Karen Clark’s Post

Here are the tips and tricks for FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: 1. Master the Light: Natural light is your best friend. Aim for soft, diffused light by shooting near a window on a cloudy day. Avoid harsh overhead lights and flash, which can flatten the image. 2. Style Your Stage: Food presentation is key! Use plates, bowls, and utensils that complement the dish. Incorporate fresh herbs, spices, or ingredients from the recipe as props, but avoid cluttering the scene. 3. Find Flattering Angles: Don't just shoot straight down! Experiment with angles - a 45-degree view can add depth, while overhead might be perfect for pizzas or flatbreads. 4. Focus on Composition: Use the rule of thirds to create a balanced image. Imagine dividing the frame into a tic-tac-toe grid, and place your food at one of the intersecting points. 5. Play with Depth of Field: A shallow depth of field (blurred background) draws attention to the main course. Conversely, a wider depth of field showcases the entire culinary creation and its setting. 6. Befriend Food Shine: A light spritz of water or a touch of oil can make food appear more vibrant and appetizing. Just avoid creating a greasy look. 7. Tell a Story: Use props and backgrounds that hint at the taste or origin of the dish. A rustic wooden table might suit a hearty stew, while a bright linen napkin could frame a delicate dessert. 8. Embrace Imperfection: Don't overcook everything for the photo. A perfectly round pizza slice might look unrealistic, while a slight drizzle of sauce adds a touch of authenticity. 9. Editing Enhances, Not Replaces: Use editing software to adjust lighting, color balance, and crop the image. But remember, the goal is to enhance the natural beauty of the food, not create something entirely new. 10. Practice Makes Perfect: The more you shoot, the better you'll become at capturing food's visual appeal. Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with the process! Schedule a free consultation today and let's discuss how we can turn your social media presence into a recipe for success! #foodphotography #foodie #foodstagram #foodlover #delicious #instafood #restaurantmarketing #eatlocal #supportlocal #foodgasm #foodpics #catering #cheflife #foodblogger #foodgram

FRESH DROP 📷 Just like that…(hopefully temporary) we are back to forecasts of clouds and rainy weather. The outdoor living vibes will have to wait now until the BH weekend! 🤞🏻 • This lovely recipe is to be found over @tescofood website and is perfect for a quick, easy and nutritious dinner. Not quite hearty-stew, but also abit more substantial than a summer salad. • Smoky Spanish Butterbean with Olives Ingredients 3½ tbsp olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, crushed 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes 1 tsp Smoked Paprika 2 x 400g tins butter beans, rinsed and drained 200g baby spinach leaves 1/2 Jar pitted black olives, drained and slic ed Method 1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and fry the onion with a pinch of salt for 6-8 mins 2. Add half the garlic, fry for 30 secs, then add the tomatoes, swirl each can out with 50ml water and add to the pan with the Smoked Paprika. Simmer for 10 mins until the sauce thickens slightly. 3. Add the beans, stire then add and spinach (placed ontop of the stew to steam); stir until the spinach wilts, then simmer for another 10 mins. Enjoy! • 📷 Commercial Food & Drink Photographer ⚡️Editorial | Commercial | Content Creation 🎥 Food Stop-Motion Animation 🥣 A stunning library of props, surfaces and fabrics available to clients Email: hello@nataliegarforth.co.uk • #foodanddrinkphotography #foodphotographer #foodanddrink #foodphotographyandstyling #foodphotoshoot #lifestylefood #designagencylondon #adagency #workinginfood #foodstylist #foodstyling #contentproducer #contentmarketing #foodmarketing #publishing #recipephotography #socialcontentcreation #foodcontentcreator #foodcontent

Autumn on a Plate! How does this dish make you feel? For me, it’s the perfect embodiment of Autumn —rich, earthy tones, hearty ingredients, and textures that just scream comfort, albeit fine comfort!! The crispy bits paired with the vibrant, roasted vegetables make for an inviting dish that reflects the season. With a drizzle of sauce to bring it all together, it tells the story of autumn in every bite! I loved photographing this autumn-inspired dish for one of my client’s new menus. Capturing the details—like the contrast between the golden crust and rich beetroot —truly brings out the season’s vibe. What seasonal dishes are you showcasing this Autumn? So in other news….drum roll …exciting news: My LinkedIn newsletter, Spice, Style, Shoot, is launching imminently! In it, I’ll be diving into everything from styling tips to photography techniques, perfect for restaurants and brands that want to elevate their food presentation for the season. The first issue is coming soon, so keep an eye out for plenty of tips and insights to help you stand out during the busy holiday season! If you’re looking to upgrade your food photography or get ahead with holiday shots, let’s connect! #FoodPhotography #Newsletter #RestaurantMarketing #SpiceStyleShoot #spiceandlight

IT'S BRITISH SANDWICH WEEK! Do you ever get disappointed when you open a sandwich from a shop and it doesn’t look as full and fresh as it does in the advert that tempted you into purchasing it…? Food photography is a specialist area, lot of amazing tips and tricks to make the food look as mouth watering as possible to tempt you to tuck in. For example, a sandwich, they make sure the bread is excellent quality and the best of the cut, very fresh. The salad leaves are the cleanest, freshest, colourful and most beautiful. Everything is freshly cut, so little or no time for the air to start dulling the surfaces. There is usually the “fresh washed” vibe about it too, so drops of water, which is sometimes sprayed on and has a 50/50 water/glycerine mixture to stop it drying out. To help give a fuller effect they layer between the layering effect with bits of card so things don’t look crushed. It’s a real art to this genre. I do love food photography, although I’m more documentary in style than food stylist. I’ve worked various businesses in the past, pubs, private chefs, restaurants, creating a style for their food so they can showcase to their menus. It’s great fun, and definitely fast paced. Talking of sandwiches, my favourite is a humble “fish-finger sandwich” great for midnight munchies as well as a tasty treat at a gastro pub. A decent amount of butter, must have a sprinkle of ground salt, and a good dollop of tartar sauce! Tell me what makes a good sandwich for you? #photography #photographyforbusiness #foodphotography

We understand the mouthwatering power of good food photography! Did you know? We not only taste with our palates but also with our eyes! That's why captivating food photography is essential for restaurants. From sizzling steaks to decadent desserts, our lens captures the essence of your culinary creations, enticing diners before they even take their first bite. Elevate your restaurant's online presence and tantalise taste buds with CK Studios. Because every delicious dish deserves to be showcased in its best light! DM us for more information on how to showcase your dishes and tell that visual story of your foods.  #FoodPhotography #CKStudios #EyesFeastFirst

𝗜𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲? The sun is finally shining in the UK, and there's no better time to share this product image I captured over the weekend for SOAK'd OATS. A big thank you to SOAK'd OATS for supplying me with some sample products to practice on for my product photography course. This weekend, I had the chance to test out what I have learned so far. SOAK'd OATS 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙛𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙣-𝙩𝙝𝙚-𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙤𝙖𝙠’𝙙 𝙟𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙤 𝙤𝙖𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙟𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙪𝙩-𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣-𝙩𝙝𝙚-𝙜𝙤 𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙠. 𝙈𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡-𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙯𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙚, 𝙜𝙪𝙩-𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙬𝙮. For this shot, I wanted to capture the feel of a sunny morning with a bright blue sky and the bar propped up on a bed of oats and dried fruit. I went for a low angle to give the bars a heroic look. It was a bit tricky to get the wrapped bar to sit just right without too many creases, but after some Photoshop magic, I'm super happy with the results. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸? 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀! #AlwaysLearning #FoodPhotographer #FoodPhotography #ProductPhotography #CommercialPhotography #FoodBrand

Meatless meatballs. Made with... drum roll please... baked beans! Yes, the use of baked beans in recipes is still going strong. These meatless balls turned out to be surprisingly delicious, especially when the bean sauce is incorporated into cooking of the rice. No wastage here, although beans were indeed squashed in the making of these meat-free balls. #foodphotography #meatlessballs #photography #BakedBeans #comfortfood #foodstyling #foodstylist #meatballs #rice

Alright, imagine scrolling through your Instagram feed and stumbling upon a pic of the most mouthwatering burger you've ever seen. What makes you wanna stop and drool? It's not just the juicy patty and melty cheese – it's how perfectly everything's arranged. That's where food styling comes in. In the world of commercial photography, it's like the secret sauce. It's not enough to have delicious food; it's gotta look irresistible too. Think about it: a messy plate of spaghetti versus a beautifully twirled nest of noodles with just the right sprinkle of parmesan – which one would you double-tap? Food styling is all about making every dish look like it just stepped out of a gourmet magazine. It's about playing with colours, textures, and garnishes to create a visual feast that makes you wanna reach through the screen and take a big ol' bite. So next time you're ogling over food pics, remember, there's an art behind every mouthwatering shot. #FoodPhotography #FoodStyling #DeliciousDishes #VisualFeast #GourmetEats #InstaFoodie #FoodieFaves #FoodArtistry #NomNomNom #FoodGasm #FoodieGram #FoodieLife #FoodPorn #TastyTreats #YumAlert #FoodieInspiration #InstaYum #FoodLove #MouthwateringMoments #FoodieGoals #vinaydutt #commercialphotography

_How to make food Color plays a massive role in how we perceive food. Vibrant, rich colors can make your mouth water and your stomach growl, while dull, muted tones can leave you feeling as uninspired as a wilted salad. But here's the kicker: capturing those mouthwatering colors isn't always easy-peasy. Lighting, camera settings, and even editing techniques can all affect how those hues come through in your photos. So, next time you're snapping pics of your culinary creations, remember: it's not just about what's on the plate—it's about how you make those colors sing. #image, #photoshop, #photo, #ai, #food, #foodie, #foodphotography, #delicious, #baking #dmtoorder #sweettooth #indulge, #foodtruck, #restaurant , #menu, #whitebackground, #chicken, #bodybuilderdiet

You need a hero!!! Every food photograph requires a hero - a clear feature in the frame that is the priority dish. The point in the photograph which your eye goes to & stays. How is a hero created? •Careful lighting - the hero should be the lightest position of the frame, whilst maintaining perfect exposure. •Focusing - the hero should be in focus whilst those around it may purposely blurred. •Colours - whether contrasting or harmonising, the colours within your photograph should complement the hero not distract from it. •View point - whilst some food works well with any focusing angle, others have a particular direction or angle that works perfectly for them. All this was used when I took the photograph below: The stack of spaghetti with bolognese sauce & basil on top is clearly the hero. It is the most central item in the frame, the clearest, most focused part of the photograph, and the point at which your eye goes straight to & instantly makes you hungry! ✉️ Calling all restaurant owners, cafe owners, bar owners, chefs, food and drink creatives, would your business benefit from scroll stopping, mouth watering professional photographs of your food? DM me for a chat about how we could work together. #️⃣ For more photography tips and photographs please follow my hashtag #wendysartofthelens. #foodphotography #hospitalityindustry #restaurants #chefs #foodanddrink 29/05