Creative, commercial photographers.

Messy food photography on the rise

September 6, 2010

Have you ever tried to make a meal look just like the photo in the recipe book – but somehow it didn’t quite match up? Food photography is an art form in itself that requires meticulous planning, care and attention to make it look as mouth watering as it sounds (or even in some cases look better than it sounds!) The right mixture of lighting, timing, props and effective styling are some of the main factors which come together in achieving these perfect food shots.

However according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, there appears to be a growing trend for messy, natural looking food images, which people are finding more appealing. The article puts it down to the popularity of the eat-local movement, TV cookery shows and more casual dining venues – describing it as moving from

“dramatically fussy to naturally appealing”

While this form of messy food photography is becoming more popular, the art of sophisticated food styling hasn’t died just yet. In the book “Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think,” author Dr. Wansink found that props and setting still play a big part in food photography. Using the example of a brownie, he found that more people found it looked tastier if it was shot on a white china dish, rather than a paper napkin.

However, ultimately it depends on what the client wants, and the food photographer in Leeds should create imagery that presents the food in its best form – whether messy or not.