Food Photography Masterclass

Written By Samantha Peel

I recently completed a food photography masterclass for The Cake Business Club, run by the amazing Kate, who coaches ambitious cake designers. During my session, I shared key techniques to help cake businesses create stunning photos of their creations. The main topics I covered were:

  • Flat Lay Photography

  • Composition Techniques

  • Ways to Draw Attention

  • Small Studio Setup

Flat lay photography

Flat lay photography involves shooting objects directly from above, creating clean, organized, and visually strong compositions. It’s popular on social media, in food photography, and for product marketing.

Process for a Flat Lay Shot:

  1. Shoot from directly above.

  2. Ensure lighting is even with no harsh shadows.

  3. Balance negative space – the empty area around your main subject to make it pop.

Composition Techniques

Viewpoint

90 Degrees — Top-Down (Flat Lay)

  • Best for cakes with decorative tops: flowers, berries, chocolate art.

  • Highlights symmetry & surface texture.

  • Not ideal for showing height or layers.

  • Use even lighting to avoid outward shadows.

  • Perfect for: Instagram grids, decorative cake tops, ingredient storytelling.

45 Degrees — The Classic Cake Angle (¾ View)

  • Most versatile & natural-looking.

  • Shows both top decoration and height.

  • Ideal for whole cakes, drip cakes, piped edges.

  • Lighting at 45° works best for soft shadow shaping.

  • Good for: bakery hero images, commercial menus, client product shots.

0 Degrees — Eye-Level Angle

  • Emphasizes height + layers (sponge + filling).

  • Best angle for slice reveals and dramatic “hero” shots.

  • Top decoration becomes less visible.

  • Needs clean backgrounds & side lighting.

  • Perfect for tall cakes, tiered cakes, loaf-style bakes, slice details.

 

Rule of thirds

  • Mentally divide your frame into 3 × 3 sections.

  • Place cakes along vertical thirds, with the top near the upper horizontal third.

  • Use intersections for small props like forks or flowers.

Props & Negative Space:

  • Keep props minimal and complementary.

  • Leave one-third of the frame simple to highlight the cake.

Set your Grid to show on your mobile phone, for eith Iphone or Andriod

 

Colour Harmony

Colour harmony is about pleasing combinations that make your cake pop.

  • Complementary Colours: Opposite colours on the wheel (e.g., pink cake + green garnish) for high contrast.

  • Analogous Colours: Next to each other on the wheel (e.g., pastel pink + peach + coral) for a soft, cohesive look.

  • Backgrounds should enhance, not overpower, the cake.

Tips:

  • Mix warm and cool tones for visual pop.

  • Keep palettes minimal – less is more.

Choose a Palette for the Cake

  • Decide main colour: frosting, glaze, or fondant.

  • Pick 1–2 supporting colours for decorations, props, or background.

  • Avoid too many clashing colours—less is more.

Background & Props

  • Background colors should enhance, not overpower, the cake.

    • Example: pastel cake → neutral or soft complementary background.

    • Chocolate cake → light or warm tones for contrast.

  • Props like plates, napkins, or flowers can echo your colour palette.

Balance Warm & Cool Tones

  • Warm tones: reds, oranges, yellows → feel cozy and appetizing.

  • Cool tones: blues, greens, purples → calm, elegant, modern.

  • Mixing warm cake with cool background creates a pleasing visual pop.

Ways to Draw Attention

Leading Lines Concept

  • Lines naturally guide the eye toward your hero subject: the cake.

  • Can be real or implied: utensils, props, shadows, table edges, napkins.

How to Use Leading Lines

  • Utensils: fork, knife, or cake server angled toward cake.

  • Shadows: light casting diagonal shadows pointing to cake.

  • Surface lines: wood grain, tiles, or cloth folds that lead to cake.

    Tip: Lines don’t need to meet the cake exactly; they just guide the eye.

Golden Triangle Concept

  • Divide the frame with a diagonal line; draw two perpendicular lines from opposite corners.

  • Key elements are placed along these lines or intersections.

  • Creates dynamic, balanced, and less static composition than centering.

Pro tip: Slightly offset cake from the exact intersection; subtle asymmetry makes the composition more natural and appealing.

 

Building Texture & add Garnish

  • Combine smooth and rough surfaces

  • Ruffle napkins for softness

  • Add crumbs, herbs, or drips for realism

  • Use matte props to avoid reflective distractions

In cake photography, “garnish” refers to decorative elements added to the cake or scene, like fruit, flowers, herbs, nuts, or drizzles, to make the photo more visually appealing.

 

Depth of Field Tips

Understand Depth of Field

  • DoF is how much of your image is in focus.

  • Shallow DoF → background blurry, cake pops as hero.

How to Achieve Shallow DoF

  • Use a wide aperture (f/1.8 – f/4) on your lens.

  • Keep camera close to the cake to blur background more.

  • Ideal for single-cake hero shots where background distractions should vanish.


PHONE OPTIONS:

  • iPhone: Use Portrait mode to blur the background and keep the subject in focus

  • Android: Use Portrait mode or manually adjust aperture / subject-to-background distance for more control

USE CAMERA OPTION

  • Snapseed: A versatile app with a comprehensive set of tools for minor edits or full transformations.

  • Foodie: Offers a variety of filters specifically designed to make food look more delicious.

Focus Point Tips

  • Always focus on the most important part of the cake: frosting details, top decorations, or a slice.

  • For layered cakes, focusing on the front slice can make the whole cake appear three-dimensional.

Small Photo Studio Setup

Basic Equipment Checklist

  • Tripod

  • Background board

  • A reflector or white foam board

Simple Setup Layout

  • Place background on a table or flat surface

  • Position the food thoughtfully

  • Place reflector opposite the light source

  • Use small boxes to elevate props

  • Check shadows and refine before shooting

 

Lighting Tips

Directional Light

  • Purpose: Highlights texture, shape, and details of the cake.

  • How: Position the main light source at an angle (side or 45°) to the cake.

  • Effect: Creates natural shadows that define layers, frosting swirls, and toppings.

    Tip: Avoid flat, overhead light unless you want a top-down minimalist shot.

Fill Card to Soften Shadows

  • Problem: Directional light can create harsh shadows.

  • Solution: Use a white card, reflector, or even white paper opposite the light source.

  • Effect: Softens shadows without losing depth, keeping the cake looking natural and appetizing.

  • 💡 Tip: Adjust the card distance, closer = softer shadows; farther = subtler effect.

Backlighting for Translucent Foods

  • Purpose: Makes glazes, jellies, fruit slices, or sugar decorations glow.

  • How: Place light behind the cake, slightly angled.

  • Effect: Highlights translucency and edges, adds depth and visual interest.

Extra Tip: Natural light works beautifully, shoot near a window with thin curtains to diffuse it, then tweak with a white card for soft fill.

 

Choosing Props

Neutral Plates

  • Purpose: Keep the cake as the hero.

  • Best colors: White, light gray, beige.

  • Effect: Neutral plates won’t compete with frosting, decorations, or vibrant toppings.

  • 💡 Tip: Light-colored plates also help reflect natural light onto the cake subtly.

Smaller Props

  • Purpose: Support the story without stealing focus.

  • Examples: Small forks, napkins, flower petals, berries.

  • Effect: Enhances composition and fills negative space, while keeping the cake dominant.

  • 💡 Tip: Avoid oversized or overly colorful props, they distract from the hero.

Authentic Textures

  • Purpose: Add warmth and context to the shot.

  • Best textures: Linen cloths, wooden boards, ceramic plates, marble slabs.

  • Effect: Adds depth, natural feel, and cozy aesthetic without overpowering the cake.

Matte Props

  • Purpose: Avoid unwanted reflections that can distract or create hotspots.

  • Examples: Matte ceramics, unpolished wood, textured fabrics.

  • Effect: Keeps lighting consistent and ensures the cake’s colors and textures shine.

Extra Tip: Stick to 2–3 prop elements max; simplicity makes cakes look irresistible.

Click and download PDF files from presentation

Key Takeaways & Tips

Plan and Prepare

  • Always plan your composition before shooting.

  • Arrange props and textures to support the story without distracting from the food.

Master Lighting

  • Use lighting intentionally, it’s your most powerful tool for depth, texture, and focus.

  • Employ directional light, fill cards, or backlighting to highlight your subject effectively.

Keep It Minimal and On-Brand

Practical Tips for Everyday Shooting

  • Keep a go-to set of neutral props ready.

  • Practice flat-lay layouts on different backgrounds to find what works best.

  • Check shadows before shooting to avoid distractions.

  • Consistently maintain your brand’s style in every shot.

 

Welly Pictures, food Photographer specialist

Whether you need cake photography bakery shots, or product photography for your menu, I’ll help your creations shine. Book a 1:1 session Learn tips, tricks, and skills to capture your cakes beautifully and make them look as delicious as they taste.

Let’s create images that make mouths water and showcase your sweet masterpieces!

Samantha Peel https://www.wellypictures.com/
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Flat Lay Photography Tips: Food, Product & Lifestyle Shots