How To Master The Foodie Flatlay And Become A Picasso Of Your Kitchen
To start 2021 off, I wanted to share my process as a food photographer in Northamptonshire for capturing food as hero shots or flat lay photographs. Whether you’re working on restaurant photography or product photography for restaurants, understanding camera angles and lighting is key.
You may ask, how do I set up this type of photograph?
Understanding Hero Shots vs Flat Lays
The hero shot highlights the benefits and context of a dish, often photographed from above to show its appeal. Flat lay photography, on the other hand, involves arranging objects on a flat surface and shooting directly from above. Both techniques are essential for food product photography, giving you flexibility whether shooting at home, a café, or a restaurant location.
The Process of a Flat Lay / Hero Shot
Lighting
Lighting is the most important factor. You can use natural light or artificial lighting depending on your setup:
Using Natural Light: Position your flat lay near a window. Use a reflector or white foam board opposite the light to bounce shadows and evenly illuminate the dish.
Using Artificial Light: Diffuse the light to mimic natural conditions. For product photography for restaurants, even shadows and tone create an appealing, professional look.
When you use this type of lighting, the white card/board will reflect light back onto the object you are photographing. This is an excellent way to even out shadows or brighten up the dish you are photographing.
Using artificial light
The most common way to diffuse artificial lighting is to make it look as natural as possible. One way to set up this light is to use two lights so that the object or dish has even shadows. If you photograph high-end products, this setup would be ideally suited.
For food, you need shadow and tone. If you shoot food under artificial light. Learn how to bounce and reflect your lighting, with reflectors, cards, mirrors and foam boards. Check out these image examples.
Set up your tripod
The next step in setting up this type of photograph is the camera position. This is based on the objects or dishes you are photographing
Here is how to position your camera. A tripod with a 90-degree arm is ideal for flat lay restaurant photography.
See the image example.
Now that you have set up the lighting, camera position, and camera settings, this will get you started. This same process and setup can also be used for mobile phones.
Styling Tips
Choose a background that complements the food.
Add props to tell a story about the dish or restaurant.
Build depth by layering items and experimenting with composition.
For food product photography in restaurants, these small styling choices make the difference between a good image and one that truly sells the dish online or on menus.
Remember, the camera angle must remain parallel to the surface at 90 degrees, and lighting should produce realistic colours with subtle shadows. Whether you’re shooting restaurant photography, flat lays, or home hero shots, managing these elements will elevate your food images.
Before you take your final photo, make sure you manage the lighting, as you need realistic colours and subtle shadows. Shadows add extra depth or unique effects, but they can also be annoying and appear in weird places.
By following these techniques, you’ll capture professional-quality images that are perfect for social media, menus, or websites.
After reading my thoughts, processes and points, I hope this has given you a small insight into a photographer’s mind when shooting this type of angled photography.
Chatting Food Contributor: Sam Peel
Published - 5th Feb 2021
Follow the link to the site: https://www.chattingfood.com/post/perfect-food-flatlay-hero-shot
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