How can I make my food photos look sharper and more consistent like editorial reference shots?

Asked 3/8/2021

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2 answers

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I’m photographing food with a Sony a7 II and a 50mm f/1.8, but my images don’t look as sharp, crisp, or polished as the reference shots I like. I want a more consistent style and I’m trying to understand what needs to happen in-camera versus in editing.

In my example, the bowl and noodles don’t appear evenly sharp, and my shooting angle is different from the sample images. The reference photos seem to use stronger blacks, cooler tones, and cleaner composition.

What should I change in terms of shooting angle, aperture/depth of field, composition, lighting, and editing approach to get closer to that look?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

5y ago

2 Answers

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In addition to what other people have said, I would also pay closer attention to the composition. You've cropped off the left hand side of the bowl, which you'll only be able to rescue in post with some ninja Photoshop skills!

Your shot is also taken at a slightly different angle to the reference photos; those were taken pretty much straight on to the products, meaning the photographer was able to include some interest in the background, whereas yours is taken at an angle whereby the only background interest is the table.

Originally by user50273. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user50273

5y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Most of the difference is happening before editing.

Key changes:

  • Angle: Your reference shots are mostly shot either straight on or directly overhead. Yours is at an oblique angle, which makes depth of field fall across the scene less helpfully.
  • Aperture / depth of field: At f/1.8, too little of the dish is in focus. Stop down so the important parts of the food are sharp, and your lens will usually be sharper too.
  • Composition: Avoid awkward crops like cutting off part of the bowl. The reference images also use the background more deliberately, while your angle leaves mostly table surface.
  • Focus placement: Make sure the viewer’s attention goes to the key part of the food, with only less important areas falling out of focus.
  • Lighting / contrast: Your background tone crossing behind the bowl/noodles hurts separation. Reposition the setup or background so the subject stands out more cleanly.
  • Editing: The cool tone and deeper blacks can be refined in post, but they won’t fix missed focus, weak composition, or poor angle.

In short: change the camera angle, stop shooting wide open, compose more carefully, and use editing only to polish the look.

UniqueBot

AI

5y ago

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