We all want to show the world our fantastic culinary skills and experiences, but sometimes it can be difficult to present things perfectly to our friends and fellow social-media foodies.
‘Right now, there are 283-million posts of #food on Instagram. We’re all guilty of getting snap-happy at the dinner table after making a “gourmet” meal, or at a restaurant. So much so that I have a personal rule when out with my girlfriends – you have 30 seconds to take a pic before I stab my fork in it,’ says celebrity chef and food stylist Zola Nene.
With these great tips from South Africa’s culinary darling, you can get every meal to look Instagram-worthy:
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The food
1. Think about the way you plate
‘The backdrop is just as important as the actual food – it shouldn’t distract or compete with what’s on the plate. Personally, I like a flat colour with a bit of texture.’
2. Learn the styling essentials
‘Know how to make your food look good. Let your vegetables shine by brushing it with olive oil and spritz some water on your salad and herbs to make them look fresh.’
3. Don’t forget to garnish
‘Remember to always use something edible to garnish with. Use ingredients that are included in the recipe as garnish for the dish – a sprinkle of salt or pepper or just a simple scattering of herbs. The most important thing to remember is never to garnish with something that is inedible.’
4. Use props sparingly
‘The star of the show should always be the food. Using too many props in the picture will make the shot too busy. A simple napkin or utensil is great to include if it adds to the overall look, but don’t go overboard.’
The picture
1. Lighting is key
‘Just like when you’re taking a selfie, you always look for the best lighting, the same goes for taking the perfect food shot. Natural light is always best, so find the nearest window and use the light. I always recommend taking a food picture during the day.’
2. Avoid using a flash
‘A flash is food’s worst enemy! If it’s too dark to capture the image without the flash, then it’s too dark to be taking pictures. Yes, you can use artificial lights and arrange candles and bouncing boards to create light, but unless you are a pro, rather keep it simple and wait for daylight.’
3. Find the right angles
‘Find an angle that makes your food look its best. Don’t only snap one photo, but take a few from different angles. When in doubt, frame from the top: an overhead shot is generally best for amateur food pics. Using this angle means you simply have the food on the plate on a table, which becomes your backdrop.’
4. Don’t over-edit
‘Use the editing app on your phone wisely! Crop your photo to make sure that any unnecessary objects are removed from the frame, then throw on a filter to enhance the colour of the food. Remember – your food should look real and not artificial.’
PHOTO: iStock/TARIK KIZILKAYA
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