Want to take better travel food photos or up the temptation factor of the pictures you take while eating out? Here are some tips from foodie food photographer Mark Ong (@makoeats), whose Instagram account is full of mouthwatering pictures of his everyday meals at various eateries.

 

I see, I shoot, I eat

Commercial and casual food photography have similar goals: showcase the appeal of the food. Yet, the experience and challenges are very different. For one, with casual food photography, the food is produced for consumption, not for photography. You are also working with what’s available, making it more challenging to get the image to look the way you want.

Commercial food photography	Casual/travel food photography
- More control over lighting - Can plan and prepare the shoot (styling, etc) - More time to shoot - The client’s brief sets the direction	- Working with available light - Working with what’s available - Less time to shoot (eating the food is important too!) - You’re shooting for yourself

But at the same time, it’s also liberating to see what you can create with just a camera and lens and perhaps a Speedlite! I hope the tips below will help you capture images closer to what you desire.

What I usually bring:
- EOS R5 or EOS R6 Mark II
- RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM: A standard zoom lens offers the most flexibility in crowded street food stalls and restaurants
- Speedlite (used sometimes)

When I need a lighter combination, I use:
- EOS R10
- RF50mm f/1.8 STM (though your kit lens should work, too)

 

#1. Lighting: Indirect side or back lighting works best

The ideal lighting is indirect natural light originating from behind the food or from the sides. Front light (light from the same direction as the camera) will make the food look less three-dimensional. While I carry a Speedlite for use in dim lighting conditions, I prefer to shoot in the daytime with natural light. I try to sit where natural light is available.

Do this: Side lighting originating from behind the food

EOS R5/ RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM/ FL: 65mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/9, 1/80 sec, EV -0.3)/ ISO 125/ Ngoh hiang (pork rolls in beancurd skin), sausages, and assorted fritters

There is a beautiful subtle glow to the food, but at the same time, shadows give it dimensionality. The light on the sauce on the right gives it a delicious-looking sheen.

Avoid this: Front lighting

While evenly lit, the food here looks flat. Front lighting may be ideal for portraits of people because it makes skin look smooth, but for food photography, we generally want to show dimension and textures!

Pro tips

- Reflections and glare can make food look more appealing
I sometimes add a little soup or gravy to food that I feel looks too dry or dull. Many types of food look more appetising if there’s an appealing sheen. How much “shine” is necessary depends on the food and the context, but details such as texture and colour should not be blown out.

- White balance: AWB (Ambience-priority) works well for most shots
I usually shoot with auto white balance (AWB). The default AWB (Ambience-priority) mode on the newer EOS R series cameras does a good job most of the time.

 

#2: Styling and composition: Should complement the main dish

EOS R5/ RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM/ FL: 85mm/ Aperture-priority AE (f/8, 1/100 sec, EV -0.3)/ ISO 500/ Lor mee (Braised noodles)

Don’t be afraid to rearrange ingredients!

I usually arrange the key ingredients in a dish so that the “hero” ingredient is more prominent. For example, the key ingredients in lor mee (shown in the image above) are the fishcakes, fried dumplings, and ngoh hiang (pork rolls in beancurd skin) so I’ve placed them on top along with the chilli and condiments. The noodles are at the base. I asked for the ingredients to be placed only after the thick gravy was ladled onto the noodles so that they would not be covered.

Props and backdrops: Making the best of what’s available

I don’t usually carry props around when I photograph food for myself. Instead, I make use of what’s available, such as utensils, condiment containers, and even the table.

Pro tip: Study good images, and then practise applying them

Build your sense of what looks good. When you see appealing food photographs, study how the photographers styled and composed the image. Familiarise yourself with colour theory. This will help you to see more possibilities when working with what’s in front of you. Feel free to experiment and learn by trial-and-error when the situation allows. After all, food isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime moment—just eat it before it gets cold!

 

#3: Learn to use a bounce flash

If lighting conditions are unfavourable but the venue has a white ceiling, I will use an on-camera Speedlite and bounce the flash to ensure adequate lighting on my subject. This lets me use a lower ISO speed, avoiding graininess. E-TTL (automatic flash metering) mode works fine most of the time so you don’t really have to worry about dialling in manual settings!

 

How a bounce flash works