Food photography doesn’t just pertain to snapping a picture of a pretty plate. It also involves telling a story — more than anything else, ensuring that your viewers can almost taste and smell the food through your image.

Perhaps the two most important elements for creating drool-worthy shots are colour and texture. Mastering these will allow you to make your images pop and help them stand out in a photography field and market that’s arguably one of the most popular and oversaturated in the world.

Below are ten practical tips to capture the vivid colors and mouthwatering textures that make the best food photographs truly appetising:

1) Shoot in a Professional Studio When You Can

Sometimes, shooting in a controlled environment like that of a studio is the only way to get the assortment of shots you want, reflective of a food item’s best colors and textures. A professional set-up will allow you to manipulate lighting and backgrounds with precision and easily highlight the visual elements of the food you’re shooting.

If you don’t have your own space in the City of Angels, consider booking a professional photo studio Los Angeles photographers and models also frequent. Many of these studios have everything you need to properly elevate your food photography game.

2) Pay Attention to Lighting

The first rule of successful food photography? Nail the lighting. Natural light is your best friend, especially diffused light from a large window. This type of lighting softens shadows and highlights, which helps to enhance the story factor as well as the colour and texture of the dish you’re shooting. Pay attention to the direction of the light, too; side lighting often works best for creating depth and highlighting texture in photos.

Invest in a simple softbox or continuous LED light if you’re shooting indoors or at night. Position your light source at an angle to the food (optimally 45 degrees) to emphasise textures like flaky pastry or glistening sauces. You can also try different backlighting to create a soft glow that makes liquids and translucent ingredients appear more luminous.

3) Choose the Most Vibrant Ingredients

Next, look for the freshest, most colorful ingredients you can find. A ruby-red strawberry or a strikingly green avocado will bring authentic life to your composition. When choosing the stuff you need for your shot, look for blemish-free products that are rich in natural, vibrant hues. Freshness usually means better texture, too.

However, also consider that slight imperfections, like the uneven blush on a peach or a crack in bread, can add a realistic appeal to a photo. You can go in either direction, depending on the story you’re trying to tell.

4) Be Thoughtful about Props

Choose plates, cutlery, and backgrounds that complement the colors of the dish you’re shooting without overpowering it. Neutral or pastel-coloured props often work best because they let the food take center stage. Don’t shy away from layering textures with your props; a linen napkin or a wooden cutting board will contribute depth and context to the final product.

For instance, if you’re photographing a bowl of tomato soup, a matte white bowl on a rustic wooden table can amplify the soup’s warm, red tones while adding textural contrast. Experiment with textures in your props to create subtle visual interest without overshadowing the food.

5) Try Out Different Angles

Different dishes look best from different angles. A flat lay works wonderfully for flat or symmetrical foods like pizzas, but a side-on angle might be better for a layered cake or burger to show off the texture. Don’t forget about the 45-degree angle, which is often a versatile choice for dishes with multiple layers or intricate details.

Don’t hesitate to try out different angles until you find the one that best showcases both the colours and textures of your subject. Also don’t be afraid to move around — what looks boring at eye level might be brilliant from above. Test multiple angles during your shoot so you have plenty of options during the editing process.

6) Incorporate Motion

Make it a point to try capturing movement when shooting different food items or dishes. Think syrup drizzling, sugar falling, and steam rising to create the illusion that the food is there, just waiting for someone to come along with a utensil.

Pro tip: use a fast shutter speed and shoot in burst mode. This gives you multiple frames from which to choose that perfect shot. Practise the shot to synchronise the action perfectly with the shutter.

7) Use Reflectors

A reflector can be a highly useful tool for drawing out the right colors and textures in food photography, especially when there is uneven lighting. The reflector bounces light back onto your subject, therefore softening shadows and sharpening details.

You don’t need to invest in professional equipment — even a piece of white cardboard or aluminium foil can do the trick. Use different reflector colours to suit the mood of your shot, like silver for cooler light or gold for a warm glow.

8) Experiment with Spritz and Glaze

Want to make fresh produce look even fresher? A quick spritz of water can mimic dew, adding texture and visual appeal. A thin glaze of oil or sauce, on the other hand, can create an appetising shine for baked goods or meats. When shooting beverages, condensation on the glass can also impart a refreshing touch.

Use these tricks sparingly, however, as you’ll want your food to look delicious, not greasy or overly stylised. Keep a spray bottle or brush handy for ad hoc adjustments during your shoots.

9) Get Up Close

Sometimes, the best way to highlight texture is to get right in there. Use a macro lens or activate macro setting to zoom in and catch the tiniest details. Think the crumb of bread, the fuzz on a peach, or the bubbles in a frothy cappuccino. These close-up shots can add a tactile quality to your photography.

When shooting close-ups, pay close attention to your depth of field. For example, shallow depths of field create a dreamy, blurred background. That keeps the focus on your subject’s most interesting textures.

10) Edit with a Light Hand

Post-processing is where you can really make colors pop, but less is more. Start by manipulating the white balance to ensure the colours in your image are true to life. Then, boost the vibrancy slightly to enhance hues without oversaturating them. You might also want to tweak the contrast to bring out textures more clearly.

Sharpening is also key to showing up texture, but be careful not to overdo it, or your image might look odd. You can use Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, or similar tools to fine-tune your photos. Always check your final image against the real dish to make sure it still looks like the real deal.

Like any skill, mastering food photography takes time. Experiment with different setups, ingredients, and techniques until not only the colours and textures, but your personal style shines through. Review your photos critically and learn from what works and what doesn’t. Over time, you’ll develop a keen eye for the most delicious-looking hues and dimensions.