Baking photos are so much fun to take. You get to try new recipes, share them with your friends and make something delicious at the same time! So why not take some time to learn how to take pictures of your baked goods that look just as good as they taste? Using these simple tips will help you create the perfect shots for your Instagram or blog:
Create a delicious looking tableau
When shooting food, it’s important to create a beautiful tableau. Think about the context in which your food will be served, as this can influence your choice of props and styling. For example, if you’re photographing an apple pie for Thanksgiving dinner, you would want to use a tablecloth or runner that coordinates with the holiday’s color scheme (red and green). You’d also want to use props that are relevant to the food you’re photographing—for example, if you were shooting an apple pie, using a wooden cutting board would complement its rustic look and feel. If your photo will be used on social media or in print advertising materials that target people who live close by (local businesses), aim for photos featuring seasonal produce grown locally.
Find good light
Light is one of the most important aspects of baking photography. Natural light is preferred over artificial light, but it’s not always possible to shoot in outdoor sun. If you are shooting indoors with natural light, make sure there isn’t too much harshness on your subject’s face. You can avoid that by diffusing the sunlight with an umbrella or soft box (and as long as you don’t have any windows nearby). In this case, both diffused and direct sunlight will look great on your subject!
When using artificial lighting for baking photography, remember that shadows are what create drama and interest within a scene. For example: if you want a dramatic shot of your pastry item surrounded by dark shadows but still want to show off its beautiful color and shape—then use an artificial light source with a high Kelvin rating to create those shadows!
Use different angles and perspectives
- Experiment with different angles and perspectives.
- Try to get a good angle on the subject.
- Use different lenses to achieve different results.
Focus on details
One of the most common mistakes we see in food photography is focusing too much on the overall image, rather than paying attention to what makes an image great: its details. When it comes to baking photography, focus on capturing all of those little things that make up your recipe—the texture and color of each ingredient, as well as the unique patterns created when you cut or layer them together. A simple way to do this is by taking a step back from your subject before shooting so that you can capture more room for error and get a full view of the finished product.
Take inspiration from other photos you see
Take inspiration from other photos you see.
- Look at photos of baked goods, whether they’re cakes or cookies or strudel.
- Look at photos of making cakes/cookies/strudel and the chefs doing it.
- Look at other food photos! It doesn’t have to be just desserts, but anything you think looks good in a photo can spark ideas for your own shots.
- Look at flower photography—even though this isn’t technically food or baking per se, I find the lighting and color choices are very similar to what we’re looking for in our own baked goods (i.e., bright orange flower petals = sunlit cupcake).
- Animal pictures too! I’m sure all my friends who love cats know what I’m talking about when I say that animal photography can also be inspiring—especially when they’re doing cute things like jumping over fences or eating ice cream cones on hot summer days 🙂
You can take beautiful baking photos with these tips.
You can take beautiful baking photos with these tips.
First off, find a good location. There are a few tips that will help you do this:
- Choose an area that’s clean and well-lit, preferably with natural light. This will make your photos look more natural and welcoming to viewers.
- Find a place that’s not crowded or noisy so you can focus on taking pictures without any distractions!
Once you’ve chosen the perfect spot for your photo shoot, it’s time to start arranging the baked goods on your plate or platter!
Free, hi res photos of making cakes
Here are our 10 of our favorite photos of making cakes (做蛋糕, изготовление торта):
- Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
- Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
- Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA production from Pexels
- Photo by Los Muertos Crew from Pexels
- Photo by Anna Nekrashevich from Pexels
- Photo by Leonardo Cirimbelli from Unsplash
- Photo by Leonardo Cirimbelli from Unsplash
- Photo by Anne Kristin from Unsplash
- Photo by Jordane Mathieu from Unsplash
- Photo by lindsay Cotter from Unsplash
More collections of stunning photos of baking & making cakes, pies, pastries, and more:
Conclusion
Baking can be a fun and creative endeavor, and with the tips we’ve shared here, you should be able to take gorgeous photos of your creations. Whether you’re looking to sell your baked goods on social media or simply share them with friends, these tips will help you get started!
