them with your unique perspective. My top tip is to create a digital or a physical mood board where you can collect and organize images that resonate with you. This mood board becomes a visual library that you can refer to whenever you need a burst of inspiration. Also, don't be limited with Pinterest, explore different mediums, and observe the world around you. Inspiration can be found in unexpected places. In the next lesson, we will explore storytelling and how we can practically use it in composition. See you there. 5. Storytelling: Food has the power to evoke emotions, memories, and even transport us to different places. A photograph that tells a story instantly grabs the viewer's attention and makes them connect with the food on a deeper level. It goes beyond merely showcasing the dish. It creates an experience. Before we delve into composition tools and techniques, it's important to understand why, where, and how we can use them. How do we construct a narrative within a photograph? The first step is to start with a story. Consider what message or feeling you want to convey to your audience. Is it the comfort of a home-cooked meal, the excitement of trying exotic flavors, or the nostalgia of a family recipe? For example, for this chocolate pancake shoot, I included some process shots where I took photos of the ingredients as well as action shots. This series of images takes you through my process of making these yummy chocolate pancakes as if you were there. I was making these pancakes with my son so it looks a bit messy and a bit childish. I want my son to see these photos in the future and remember the fun we had making these pancakes together. Next, we identify the key elements that will help us tell that story. It could be the ingredients, props, or the setting itself. Each element should contribute to the narrative and evoke the desired emotions. Pay attention to details and think about how each element interacts with the others. Are the ingredients arranged in a way that suggests a progression or a transformation? Does the backdrop, the background, or the table setting support the mood you want to convey? For example, this is a pre-holiday photo shoot for a local bake shop two years ago. My job was to create a festive scene showcasing the bake shop's best sellers. They wanted a Christmas vibe too, so I took our decorations out of storage and used it as props for this shoot. Although I shot this photo in October, I instantly felt the holiday vibes because of the elements in the scene. This is another example. I created this image for one of my 14-day photography prompts on Instagram. The prompt was to create a food photo that brings back memories. This dish is called Sinigang. Sinigang is a Filipino soup characterized by its sour and savory taste. Sinigang brings back a lot of memories for me because this used to be our go-to food whenever my husband and I had little money to spend on food. What I'll do is cook Sinigang with lots of soup, so it could last for the whole day, sometimes two. We just add fish size and we can eat a single serving of Sinigang with lots of rice. This photo is the opposite of the Sinigang that we could afford 10 years ago. It is a sweet reminder of how far we've come. I tried a different composition, but it does not emphasize the soup, which is the most special element for me. This image where the soup is being poured is closest to my heart because the Sinigang soup saved us from starving many years ago. To sum it all up, a well-crafted story within a photograph can transport the viewer to a specific time, place, or experience. It creates an emotional connection and adds depth to your food photography. There are many composition tools and techniques to help you tell your food stories, and we will explore each one of them in the next lessons. See you there. 6. Shooting Angles: The angle from which you capture your food can dramatically influence the composition and the story you want to tell. By experimenting with different shooting angles, you can create unique and visually captivating images. For example, these yummy drinks look tall and appealing in this angle versus this angle. Here are other examples of the same dish photographed from different angles. Each angle has their unique potential and shows different parts of the food. The first angle we'll explore is the overhead angle. Shooting from directly above the food provides a bird's eye view and allows you to showcase the entire scene. This angle works well for flat lays, highlighting patterns, and ingredients arranged in an organized manner. Overhead shots are particularly useful when you want to convey symmetry, create visual interests through repetition, or emphasize the shapes and colors of the food. Another popular shooting angle is the 45 degree angle. This angle offers a more dynamic perspective and provides depth and dimension to your images. It allows you to capture the food from a slightly elevated position, showcasing its textures, layers and details. This angle creates a more intimate and relatable experience for the viewer. It allows them to connect with the food at eye level as if they were sitting at the table. This angle is versatile and works well for a lot of food subjects. Finally, we have the straight on angle. This angle emphasizes the height of a dish and it's an excellent way to highlight all the tasty and luscious layers that might not be visible from a different perspective. This angle also has the ability to make the food look monumental. It adds a sense of realism and immersion, making the viewer feel as if they're right there ready to take a bite. This angle is best for drinks, tall subjects, and stacked food. Each shooting angle brings its own unique perspective and storytelling potential. The choice of angle depends on the story you want to tell and the emotions you want to evoke. Step back, experiment, and find the most flattering angle to make your food shine. In the next lesson, we'll explore distance and its role in composition. See you there. 7. Distance: Distance plays a crucial role in composition as it determines the perspective and emotional impact of your photos. By consciously controlling the distance between your camera and the subject, you can convey different messages and evoke specific feelings. The question to ask yourself when deciding on distance is, what do I want to show? The three distances that we can explore are far, closer, and close. When shooting far, you showcase the subject's environment or its surroundings. Your scene and setting become the subject of your story. This shot gives your viewers more context. My top tip when composing these types of images is to be more intentional in the arrangement of the elements in the scene. Showing a wider scene means more elements to control. If there is an element in your frame that is more important than others, make sure it remains the focal point. Like what I did in this photo, I placed the cake in front and in the middle, while the other elements are blurry in the background. You can still see them and they support my story, but they don't steal the spotlight from our main subject. Next distance is closer. Closer shots strike a balance between capturing the subject and its surrounding environment. Since our framing is tighter, we see more of the food or the dish. This is also less distracting and can really showcase the beauty of the food. Finally, close or close-up. Close-up compositions allow us to capture intricate details and emphasize specific elements within the frame. Close-up compositions are great for showcasing textures, patterns, and luscious details. Close-ups are often used to create a sense of intimacy or draw attention to specific features like the fresh strawberries in this cake, the creamy icing, and the edible gold flakes. A top tip when doing close-up compositions is to pay attention to the small details. Since we are focusing on the details of the food, make sure those details are pleasant and non-distracting. Double-check smudges, unnecessary spills, dirt, or anything that should not be part of your composition. In the next lesson, we will move on to creating a sense of balance using visual weight. See you there. 8. Visual Weight: In our previous lessons, we explored the importance of composition, storytelling, distance, and shooting angles. In this lesson, we're going to dive into the concept of visual weight and how it plays an important role in creating balance within a composition. Visual weight refers to perceived heaviness or importance of elements within a composition. It influences how our eyes move across an image and affects the overall harmony and balance of the photograph. When composing a photograph, we want to distribute visual elements in a way that creates equilibrium. Each element carries a certain visual weight which can be influenced by factors like size, color, texture, and placement. A well-balanced composition allows the viewer's eyes to move effortlessly across the image, taking in all the elements in a harmonious way. On the other hand, an imbalanced composition can feel chaotic or unsettling. For example, this photo can feel unsettling because it is heavy at the top. What I could have done is position two bento plates at the bottom and one at the top of the frame forming a triangle composition. Here's another example. Again, a lot of details at the top, while the bottom part is empty. I corrected this by placing the food at the bottom instead. To achieve balance, we can use different techniques. One approach is to distribute visual weight symmetrically, placing elements of similar weight on opposite sides of the frame like this. Another technique is to create balance through asymmetry. This involves placing elements of different weights in a way that visually balances their composition. It's about finding the right counterbalance to maintain equilibrium. You can also use color, texture, and size strategically to distribute visual weight. Bright colors, bold textures, or larger objects tend to attract more attention and carry more weight within the composition. For example, placing the pie side-by-side with the props looks more balanced compared to the one where I placed the pie at the top part of the frame. In this example, I balanced the heavy details on the right side of the frame with the big wooden spoons at the bottom left. By carefully considering the visual weight of each element, we can guide the viewer's gaze and create a harmonious and engaging composition. The next time you take photos, use your very own visual perception and use color, texture, and size to balance your compositions. Now, let's take our composition to the next level by adding depth with foreground, mid-ground, and background. See you in the next lesson. 9. Adding Depth: Depth adds a three-dimensional quality to your images. Making them visually engaging and inviting. It allows the viewer to feel as if they can step into the scene and interact with the food. The foreground, midground, and background are the different layers within your composition. By placing elements at various distances from the camera, you create a sense of depth and add visual interest to your images. The foreground is the closest layer to the camera. The midground is in-between. The background is the farthest layer. Each layer contributes to the overall depth and allows the viewer's eyes to move through the image. You can use various techniques to create depth. In the foreground, consider placing objects such as utensils, ingredients, or props, that can add visual interests and lead the viewer's eyes into the scene. In the midground, position elements like plates, bowls, or secondary food items that complement the main subject. These elements help bridge the gap between the foreground and background, adding depth and context to the composition. The background sets the stage for your food. It can be a simple backdrop or a well styled scene that enhances the overall story. Consider using textures, props, or even a carefully composed background to create a sense of depth and provide visual contexts. By incorporating foreground, midground, and background elements, you create a multi-layered composition, that invites the viewer to explore and engage with your food photograph. If you will check my Instagram page, you'll notice that this is one of my favorite ways to compose images. I love creating a sense of space and dimension to help make my food subjects come to life, most of the time, I combine this composition technique with leading lines, to help me create a more balanced photograph. Speaking of lines, in the next lesson, we will explore how we can work with lines to create visual flow in our compositions. See you there. 10. Lines: Just like the other elements that I mentioned in the previous lessons, lines too can be a powerful tool in composition, guiding the viewer's eye and creating visual flow within an image. They can add structure, depth, and a sense of movement through your food photography. Leading lines are one type of line that can be used to draw the viewer's attention to a specific focal point in the composition. These lines guide the eyes and create a visual path for the viewer to follow. The good news is there are many ways and techniques to do this. You can create leading lines by using utensils, table edges or other elements in your composition. Place them strategically to guide the viewer's eye towards the main subject or point of interests. My favorite way of adding a leading line to the main subject is through a pour shot. I get excited when I know that my food subject has a syrup or a sauce that can help me create a leading line. Working with lines is not limited to vertical and horizontal lines, diagonal lines add a dynamic and energetic element to your photographs. They can create a sense of movement leading the viewer's eye from one part of the image to another. Diagonal lines have more energy and impact than horizontal and vertical lines. For example, these cupcakes looked okay with this composition, but just changing the composition a bit and photographing it diagonally made it more appealing. It also helped me to show all of the cupcakes and their details. We see the same effect on these mangoes and donuts. It does not end there, the direction of your diagonal line has an effect too. If the diagonal runs from top-left to bottom-right, it is closer to how the eye is accustomed to scanning the page. It will be easier to follow and can suggest tranquility. But the downside is that it has less of a dynamic impact. On the other hand, if the line runs from bottom-left to top-right, it is more challenging and dynamic and gives power, forcefulness, and movement to the picture. Working with lines does not end with straight lines. Curved lines in your composition can add a sense of grace, elegance, and flow. They create a soft and organic feel, guiding the viewer's eye in a gentle, curvy manner. Look for natural curves in your ingredients or props or create curves with utensils or tableware to create visual interests and enhance the composition. A top tip when working with lines, it does not have to be an actual or continuous line, a row of objects can act as a line and lead the eye. The effective use of leading lines, diagonals, and curves in your composition are great techniques to help guide the viewer's eye and create visual interests in your photos. But there is more. Let's add shapes, patterns, and repetition to our composition toolbox. See you in the next lesson. 11. Shapes, Patterns and Repetition: Shapes, patterns, and repetition are powerful elements that can elevate your food photography compositions. They add rhythm and a sense of harmony to your images. Let's start with shapes. We can experiment with different shapes like circles, triangles, squares, or even irregular shapes to add variety and visual interest to your images. You can use shapes when deciding on how to cut or slice the ingredients for the main dish. For example, for my Sinigang dish, I thought of cutting the ingredients in different ways to add visual interest to my image. I also used different shapes to cut this watermelon and get different looks and vibe. Using shapes is not limited to how we cut the food and ingredients. We can also use shapes when choosing props and how we arrange them. For example, in my class project, I use round bread plates to match the tea cups and mugs and arrange them to form a triangle. Forming a triangle in my composition is probably one of my favorites because it is the easiest way to create balance in my images. Next, pattern refers to a regular and consistent arrangement of elements in an image. It occurs when objects or elements in the scene repeat in a predictable manner. In food photography, this can be seen when certain ingredients or food items are arranged in a repetitive pattern. For example, a pattern can be created by placing identical cupcakes in a row. Or arranging slices of fruit in a symmetrical pattern. Finally, repetition involves the repeated use of elements or shapes throughout the image, but not necessarily in a predictable manner. It is the recurrence of similar or identical elements that are visually related. In food photography, repetition can be achieved by including multiple instances of the same ingredient or prop in different parts of the composition. For example, using multiple bowls of the same soup or featuring several glasses filled with the same beverage. Repetition adds a sense of harmony, balance, and visual impact to the image. Using either shape, pattern, and repetition can enhance the visual appeal of your food photos, but each creates different visual effect in terms of composition and aesthetics. Good shapes can make any dish a little bit more exciting for the eye. Experiment with your props, subject, and other elements in your scene to either form shapes, patterns, or repetition. In the next lesson, we will explore layers. See you there. 12. Layers: Layers add depth, texture and visual interests to your food photography. They help create a sense of depth by placing elements in your frame, one on top of another or one behind another, resulting in captivating compositions that the eye will be irresistibly drawn in. So how can we utilize layers to enhance our compositions and make our food photos truly stand out? One way to incorporate layers is by stacking different ingredients. Whether it's a stack of donuts, pancakes, a layered cake, or a beautifully assembled salad. Stacking ingredients adds visual depth, and creates a focal point within the composition. Layers can also be created by incorporating props into your composition. These props can be utensils, napkins, tableware, or anything that adds interests and depth to the scene. Place them strategically to enhance the story and guide the viewer's eyes throughout the image. Aside from adding layers and depth, props can provide contexts and create a narrative within your composition. They add an extra layer of storytelling, and help transport the viewer to a specific time, place, or experience. Background elements can also contribute to the layers in your composition. Consider using textured surfaces, pattern backgrounds, or carefully arranged backdrops to create additional depth and visual interests. For example, I used my textured background as the first layer to this photo, the table napkin as my second layer, the plate as my third layer, then the food, which is the pancake, then the bacon and maple syrup as final layer. Because I used a notable contrast in the colors, size, and texture of overlapping objects, the layering in this photo is effective, but it still looks cohesive because none of the props that I added distracted from the story. It's a simple pancake and bacon breakfast photo. My top tip when creating layers in your food images or your food photos is to make your composition look natural. The layer should be subtle, cohesive, and proportional. Everything in your photo should feel like it belongs there. By incorporating layers of ingredients, props, or backgrounds, we can make our food photos dimensional and balanced. Layering can also help us create visually captivating compositions that engage our viewers. Speaking of engaging our viewers, there is another composition tool that could help add authenticity and relatability to our food photography. In the next lesson, we'll talk about adding human touch to allow viewers to connect with the food on a deeper, and more meaningful level. See you there. 13. Adding Human Touch: Including hands, props, or other human elements in your food photography adds a personal and relatable dimension to your compositions. The term human touch refers to the inclusion of elements that evoke a sense of human presence or interaction with the food. It is a technique used to add a personal and relatable aspect to the image, creating a connection between the viewer and the food being photographed. Here are a few ways to incorporate the human touch in food photography. Number 1, hands in the frame. Including hands in the composition, whether they are holding utensils, interacting with ingredients, or reaching for a dish, can give a sense of human presence. It creates a visual narrative and adds a personal touch to the image. I am not very confident to include myself or my face to my food photos, so this technique is a lifesaver for me when I want to add a human touch in my images. Another way is partially consumed food. Showing a partially eaten dish or a slice taken out of a cake, for example, can imply that someone has already enjoyed the food. It suggests a human presence and can evoke a sense of anticipation and satisfaction. When viewers see this element in food photography, it becomes more relatable. It helps them visualize themselves in the scene, connecting with the people and the food. It creates a sense of familiarity and encourages engagement and interaction with the content. Finally, props and accessories. Including items such as utensils, napkins, or cooking tools can also add a human touch to your compositions. They imply the presence of someone interacting with the food and create a narrative within the image. For example, in my chocolate pancake process shot, I can zoom in the shot to show just a bowl with the chocolate pancake mix and the egg. But I wanted to add a human touch and tell a story, so I included the egg shells, the whisk, and other ingredients so it is more relatable, a subtle reminder that there are real people behind the food, creating and enjoying it. By adding a human touch to your food photography, you can create images that go beyond just showcasing the food. You create a visual story that resonates with the viewer and makes your photos more relatable and enticing. My top tip is to carefully place props within your compositions to enhance the story and evoke a sense of connection and familiarity. It could be as simple as carefully cutting a small part with a knife and fork and leaving that small part of the food on a fork, telling a story that someone is about to take that delicious bite. It could be capturing a work-in-progress recipe or it could be as simple as including the spoon that you used to put a sauce or filling in the scene. Our audience are emotional human beings, so we can use it as a tool to create captivating food photos. Adding a human touch helps to convey the sensory experience of enjoying a meal. It can capture the joy, excitement, and satisfaction that food brings, creating a stronger emotional connection with the audience. The next time you're stuck and could not figure out which composition technique to try, I highly recommend considering adding human touch to easily transform your food photos. In the next lesson, I will share the last composition technique before applying everything we've learned in a photo shoot demo. See you there. 14. Orientation and Crop: Orientation and crop are powerful tools that can significantly impact the composition of your food photos. They allow you to shape the story, emphasize key elements, and create visual impact. Orientation refers to the vertical or horizontal alignment of your frame. It can drastically change the mood and perspective of your image. Vertical orientation is often used to capture the height, elegance, or cascading layers of a dish. It can create a sense of grandeur and highlight the vertical elements within your composition. This orientation is best for taller subjects like drinks, cakes, and stacked food. This orientation is also great for vertical movement like syrup being poured on the subject, falling powders, and putting of garnishes. On the other hand, horizontal orientation is commonly used to showcase the width, depth, or arrangement of ingredients within a dish. It works well for capturing a sense of abundance or creating a narrative of a shared meal experience. I use this orientation a lot when photographing a group of food and food products. Next, crop refers to the act of trimming or adjusting the frame of your image. It allows you to remove distractions, emphasize focal points, or create unique compositions. A tight crop can focus the viewer's attention on specific details or texture within the food. It creates a sense of intimacy and draws the viewer into the finer elements of the composition. On the contrary, a wide crop can showcase the overall scene, incorporating context or a sense of place. It helps establish a visual narrative and gives the viewer a broader perspective. My top tip when deciding on how to crop your images and what orientation to use is to know and be clear with the purpose of the image. It's important to know how you or your clients are going to use the photos. Will you be uploading it on Instagram? Is it going to be used as a header for a website or a photo for a Facebook ad? Each platform favors a particular orientation. Food blogs and recipe website often showcase horizontal food photos in their articles and recipe posts. The wider format allows for more detailed compositions, and can be displayed prominently as header images or within the content itself. Vertical food photos are well-suited for popular social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. These platforms are designed to display vertical content, and vertical food photos can take up more screen real estate, making them visually engaging and scroll stopping. Remember to consider the platform or medium you are using and it's specific design requirements when choosing your orientation and crop. Each orientation has its strength, and can be effectively utilized depending on the context and purpose of the image. There is no easy way to master this, but to practice and experiment. By understanding the impact of orientation and crop through your very own photos, you can craft compositions that effectively tell your story, emphasize key elements, and create visual impact in your food photography. So take that first step and practice. Don't expect to get it all right the first time, we get better through deliberate practice. Speaking of practice, in the next lesson, I will show you a photo shoot demo of how I applied all the composition techniques in the previous lessons and created my class project. See you there. 15. Demo: Arranging a Simple Scene: In this first demo, I will show you how I compose this minimalist and simple arrangement of this freshly made Black Forest cake. You will see me apply techniques from the previous lessons to compose, frame my shots, and troubleshoot. Minimalist compositions are all about simplicity, clean lines, and a focus on the main subject. These compositions have a powerful visual impact and convey a sense of elegance and sophistication. The very first step to my workflow is to look for inspiration and do a rough sketch of my composition. The easiest way to do it for me is to check Pinterest. I just typed Black Forest cake and got these beautiful photos, giving me so many ideas to start with. This particular photo got my attention and it's closest to the simple minimalist composition that I have in mind. Next, I did a simple sketch of how I want to arrange the elements in my scene. The cake in the middle, the props and other elements in the foreground and background. Just a quick note that inspiration gathering and rough sketching normally happens a day or two before my actual photo shoots, especially for a client photo shoot. By planning and sketching in advance, you can save time and resources during the actual photo shoot. Once I have a vision for my photo shoot, I check my prop collection and get the ones that I don't have yet. My setup is usually the same for all my food and product photo shoots. A table as my surface, my artificial light with a soft box at the side or diagonally, then my T-stand to hold the background. Now to create the simple and minimalist image of the Black Forest cake, I will be using a simple white backdrop. I have one for my surface and one for the background. If you will notice the design on my backdrop is very simple, so it won't distract from the main subject. Next are my props. I have a cake stand, a cake spatula, a dessert plate, and cake forks. I also have cherry syrup in a ramekin bowl and a napkin. Next step is to arrange the props before I bring out the cake, which is our main subject. I am following the principles of balance and visual weight to create a visually pleasing arrangement. Remember storytelling? I wanted to create a scene that tells a story of a freshly made Black Forest cake So I Included some of the cake's ingredients as props. Chocolate shavings and the cherry syrup at the back. Next is our main subject. I am slowly and carefully taking it out of the box and incorporating it into our scene here. I use the cake spatula to remove the cake from the carton base. I'm just wiping smudges using a paper towel. Then doing a bit of food styling to make our black forest cake more irresistible. I am using chocolate shavings from the back to cover, obvious imperfections in front, which will be captured in camera. Next, let me take a test shot. It looks dark for me, so I will be using a reflector to bounce light and fill in the shadows on the right side. That's better. I am happy with the settings and the exposure, but I feel that my arrangement looks busy instead of simple. I will remove the plate at the back and rearrange the other props. Let's take another shot. This one looks simpler and balanced for me. Let me just try another arrangement. Let me just try to include the napkin in our scene to add interest, texture, and layer. I will also try and put the syrup in the foreground and the chocolate shavings at the back and take another shot. This is my favorite so far. The handle of the ramekin bowl with the syrup helps in leading the eye to the subject. Same thing with the cake forks. I love that the chocolate shavings are in the background because honestly, I'm not so confident with how I shaved it so putting it in the background made it less apparent, but it is still there and it still supports the story I was trying to tell. Next, I wanted to add a human touch to our simple composition here, so I thought of pouring the cherry syrup into the cake and capturing an action shot of it. I noticed that the cherries are looking dry, so I am just adding some cherry syrup to help them look luscious again. I love how it's adding another layer and texture to our subject. Just taking a step back to assess the overall arrangement and making some adjustment to fine-tune the composition. Now for the human touch shot, I will need to adjust the shutter speed of the camera to capture motion. With that, I also need to adjust my lighting so it would still get a good exposure. I am using my phone as a remote while I pour this syrup and take the shot and here are the results. Before I clean up and move on with the busy scene, let me just take photos using different shooting angles. So eye level, 45 degrees angle, overhead, and close up and there you have it. A minimalist composition that focuses on simplicity, clean lines, and the beauty of the main subject. Some composition techniques that we were able to use in this photo shoot are visual weight, adding depth with foreground, mid ground, and background, leading lines, adding a human touch, and different shooting angles. Even though we used a lot of composition techniques, we were able to make our subject shine by embracing simplicity. My top tip for composing minimalist compositions is to carefully choose props. Each prop should enhance the composition and contribute to the overall story and remember, less is more. In the next demo, we will create an opposite vibe. We're going to challenge ourselves by arranging a busy scene. See you there. 16. Demo: Arranging a Busy Scene: Busy scenes can be visually captivating and add a sense of liveliness to your food photography. They involve multiple elements and visual complexity that require careful arrangement to create an engaging composition. To make it fun and avoid food waste, I photographed the same black forest cake, but created a totally different vibe. My workflow is the same. I start with inspiration and a rough sketch. This time, I searched for cake slices on Pinterest. Then I used my favorite photos to compose and sketch may scene. The straight on and 45 degree angle really worked well in the first demo, so this time, I wanted to utilize an over head shot. Over head shots are best when you want to create visual interests through repetition, or emphasize the shapes and colors of the food. That is what we're going to do. To add layers, I will be using my blush scarf as a second layer next to the background. I will be using repeating shapes such as circles so I will be using bread plates, mugs and tea cups. I will arrange the plates for the cake to form a triangle. Then I will use the diagonal technique to position the rest of the props. Then the cakes slices. This arrangement exceeded my expectations so let me show you how I can make this vision a reality. I am just setting the cake aside so I can change the background. This time, I am using a more colorful background and props. I have a combination of utensils and props that contribute to my story, which is a tea party, not all my guests love tea so I added coffee to add visual interest. Just checking my inspiration and rough sketch to review my planned arrangement. So I will be following the diagonal and triangle composition. I will be arranging the dessert plates to form a triangle, while the rest of the props to form a diagonal line. Since I want to utilize the over head shooting angle this time, I'm just checking how it looks using my phone. I am happy with my arrangements, so it's time to add the cake in the scene. Nice and careful to make sure it looks pretty and inviting. Mission accomplished. Let's not forget the reflector to fill in the side shadows. Then take a shot. I love it. It's busy, but it looks fun and inviting. Not bad for an iPhone shot. The combination of the diagonal and triangle composition, the repetition of the shapes and the overall arrangement of the props created a cohesive visual flow. One thing I want to add though, is another element because this space here looks a bit empty. This is an artificial flower from my prop collection that I can use as a foreground. I'm hoping that this will create layers and depth within the scene. Let's see how it looks. It's nice. Let me try another shot using my mirrorless camera. I love it. The artificial flowers created a really nice foreground and for me it helped make our scene look more believable. I love the harmonious balance between the various elements and visual complexity in our scene. Now let's experiment with different shooting angles and orientation to find the most compelling perspective for our busy scene. So trying the 45 degree shooting angle in landscape or horizontal orientation. The same shooting angle but vertical or portrait orientation. There you have it. A busy scene composition that tells a rich and vibrant story. Again, the composition techniques that we're able to apply in this photoshoot are shapes, patterns, and repetition. We also worked with lines by using diagonal lines to add the dynamic and energetic feel to our scene. We also used layers. The background as our first layer, the fabric, the dessert plate, and the cake. We also added depth by using artificial flowers as foreground. We also experimented with different orientations. Composing busy scenes compared to simple and minimalist arrangements can be a bit challenging, but it can really stretch your creativity and can result in captivating photos. My top tip is to use patterns and repetition strategically to create a cohesive visual flow. Incorporate complimentary ingredients, props and textures, like what I did with the pink backdrop and the pink fabric. Think about colors, shapes, and sizes that balance and enhance the composition. If you'll notice, I used matching bread plates and mugs in my scene. Instead of using a colorful tea pot and tea cups I use a clear pitcher set to avoid distraction and clutter. Finally, choose your main elements. This could be a combination of ingredients. utensils and props that contribute to the overall story and visual complexity of the scene. I hope that by showing you my process you are more inspired and motivated to do the class project and master composition. In the next lesson, I will be sharing my final three tips. See you there. 17. Final Tips: You did it. Congratulations on finishing this class. We have learned about why composition and expanding your visual references is important in food photography. We also learned about different composition techniques such as storytelling, shooting angles, visual weight. Depth by incorporating foreground, mid ground, and background. We also explored layering, lines, shapes, patterns, repetition, adding human touch and different cropping techniques and orientations for different storytelling purposes. Now, for my final three tips, first is to start with the story. I shared a lot of composition tools and techniques in this class, and it could easily get overwhelming. I shared the power of storytelling in one of the lessons. But if ever you're stuck and don't know where to start, ask yourself, what is the story you are trying to tell? What is your message? Starting with the story allows you to consider the context and background of the dish, giving it a richer narrative. This context will help you in selecting props, background elements, and styling choices. Next tip is to explore different grids. There are several composition grids that you can use as a guide in food photography composition, just like the techniques in the previous lessons, these grids help you create balanced and visually appealing compositions. Here are three commonly used composition grids. First is the rule of thirds, or the rule of thirds grid. This grid divides the frame into nine equal sections with two horizontal and two vertical lines. The intersecting points of these lines are known as "Power Points", placing key elements such as the main subject or points of interests along these lines or at the Power Points can create a visually pleasing and balanced composition. Next is the golden triangle grid. The golden triangle is formed by dividing the frame diagonally into two triangles of different sizes, with a smaller triangle at one corner and the larger triangle occupying the remaining area. The diagonal line separating triangles is known as the golden diagonal. Identify the main subject or points of interests in your food composition. This could be the dish itself, a specific ingredient, or a garnish, or any other element that you want to highlight. Position your key elements along the lines or points where the golden diagonal intersects with the frame. These intersections are known as golden points. Placing important elements at these points helps create visual interests and balance within the composition. The last grid is the golden ratio. The golden ratio is a mathematical concept that result in a grid resembling a nautilus shell. It is often represented by a spiral and the grid helps create a balanced composition with a sense of harmony and flow. Placing elements along the curved lines or at the points where the lines intersect can create an aesthetically pleasing composition. This composition grids can be overlaid on your camera's viewfinder or added as guides in post-processing software or smartphone apps. They assist in placing key elements, lines, or points of interests within your frame to create visually appealing and well-balanced composition. Remember, while composition grids are helpful tools, they are not strict rules and it's essential to experiment and trust your creative instincts to capture unique and engaging food photos. Which leads me to my final tip, experiment and have fun. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Creativity thrives when you're open to experimentation. Composition is a creative process and it's often involves experimentation and refinement. Take multiple shots from different angles and position, adjusting the placement of elements with the use of composition grids, tools and techniques. Review your images and analyze how composition works to deliver your intended message or story. And that is it for my final three tips. Thank you so much for sticking around and for choosing this class to learn more about food photography composition. I slightly touched on camera settings, lighting, and food styling. But I have food photography classes coming up dedicated to those topics so make sure to hit the Follow button above so you will be the first to know when I publish new classes and do giveaways. I hope you've gained valuable insights and inspiration to take your food photography to new heights. Remember, practice is key. So keep experimenting, exploring and refining your skills. With that said, don't forget to share your work through the class project gallery by clicking the Create Project button, under projects and resources. If you are sharing your photos on Instagram, please feel free to tag me and Skillshare. My handle is @rosellenene I hope you had fun and found this class valuable. But either way, please leave a review so you can help me and your fellow students in deciding if this is the class for them. You can do this by going to "reviews" Then click on "leave review" Just answer this short and sweet questionnaire and finally, submit review. Don't underestimate leaving a review because I personally read all of them and really positive ones make my day brighter. That is it for me and this class. Thank you again, and I hope to see you in my other classes. Bye.