Foodstagramming: How to Create Stunning Food Photos for Social Media

The Instagram obsession has been engrained in Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha culture for over a decade with the young generation looking to boost their social profile by posting their life in picture form. Achieving the perfect shots for your Instagram profile does come with challenges, as everyone has different aspirations as to what they want their profile to look like.

Foodstagramming is a popular trend with foodies creating accounts and posting their culinary delights for all their followers to see. If you’re interested in creating your own food-based Instagram account, you need to learn how to master the art of food photography, as more users are likely to follow a page that has high-quality content. There are some proven techniques that will improve your foodstagramming portfolio, which we will explore in this article.

We will take a look at some of the insider secrets that you might not be aware of and help you to create the perfect foodie Instagram post ideas.

Foodstagramming Techniques

Choose the Perfect Angle

With any type of photography, choosing the best angle can make all the difference as it can make whatever’s in the shot look better. Taking photographs of food for Instagram can be improved by using the ‘lay flat’ technique, which involves capturing the food from an angle directly above. This is particularly effective if your dish has intricate detailing on the top, but it can make for a great shot regardless.

You can start using these methods for dishes like pizza or tapas, as these are both perfect at capturing from above. If you want to achieve the perfect picture, you should use angles that best showcase the lighting as it can significantly enhance your images.

Embrace Negative Space

While you might think that negative space in your Instagram pictures is a bad thing, it’s actually the contrary. This is especially true for food photography, as it can add a clean composition to your images that will make your profile look more professional. Having negative space in a food photograph can amplify the visual impact of the shot and be effective at directing attention to the main focal point.

When leaving this negative space, you need to ensure that it fits the food that you are taking a picture of as you don’t want it to distract the viewer. A clear white background can be perfect for this effect.

Diagonal Arrangement

The arrangements of the food and object in your shot can be crucial in creating the perfect balance that will be attractive on your Instagram profile. While a random arrangement can be an interesting look in some cases, it can be unreliable and work against Instagram analytics. A diagonal positioning can be the best arrangement for your food photography.

Follow the angles of your food to guide you with the correct positioning. You might need to spend time rearranging the food in different directions to achieve the ideal scenario that will benefit your foodstagramming needs. When creating something unique, you should go against using too many straight lines.

Focus on Lighting

Lighting can make a huge difference when it comes to Instagram photography, as it can help you enhance your images or follow a theme. Natural lighting is the best solution to capturing the perfect image, as the natural glow of sunlight will create a beautiful aesthetic. For photography, the golden hour is perfect as it’s just before sunset and after sunrise which creates the ideal soft glow.

You should choose lighting that compliments your scenario or food that you are displaying, as different light levels will look better with different dishes. If you’re taking a picture of a breakfast dish, you should utilise morning lighting as this will look the most realistic and give the perfect shine to the dish.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds can be a very helpful tool for boosting your foodstagramming potential. Instagram’s grid feature is made so that you can get the perfect balance within your photographs, as the grid lines split your screen up into horizontal and vertical thirds.

The most interesting part of the dish should be 1/3 of the way into the shot for the perfect balance, as it will sit just inside the central square. This will attract more people to the focal point of the image.

Find the Perfect Location

You need to seek the perfect location for all of your foodstagram posts. This can be split into two meanings, as you want a place that has excellent food choices while also having the perfect backgrounds to enhance your photography. Restaurants in Leeds are well known for their foodstagramming potential, as places like La Taberna, HOME and Ox Club are becoming trends for social media influencers in that area.

If your Instagram account has a specific theme that it follows, you should find restaurants and cafes that offer food that will cater to your target audience.