Curious to know how professional food photographers get those amazing shots? Knowing how to shoot food photography is crucial. Don’t wonder anymore.
In this video post, I’ll take you through a complete behind-the-scenes food shoot, from blank surface to final hero image. You’ll see exactly how I styled and shot a vibrant blood orange tart scene in my newly set-up home studio.
If you’re a food or still life photographer looking to refine your workflow, understanding how to shoot food photography is essential. This shoot is packed with styling decisions, lighting tweaks, and composition tips that you can apply in your own work.
Click here to see all of the gear I am using in this video.
Simple Gear, Bold Styling: How to Shoot Food
I kick things off by walking you through my basic photography setup:
- Nikon camera with an 85mm lens
- Profoto strobe light for the hero shots
- Continuous video light just for visibility
- Tethered capture via Capture One
Importantly, I show how I block out ambient light so my only source is the strobe, keeping everything consistent and controlled. Learning how to shoot food photography involves mastering lighting and composition techniques.
Props, Backgrounds + Colour Planning
This shoot centres around a blood orange tart, so I chose a smooth vinyl background paired with a pink-toned linen that complements the orange and red hues of the fruit.
Minimal props, a touch of texture, and intentional colour harmony help elevate a simple subject into a bold final image.
The Styling Process: Real-Time Decisions
- Garnishing the tart with juicy blood orange segments
- Adding crumbs and citrus zest for visual interest
- Composing around a bowl of juice to balance the story
- Adjusting the linen’s position and folding for movement
I like to layer my creative elements to bring a story to life when learning how to shoot food photography. Including:
Throughout, I’m making intentional choices — not aiming for perfection, but for something natural, dynamic, and editorial.
Light Modifiers + Hero Shot Tweaks
Once the scene is styled, I refine the lighting using a silver reflector to bring out subtle highlights without flattening the shadows. I explain how I test different angles and even shoot variations for possible compositing later, when exploring how to shoot food photography.
Then it’s on to cropping the hero shot: I zoom in for a tighter composition, push props slightly to get a stronger balance, and shoot several options before comparing favourites in Capture One.
Watch the Full Shoot
👉 Watch the full behind-the-scenes food shoot here
This video is all about showing the real creative process — how a food photo evolves through styling, lighting, adjusting, and decision-making. You’ll see how I troubleshoot, reframe, and refine right until the final click, demonstrating how to shoot food photography effectively.
