The Food Photography Tip You Must Know If You're Going to Instagram Your Next Meal

I'm one of those people. While eating out, if a plate of stunning food is placed in front of me, a picture must be taken. It's not necessarily to share directly on socials, but it becomes a snapshot of what I'm about to devour. Sometimes the picture does the food justice, and other times it's a blurry mess of what should be artfully arranged cuisine. So what's the one tip for making sure your pictures look amazing? Natural light. Yup, that's it.

If you're hunched over your food in a dimly lit restaurant, your food is going to look the same way. Dark, shapeless, boring, and not amazingly edible. If you aren't able to sit next to a window or on the patio, capturing a picture of your fine dining probably isn't going to happen.

You can't necessarily get up and walk around with your food, but finding the best light is key. Avoid direct sunlight, and the main light source from the side of your plate or at a slight 45-degree angle is ideal. You might think using flash is smart, but it's the worst thing you can do to your food — and the other diners at the restaurant. The bright light will make your food look harsh while creating lots of shadows.

You can even use a variety of items to act as a fill, which helps boost existing light by bouncing it back at your plate of food. I've been told to stop using my white napkin or the backside of a menu to help balance out a shot. But when you're stunned by your food, it deserves a good picture.

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