Food photography

An example of food photography, by A. J. Yao

Food photography is an artistic technique employed to exaggerate or enhance the appearance of food, often for advertising purposes. Photography techniques such as lighting, backgrounds, focus, depth of view, filters are adjusted in ways to increase the allure of the food subject. Other tricks of the trade include painting or coloring the photographed objects in order to make them look more appetizing; painting an uncooked chicken or fowl a deep, glistening brown, for instance, is a standard technique.

There are three main objectives of food photography: packaging, advertising, and editorial. Different objectives exist for photographing food because the techniques employed must illustrate the food in different ways. For example, when food is photographed in order to be printed on packaging, the image must capture as much detail as possible to ensure food is displayed in a "realistic, favorable way." When food is photographed for advertisements, typically there is a specific idea that the designer wants to convey. The focus is more on selling the food, rather than increasing the "beauty" of the product(s) being photographed. However, when food is photographed for editorials, there is a special emphasis placed on the overall appearance of the food; the "attractiveness" factor takes precedence over the realistic representation of the food itself.