Food Photography

Checklist
Take the stress out of your shoots by
following this easy step-by-step guide
 A FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHECKLIST

PRE-SHOOT

PLAN THE CONCEPT

Decide on the style, theme, and mood of the
shoot. Consider factors like lighting, props and 1
backgrounds.

RECIPE SELECTION
Make sure to store your products
correctly to stop them from going
bad quickly!
2 Choose dishes that are visually appealing and
photogenic. Consider colours, textures, and
presentation.

SHOPPING
3
Purchase fresh ingredients. Ensure they
are of high quality and visually appealing.

PROPS & STYLING

4 Gather props, plates, cutlery, and linens that
complement the food. Consider the overall
composition and aesthetics.

PREPARING THE FOOD

Cook or prepare the food items, paying
attention to presentation and plating. 5 A great place to source props is
charity shops - you never know
what gems you can find!

ORGANIZE THE SHOOT AREA

6
Remember, they don’t have to Clear clutter and set up a dedicated space for
taste amazing, but they do have photography. Tidy space, tidy mind - this leaves you
to look great the headspace to focus on getting great shots.

DECIDE ON LIGHTING
Decide on natural light or studio light
depending on the kit you have or the aesthetic
you are trying to achieve.
7

CHOOSE CAMERA & LENSES

Why not check out our Food
Photography Classes for 8 Ensure your camera is clean and in working
order. Select appropriate lenses based on the
inspiration and tuition on food desired composition and focal length.
photography and lighting.

SET UP TRIPOD
Use a sturdy tripod to stabilize the camera. It
helps avoid blurriness and allows for precise
adjustments.
9 Generally a 90mm or 100mm
lens is perfect for most food
photography!

CAMERA SETTINGS
10 Set the camera to manual mode to have full
control over aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Use
RAW format for better post-processing flexibility.

TEST SHOTS
Take test shots to evaluate the composition,
lighting, and overall aesthetics. Take your 11
time, and enjoy the process!

Keep reading to discover the

Photography is supposed
to be FUN! 12 steps you need to take to
complete the shoot itself!
 A FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHECKLIST

DURING THE SHOOT

COMPOSITION
Arrange the food and props in an aesthetically
pleasing manner. Consider factors like 1
balance, symmetry, and leading lines.

ANGLES
Shallow DOF = Blurred background
Wide DOF = More in focus.
2 Experiment with different angles to capture the food
from various perspectives. Common angles include
overhead shots, 45-degree angles, and close-ups.

DEPTH OF FIELD
3
Play with aperture settings to control the depth
of field. Decide whether to have a shallow
depth of field or a wider depth of field.

Make sure that your props make

FOCUS & SHARPNESS
sense in relation to the food and
the aesthetic of the shot!
4 Ensure critical elements of the dish are in sharp
focus. Use manual focus or focus stacking
techniques if necessary.

PROPS & GARNISHES

Strategically place props and garnishes to
enhance the composition. Use them to add
colour, texture, or context to the scene.
5 Not sure what focus stacking is?
We can help here.

STYLING & CLEAN-UP

6 Continuously adjust and clean up the food during the
shoot. Remove imperfections, adjust sauce drizzles,
or rearrange items for optimal presentation.

NATURAL & STUDIO LIGHT

Utilize natural light or artificial lighting setups
to create the desired ambiance and highlight
specific aspects of the food. 
7 Food can start looking bad
quickly so it's worth saving your
best products to put in place last
once everything else is set up.

If using studio lights or reflectors -

make sure to work methodically and
WHITE BALANCE
add one at a time!

8 Set the appropriate white balance to ensure

accurate colors. Use a gray card or custom white
balance settings for precise color reproduction.

EXPOSURE
Make sure that you have the correct
exposure and have not got blown out
highlights in your images
9

EXPERIMENT & BE CREATIVE

10 Don't be afraid to try different techniques,
angles, or props to create unique and visually
captivating shots.

Want to learn more about food photography?

Master the art of food photography and styling through our engaging online classes.

Led by a top food photographer and stylist, you'll learn everything from ingredient
preparation and prop selection to styling and lighting techniques.

Our classes cover beginner to advanced levels, including natural light setups for home and
advanced studio lighting. Discover industry tricks using reflectors and mirrors to confidently
capture your own creative ideas.

JOIN NOW TO UNLOCK YOUR FULL POTENTIAL IN FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

 A FOOD PHOTOGRAPHERS CHECKLIST

POST-SHOOT

BACKUP YOUR FILES

As soon as you can, back up your photos to
a reliable location to avoid data loss. 1

PHOTO SELECTION
Want a full course on beginner
Photoshop? Check it out here. 2 Review the captured shots and select your
favourites and/or the best shots that meet
your vision and requirements.

POST-PROCESSING
3
Edit your shots could involve anything from
removing imperfections to simply increasing
brightness.

RESIZE & EXPORT

4 Export the final edited images in the desired file
format (JPEG, TIFF, etc.) and resize them for
specific platforms or usage.

STORAGE & ARCHIVING

Organize and store the final images in a
secure location for future use. Maintain an
archive for easy access and retrieval.
5 Remember, all social media
platforms have different
recommended file sizes and
dimensions!

YOUR TUTORS
Immerse yourself in the art of food photography with our exceptional classes led by not one, but
two extraordinary photographers. These masters of their craft bring a wealth of experience and
expertise to the table, ensuring that you receive top-tier instruction from industry experts.

ANNA PUSTYNNIKOVA
Anna Pustynnikova is a professional food and beverage photographer and stylist with
over 10 years of experience.

Anna uses careful lighting and precise attention to detail to create beautiful, vibrant
and mouth-watering images and videos. Her work is used by clients and brands
around the world for advertising campaigns, social media, web and editorial content,
cookbooks and more. Anna’s expertise and passion make her a natural instructor –
one who is eager to share her secrets and help others master the fine art of food
photography.

KARL TAYLOR
Karl has been a professional photographer for more than 25 years. Commissioned by
leading global brands for his precise attention to detail and exquisite control of light,
Karl is also known as an instructor who explains complex subjects clearly and
effectively.

His unique expertise and commitment to education has led him to work for Hasselblad
Camera Company, Broncolor Lighting, and Adobe, as well as to appearances on the
BBC and elsewhere.