Lena Otvodenko’s Post

Mouth-watering food photos have the power to turn social scrolls into reservations.  🔥 But even with a good camera, beautifully-plated dishes can fall flat.  We interviewed renowned food photography experts to help you master the 3 most important elements that turn food photos into reservation magnets. 1. Harness the power of natural light to highlight textures and colors naturally. 2. Use dynamic angles and framing, like the rule of three, to help draw the eye. 3. Incorporate props and settings that complement dish's flavor. Get the specifics on how 👇

A style that I have worked on since day one of this journey is always showing the ingredients, flavour and aroma cues of products and to this day it is still one of my favourite concepts, there are SO many ways to do this💚 Something else that I love as much as making ingredient shots is making a mess (a beautiful one of course) so to combine these two ideas is amazing! Why do I like these settings so much? I love having all the ingredients cut up and prepped, they always smell amazing but to begin with they don't look like much until you start placing them and bringing it all together. These shots are a playground to experiment with texture, textures can make or break these images so getting creative and coming up with all sorts of cuts of fruit, spills and splashes, petals, peel, and shapes it's very exciting to me and I try to create as many textures as I possibly can from the ingredients. They are a real work in progress - it may look like things are just thrown down (and this is how it should look) but actually getting everything evenly placed and filling the frame is very time consuming, I love getting lost in the details, it is almost like a moving meditation. I love working in layers and seeing the shot coming together slowly, from the largest ingredients right down to that last passionfruit seed these shots really are created in layers and those final touches are what takes them to the next level. I love being part of this process. I am sure there will be many more of these types of shots in my future but this is one of my recent favs, shot at the beginning of the year for @deltaestatewines🌷🌿🍍🍂 #productphotographer #winephotography #beveragephotography #artdirection

Imagine the scene. We've both had a brilliant week and I've taken you to a lively pub to celebrate our successes. Over the hubbub, I shout into your ear: "What would you like to drink?" Ok, so think about your favourite drink for a moment. You can probably picture the bottle, feel the cold chill of the glass in your hand. Maybe you can hear the distinctive sound of the cork being drawn, the cap being removed or the pffzzzhhht! of the pent-up bubbles escaping. And you can DEFINITELY imagine that first sip of the precious liquid. Mmmm. Nice, eh? But for some inextricable reason you reply: "I'll just have a drink, thanks". I fight my way to the bar and I come back with your drink. Which turns out to be a warm pint of the sweetest, flattest and most boring-est cider that you've experienced since you were 16 and needing something cheap to take to that party you weren't really invited to. So. Did you get what you really, really wanted? Did that warm, flat cider live up to the picture in your mind? If you were disappointed, then please remember this story when you next think about your business photos. People often say to me that they "just need a headshot". Thankfully, I'm not so mean as to give them the visual equivalent of a cheap cider. I will always ask questions to get a better idea of their real preferences. And don't worry - you don't have to know in advance exactly the picture that we're going to create together. I can help you with the best location, background, pose, expression, lighting, editing. But I will expect you to be able to tell me a bit about your business and how you want to be perceived. It's never JUST a headshot. 🔔 Want more photo tips? Ding my bell. 🎷 Want to talk about YOUR ideal business image? Send me a toot, I'm only one DM away! #HeadshotPhotographer #PersonalBranding #Business #PhotographerKentUK

Capture Culinary Magic: Top Tips for High-Quality Food Photos! 📸 🌞 Use Natural Light: Position your dish near a window for soft, natural lighting. 🥘 Keep It Simple: Avoid clutter; focus on the main dish. 📐 Angles Matter: Experiment with different angles, like overhead or 45 degrees. ✨ Edit Wisely: Use photo editing apps to enhance colors and brightness. 🤲 Add a Human Touch: Include hands or utensils to create a story. Elevate your restaurant's online presence with stunning food photography! 📈 #FoodPhotography #RestaurantMarketing #SocialMediaTips #Foodie #InstaFood #Marketing #RestaurantOwner #PhotographyTips

Do you enjoy making bread? 🍞 🥖 🍞🥖🍞🥖🍞🥖🍞🥖 Some top tips to make sure the bread comes out right every time: 🍞Use the right yeast. 🍞Store your yeast properly. 🍞Treat salt with care. 🍞Take your time. 🍞Try different flours. 🍞Measure carefully. 🍞Don’t prove for too long unless it’s in a cool place. 🍞Practice makes perfect. Creative photography will always challenge the everyday. Use your loaf, be more Daisy. Select 🔔 for new photo posts. Keep in the picture and folllow #bemoredaisy for creative inspiring food images. #foodphotography #creativephotography #foodanddrink #foodmanufacturing #foodmarketing #futureoffood

Here are 3 things you have to get right when shooting food 👇 1️⃣ Lighting: Lighting is everything in photography and it can make or break your shots. So take your time and get it right. Use natural light when possible but the light you use does depend on your style of photography. Avoid harsh overhead lighting that can create unflattering shadows. Experiment with diffusers and reflectors to achieve soft, even lighting that makes your food look irresistible. 2️⃣ Timing: If you want your greens to look as fresh as possible, or you want to capture the wisp of steam coming off a hot dish, plan your shoot well and include your chef. Make sure you have your set up ready to go before you start cooking. 3️⃣ Storytelling: Don't forget the job of your images is to entice them into your restaurant by showing them what it's like to eat with you. Try to capture the experience of dining with you, not just the plate of food on its own. And if you need any help, give me a shout! #foodphotographer #foodphotography #londonphotographer

How fresh are you? Always on the lookout for flower containers, I thought this tin of figs was perfect for this little posy from the garden. Sadly, the figs didn’t get eaten as the tin, which was found at the back of the cupboard, was well out of date. We have an ongoing argument in our house about out of date food, I’m always cautious and throw away anything that is out of date and looks a bit suspect, whereas my other half hates throwing food away will risk it. How strict are you about best before dates? What about out of date headshots? When was the last time you updated your profile pics? Is it time you had a refresh? If you need a new set of headshots, please do get in touch … for when I’m not recycling tins into flower containers and shooting florals for greeting cards, I’m a branding photographer who helps small business owners increase their visibility by providing them with gorgeous on brand images for use on their websites, socials and marketing material. #brandingphotography #headshots #greetingcards #smallbusiness

Apparently today is #NationalPizzaDay 🍕 ! Here's a throwback to January 2020 when I did some shots for Just Gluten Free Bakery. I have dabbed at food phtoography on a few occasions, but I will let you in on a wee secret - it is NOT as simple as you many believe! A lot of the times in food photography, there are substitutes for real food components, such as shaving foam for cream; glue for mozzarella (yeno, for that cheese pull); as well as mixing glycerin with water for that natural "wet spray" look on fruit. A lot of the times, these are used because they hold better for longer in images than real food does. Lighting is difficult, because the same as any other type of photography, you want the main focus/subject to stand out, and look appealing and to its best standard. You need the food to look delicious! The best lighting is usually natural, or as close as if you're replicating it. It looks light, airy and even. Unless you're going for a darker theme with some moody lighting - that can also look beautiful! Styling plays a BIG part in food photography. Props are super important, whether that be ingredients, cutlery etc etc. Too many props can look too cluttered and take away from the food itself. But, it's important to pick props that are fitting and make sense to the food you're shooting 🍲 📸 🍽 #photography #photographer #foodphotography #foodphotographer #productphotography #productphotographer #commercialphotography #commercialphotographer #advertisingphotography #advertisingphotographer #creativephotography #creativephotographer #creative #commercialphotography #commercialphotographer

From the Kitchen to the Studio: How My Culinary Roots Shaped My Photography Career Starting my career as a chef taught me the power of repetition and consistency. I spent thousands of hours peeling, chopping vegetables, filleting fish, and managing stock 24 hrs at a time. These tasks were repetitive, yes, but they were also the foundation of my craft. This ingrained discipline has seamlessly transitioned into my photography business. The precision required in the kitchen mirrors the attention to detail I bring to every shoot. Just as I once knew exactly how to prepare each dish without even thinking, I now instinctively know how to frame a shot, adjust the lighting, and create the perfect image for my clients. The kitchen taught me that greatness is in the details, and consistency is key. Now, in my photography business, I approach each project with the same dedication, ensuring that the final product is always of the highest quality. Whether behind the lens or behind the stove, it's this foundation that allows me to consistently deliver excellence. I’d love to know what from your early days has set you up in business now, please share. *This photo was from some trifles I made quickly for the family last night. My son said he really had a taste for how I used to make them when they were kids, haha funny how nostalgic we can be with food. #kerilittlephotography #business

Post-processing can help enhance the visual impact of your food photos, allowing you to adjust colors, contrast, and sharpness to achieve the desired effect. Learn more in comment link below.