Food Photography by Alex Slyadnev

Food photography: mastering lighting, composition, textures, and creating portfolios that sell to top clients worldwide

What you'll learn

Deep understanding of the essential equipment, camera settings, and additional tools required for food photography

How to work with professional lighting, mastering the art of blending different light sources for the perfect shot.

Principles of composition, enabling you to create visually captivating images that draw in viewers

Rules of color theory, proportions, and angles, ensuring every shot is perfectly balanced

Techniques of food photography post-processing, enhancing your images to professional standards

How to find clients and communicate with them effectively, providing the business skills necessary to thrive in the industry

Requirements

Basic understanding of photography

Familiarity with key terminology, the structure of a camera, and how it operates

Fundamentals of camera settings and basic photo editing techniques

A standard camera or even a modern smartphone will be suitable for this course

Description

This course will teach you how to photograph food and products in a way that makes people (consumers, buyers, clients, viewers) want it immediately, purchase more frequently, and in larger quantities—ultimately helping your client earn more.You’ll learn to choose the right equipment, techniques, and lenses specifically for food photography. You’ll master lighting and its possibilities, like creating a sense of depth in your shots.You’ll effortlessly build compositions that grab attention and spark interest. You’ll discover many ready-to-use compositional tricks and solutions that make a photographer’s work faster and easier.You’ll be able to literally freeze time and motion. Levitation, “freezing the frame,” illusions, and special effects in the frame will become your superpowers. You’ll take control of any textures: liquids, powders, dust, smoke, foam, and sparks.You’ll learn how to create images that sell, emphasizing crucial details for purchasing decisions, highlighting benefits, and addressing the needs that the product or dish fulfills.You’ll explore the specifics of working as a food photographer in cafes, restaurants, and stores. You’ll learn to shoot in different interiors and environments, select the right props, and capture dishes during preparation.After this course, you’ll be able to take “delicious” photos of dishes during cooking, various desserts, chocolates, meats, bread, fast food, liquids, and gourmet meals. You’ll build a standout portfolio that sets you apart from other photographers. You’ll also master effective communication with both large and small clients, allowing you to work under favorable conditions.This course will help you become a modern commercial food photographer who can work anywhere in the world with any client—from grocery stores to Michelin-starred restaurants.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Who is a photographer, his|her activities and achievements

Lecture 2 What is this course about?

Lecture 3 Creating a story in food photography and how to photograph levitation

Lecture 4 Homework 1. Levitating delicacies

Lecture 5 What does the profession of the food photographer mean?

Lecture 6 The best kit for a beginner photographer

Lecture 7 10 tips for a beginner food photographer

Lecture 8 How much can a food photographer earn

Lecture 9 How to take photos of food with a smartphone

Lecture 10 Homework 2. Flavor Profiles

Section 2: Technique required to start in specialization

Lecture 11 Camera and lens to start with in specialization

Lecture 12 What additional equipment is needed

Lecture 13 How to choose a bag for photography equipment. My story of trials and errors

Lecture 14 Homework 3. Outdoor Food Festival

Section 3: Planning in food photography and the photographer's team

Lecture 15 How to plan a food photography photo shoot and why you really need planning

Lecture 16 How to build a team

Lecture 17 Accessory preparation and logistics

Lecture 18 A little about failures

Lecture 19 Homework 4. Wooden Accents

Section 4: Practical lessons. Photo shooting with natural light

Lecture 20 Equipment for a beginner food photographer

Lecture 21 How to photograph food with natural light. Secrets of food photography

Lecture 22 Homework 5. The Taste Of France

Lecture 23 Taking photos of food at different focal lengths

Lecture 24 Homework 6. Fruit Symphony

Lecture 25 Bananas. The simplest composition on a mobile phone

Lecture 26 Homework 7. Colorful Lemonades

Lecture 27 How to create a composition in food photography using a mobile phone

Lecture 28 Homework 8. Delicious Traditions

Lecture 29 Using long exposure in food photography

Lecture 30 Homework 9. Airy Magic Of Baking

Section 5: Practical lessons. Photo shooting with one light source

Lecture 31 Using a polarizing filter when photographing food

Lecture 32 Homework 10. Meat Delicacies

Lecture 33 Photoshoot of the coffee brewing process in the Dark Moody style

Lecture 34 Homework 11. Desserts In Shadow

Lecture 35 How to take a photo of a dish with the chef's hands. One light source

Lecture 36 Homework 12. Culinary Journey Through Italy

Lecture 37 We are photographing lemonade

Lecture 38 Homework 13. Lemonade Extravaganza

Lecture 39 How to photograph meat on a red-hot grill

Lecture 40 Homework 14. The Art Of Seasoning

Lecture 41 How to photograph a cake

Lecture 42 Homework 15. Secrets Of Pastry Art

Lecture 43 How to take photos of food in high and low key with one light source

Lecture 44 Homework 16. Croissants: The Harmony Of Light And Textures

Lecture 45 Food photography in a restaurant using both natural and artificial light

Lecture 46 Homework 17. Sakura In The Darkness

Section 6: Practical lessons. Photo shooting with two light sources

Lecture 47 Taking photos of a dish on a white background with two light sources

Lecture 48 Homework 18. Cheese Delicacies

Lecture 49 Abstraction and M&Ms. Photographing with a macro lens

Lecture 50 Homework 19. The Magical World Of Spices

Lecture 51 How to photograph glittering cutlery

Lecture 52 Homework 20. Cutlery In The Spotlight

Lecture 53 A simple composition with two light sources

Lecture 54 Homework 21. Modern Culinary Solutions

Lecture 55 We are taking photos of the mulled wine

Lecture 56 Homework 22. Winter Magic In A Cup

Lecture 57 Let's simulate burning embers when photographing a steak

Lecture 58 Homework 23. BBQ

Section 7: Working with the story of the photo, special effects, and a complex composition

Lecture 59 We are creating a story in the photo and photographing with hard light

Lecture 60 Homework 24. Breakfasts With Sun Rays

Lecture 61 Creating volume with the help of hard light to better engage the viewer

Lecture 62 Homework 25. Sunset And Sunrise In A Glass

Lecture 63 Photoshoot of a niche perfume using special effects

Lecture 64 Homework 26. Feel The Aroma In The Frame

Lecture 65 Limoncello. How to take an interesting advertising photo

Lecture 66 Homework 27. Wine As Art

Lecture 67 Beer advertising photoshoot with three light sources

Lecture 68 Homework 28. Thirst In The Frame — Creating Visuals For Beer Ads

Lecture 69 The alchemist's laboratory. How to make smoke with the help of dry ice

Lecture 70 Homework 29. The Magic of the Bar

Lecture 71 How to photograph a baker's morning

Lecture 72 Homework 30. Donutopia

Lecture 73 Junk food

Lecture 74 Homework 31. Between Benefit And Pleasure

Photographers with experience or a foundational knowledge of photography,Ideal for those looking to specialize and earn within the food photography niche,You aim to work with restaurants, food retailers, bakeries, artisanal producers, high-end dining establishments, food blogs, chefs, or culinary publishers,You will have the ability to publish their work in prestigious publications and even self-publish their own photography books