Food Photography: All About the Angle

All About the Angle: How to Find the Perfect Angle to Capture Your Dish

When it comes to food photography, one of the most important things to take into consideration is the point of view the picture is taken from. By simply adjusting the angle of the camera, the image captured can be altered in so many ways to achieve the specific look and feel desired. One of the best parts about this tool is that it is free for photographers at any skill level. It is a fun way for beginning food bloggers to experiment with photographing their dishes. In this module of Food Photography, I will review four powerful camera angles and their impact on the image.

The Overhead View

I have to admit that I am starting off with one of my favorite angles for food photography. It is when you hold your camera directly over top of the food, at a 90 degree angle, and shoot straight down. I am partial to this view because it allows several ingredients to be shown. It also eliminates the depth of the photo, which makes getting the “right look” easier for many simple recipes. Another thing I would like to mention here is that using the freshest possible ingredients is essential for a desirable picture. For example, I only use Eggland’s Best eggs because they arrive in stores within 72 hours of being laid which makes them super fresh and in turn assures me that the yolks will be pretty!

The ¾ Angle

This angle is a great place to start if you are not sure how to take your shot. Hold your camera at about a 45 degree angle in relationship to the food to take the picture. It should capture the front, top, and sides of the food, but not the back. In other words, ¾ of the actual image. This is a beautiful way to relay a story to your readers about a meal or show all the ingredients in a recipe.

The “Head On” Shot

In a “Head On” shot the camera is looking straight at the subject or at a zero degree angle. This point of view is looking directly at the food and will only show the front of it. It is a dramatic angle to use when you want to only feature the finished food item.

FREE Food Photography Course

Would you like to learn more about the “Right Angle” for Food Photograpy? Sign up for the FREE class offered by Fit Approach in partnership with England’s Best here:  Fit Approach Food Photography Course

Course lessons include:

• No gear required: how to take amazing photos with just your phone, by Jennifer from Fit Nana.
• When fake is good: staging a beautiful backdrop by Kristin from FoodFash
• Lighting perfection: How to get the best natural light to capture the shot, by Ashley from Fit Girl in Flight
• All about the angle: how to find the perfect angle to capture your dish, by me!

Have you ever taken a Food Photography Course? Will you be signing up for this awesome free class? What is your favorite angle to take pictures of your tasty creations?

Thank you so much for stopping by! As always, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. Happy Thanksgiving!