Since the key to a soft light is to make the light source as large as possible and get it as close to the subject as I can, I figured that this was the next logical step. Layers Magazine is published by KelbyOne — the online educational community for Photoshop, Lightroom, and Photography. 'RealPlayer'], ['rmockx.RealPlayer G2 Control', This shot above was taken at 7pm with one light. Sometimes this may call for a high key or a low key lighting effect, but usually the goal is a natural, but very detailed look. The last setup is with the largest modifier I have: a 30×60″ rectangular softbox. Harness natural lighting. However, in most cases, you should avoid shooting in bright sun as it can cause exposure problems and cast harsh shadows on your subject. Now, let’s see what happens when we close the blinds and have to create our own light for this image. Most editorial food photography–that is, images for cookbooks and magazines–uses only one light source. It’s a cheap-and-easy set-up you can put together and tear down quickly. It would take some time to dig out the settings for each shot. If you are taking photos of food on a sunny day, the best thing to do is to diffuse the sunlight coming in through a window. For more on Food Photography, you can check out Nicolesy on her blog at nicolesyblog.com and read more about her thoughts on photography. This is where golden hour photography comes in. There may be situations when you lose control over your shooting environment and have to regain that control by using artificial light. However, it works very well to highlight the liquid properties of food, so is a natural go-to for dishes like soups and stews, as well as syrups or sauces or any items that glisten. Portraits and landscapes shot before the sun sets have a beautiful glow to them due to this warmth in the colour temperature. This is the best strobe modifier so far and closest to the natural light setup as I can achieve. The point is though, my settings aren’t relevant to your photography. If you put a diffuser in front of the window, then the diffuser becomes the light source, as it is scattering light in order to soften it. Basically, we can say that daylight is the light source in general. I kept the light and foam board (for the fill light) in the same position—all that’s changed for this scene is the addition of a white shoot-through umbrella connected to the strobe. Okay, maybe that’s not 100% true since I do use strobes from time to time, but the truth of the matter is that food looks beautiful with natural light, which is why it’s always my go-to light source. The best kind of light for food photography is soft, diffused, natural daylight. Today I want to share with how I built my inexpensive food photography studio. I believed natural light the only flattering light for food. As with the previous setups, nothing was changed with the scene aside from replacing the shoot-through umbrella with the new modifier. We use natural window light to make it easy for everyone, Control the mood of the photo & the depth of focus, Learn tricks of the trade to capture mouth-watering photos, Expert Photography © 2011-2020. Try bouncing or blocking the light with some white or black cardboard. Direct sunlight is often too harsh when it comes to using natural light photography. When you know how light works, you can find a tool in a variety of items to help you get that shot. When you’re on a shoot, it sometimes means thinking on your feet. You also need some tools to manage those shadows and direct the light to where you want it. If you are trying to shoot food and you’re only able to use natural light, this getting dark early thing can be a real drag. So much of my Food Photography Masterclass is dedicated to lighting.Of course when I set up all my gear and food photography backdrops the sun doesn't want to come out to play. My apartment has a large North-facing window and the light coming in is always gorgeous, even on cloudy days (which is a good thing considering I live in Seattle). It is also useful to have a set of professional reflectors. 'RealVideo.RealVideo(tm) ActiveX Control (32-bit)', For a formal restaurant photo shoot, which setup would you choose? When you are shooting with a speedlite or strobe, you are dealing with a strong explosion of light. You can use them interchangeably, depending on your lighting scenario. It rarely looks good. Many photographers who shoot only with natural light insist that it’s better than artificial light. So if we take a distance of 2 and square it, we get 4, the inverse of which would not be half of the original power but one-quarter. If you want the most beautiful food photos, hands-down natural light is the way to go. if you need to photograph a large amount of images with the same quality of light, or continue shooting into the evening after the sun has set? The gold reflector can be used to add warmth to food, while the silver can brighten it. This gives an image more dimension and is a sought after look in food photography. Or skip the diffuser in favour of a bounce card to help you direct the light to where you want it to fall. It literally takes two minutes to set up. As you can see below, shooting with natural lighting can make quite a difference in the highlights and shadows of your photo. Overcast days are perfect for food photography because the clouds act like a giant diffuser, creating … The opposite is true if you live in, say, South Africa. If you are working with glassware, you will likely need extra diffusion in order to manage reflection and glare. You can also select your interests for free access to our premium training: As a professional food photographer, I shoot with artificial lights most of the time. You may not know what your environment will be like, and it’s important to be prepared for any given scenario (especially when working with a client). The umbrella soft light photography set is very light and comes with a storage bag. The great thing about using an umbrella is that it’s portable and easy to set up. If you want more striking shadows, a smaller light source further away will provide that. 'RealVideo.RealVideo(tm) ActiveX Control (32-bit)', And I have to think about how to reflect the light or control its direction in some other way. You’ll also need props, such as diffusers and reflectors to sculpt the perfect light for your image. As with front lighting, it can cause the image to look quite flat and isn’t always very flattering. 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