How to Photograph Food Head On 

“The Bite Shot” - Tips for photographing food head on: tips and notes I pulled from the video: 1. Check your background: incorporate backdrop (think of the color, tone, etc. and how it plays with the colors and vibe of the food to set the tone for your photo.) There isn’t a right or wrong, but the mood and energy of the image can be altered by the background just as much as the platform you’re working on top of. 2. Check your horizon line - remember to use the level on your tripod or a handheld. Also, be sure you’re not only level but your horizon line falls at a complimentary place. See 5:15 for examples. Think tonal back drop, angles (lower or higher while staying head on). This is important when shooting different color or tone backgrounds from your platform. I.e., a black countertop and a white background board or paper. 3. Another way to avoid the background issue and to change the tone of the photo is to make the platform you work on top of as well as the background the same color and “block” the line where they meet with props that work with the color scheme of your food. You could also achieve this with a roll of back drop paper. (See 6:53) 4. Give space between background and subject. If you pull the subject matter (cake, cookie, whatever you’re photographing) you’ll not only create more atmosphere, but you’ll also get better focus as you have a foreground. 5. Add detail items to foreground and background, working composition so that everything isn’t just laying straight across the horizon. 6. In order to make sure your food item is focused in all the ways you’d like to be, think of playing with aperture and detail placement. (see 9:30)

Omg I've recently discovered this channel and I am in love with this! I am not really into food photography but I find it mesmerizing the way you explain why this and why that! Simple tricks and tips go a long way! Thank you so much!

I don’t typically leave comments, but I felt compelled to say that you are a wonderful teacher! Your positive energy and enthusiasm paired with your undeniable skill set for food photography, has inspired me to get more creative with my own food photography. Keep it up and continue to share what you love!

Hard not to binge-watch your videos. So, so helpful! Really grateful for your content.

Joanie I would just like to say from watching these videos I am learning so much and image quality is getting better every week. Thank you for what you do here I am Truly inspired !!

Nice video Joanie! I love how you provide examples of your work that explain the tips and tricks of what you are sharing.

this is the 2nd vid I've watched and I'm so addicted now. very useful tips! 😘 Thankyouuuu

Aaarrrrggg....restarted twice and thought I had something wrong. After a quick check of volume and other stuff then I see the note about your mic. Too funny in my end.

Thanks dearly for making these tutorials,I am a holistic health coach and a home cook,I have always wanted to share my passion of cooking with others ,and your videos have been so helpful.

Love love love your composition tips. You have a way of explaining art so that it feels scientific.

Another option is to fill the frame and close-up with everything in sharp focus to show details in the object! When the viewer sees the details like the grain in the meat, or the juices oozing out, or clearly see the sauces like ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, barbecue, relish, or what ever you include in the dish you are photographing, it will make the hungry and want to eat the food in the photo.

Hey Joanie, Just found your youtube channel and can't stop watching! It's very informative and well made. I will keep on watching so that I can also get there. Thanks for the content!

I love how you explain things. Thank you for this awesome content.

Loved seeing your sons getting into that cake at the end 😂

You are my new favorite RU-vidr. Love all these hints and tips!

Can’t wait to try some of these tricks this wkd!

Never seen anything like your videos before. so much information in every video. I am totally in love with your photography style and video.

LOVE all of your videos.. but this was another great one! Paying attention to the details is so important... Love your emphasis on that in every vid!

Such a enjoyable tutorial! Definitely subscribed!

Joanie you are the best...I am starting thinking in begin with food photography...congratulations..cheers from Brazil

Hi Jonie, I love your videos. I've discovered them a few days ago and I realy apreciate all the tips you give. Thanks a lot. Good kisses from Paris

Wow !!!!!! Did I learn a thing or 2 ? Well yes indeed I did . Awesome tutorial.

Good stuff! You provide so many great tips and tricks.

I am so thankful for these videos. Photography is SO tough for me. It actually makes me consider giving up cooking and sharing. But I am learning so much from watching! Thank you, thank you!

Thank you so much. It's very informative and your photos are awesome!

Such a great video! I love shooting head on with my food when it makes sense. Thanks for the tips as always. Can’t wait to see your next video!

Already in love with the way you explain.

And one more amazing video is out today. Mam, eagerly waiting for some more videos on compositioning, however, you explained levels today, which I had never thought of. You are an amazing teacher. #kudos.

I found you last month and you are already one of my favourite creators!

Another incredible tutorial Joanie! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. This has been super helpful in improving my photography skills!

Love your videos. All is so clear and easy to understand. You are such a good teacher. Thank you

Hi Jonie, I love your videos. I am new to food photography, and you must have a way of putting things over it such a simple, logical way. thank you.

Wonderful video Joanie! Thank you for sharing the info about the horizon in the shots - I definitely will pay more attention to that and can’t wait to see the difference it makes. Addicted to your videos - thank you for your hard work, dedication and passion for photography! 😍😊📷

this is my favourite way of taking photos!

Some really good work by your man. Keep doing the awesome......

You are really engaging, I like the hand gestures and voice variety. And you have a nice delivery on your content- easy to understand. Thank you!

You are an AWESOME teacher. Great work, great stuff. Not really a food photographer but your tips are so useful! Subscribed :)

Thank you for another great video! My lesson: Be mindful of the location of your horizon line as it pertains to the subject when photographing head on.

I have a shoot tomorrow. Will definitely try this out.

Awesome tips Joanie, Thank You!

You know what? You are so awesome! You’re so good at teaching, and your videos are great! Thank you for doing what you do!!

Been very useful, thanks!

Thanks Joanie! I learn so much from you:)

Learning so much and loving all your vids!

Great tips about the tripod being on level and about the horizon line not cutting through the subject. This was the first video as soon as I got up in the morning.

Don't really know if you will get this, I really hope so I'm just excited lol .love the fact that you're one of the best food photographer ever,then as I was looking up some recipes there you were I was so surprised. You see I'm a Chef and have been in photography since high school, so finding you was a blessing,you have a very cool presence on the screen and I wish I could be as relaxed as you.Ok this is a first for me to tell some one like you how much I amour the feel like a little kid (I'm 62)but just wanted to say thanks, I also follow you on fb and Instagram I'm winding down my cook and hope to pick up on food photography.so much to say so little time. Hope you do replay when you have time

Beautiful. Thank you!!

Just saw your channel and already watched three of your videos and I really like the way you explain things.

Thank you. I was just encountering this situation and then I see your video. I have answers now to several things. My background was competing with the food. Just didnt look right. Plus, the horizon where it cut the food or object I was photographing. Makes more sense now. Thank you again.

I'm prepping to shoot cupcakes today and can't wait to take some head-on shots and use your tips in action. Thanks Joanie!

THIS IS AWESOME!! Thx so much

Another great tutorial - your content is amazing! Thank you!

Thank you, thank you and thank you! You are always so creative with your content and videos!

This was great. Very helpful and thoughtful.

Really valuable information, thank you.

This is amazing information 😘 thank you so much

have been wondering since forever where to place that horizon line! especially with drinks! thank you! you are just an amazing source of information and teacher!

You've help me a lot!! your content is just great! thanks!

Great video 🙌🏻

This is some high quality content. Keep it up! :)

Great advices, thanks. Really useful info!

Thank you! love your videos, very useful! Greetings from Costa Rica!

thank you for your great tips

Thanks for the tips. You're an inspiration.

First time I watched ur video, I instanrly fell in 💞💞 ! I’m a beginner in food photography, but I learned so much already from u ! Thanx much for sharing all ur valuable knowledge with us. Greetings from Indonesia 🌹👋🏼

Great info, Thanks!!!👍👍👍

THANK YOU for making these videos. They helped me so much while making my cookbook :)

Thank you so much for this

A very great video! It certainly is very helpful, thank you so much!

Love love love your photography style and photos. Food photography is something I find really difficult, you explain it amazingly. I was wondering what dimensions your light diffuser is?

Thanks for sharing this video, always useful and fun :D

i'm in love with your tips ! Thank you! ( i'm Brazilian Photographer starting with food photography)

You are so wonderfully educational

Your videos are very useful... i love your channel and your shots... fabulous 💞💞💞

Wow, thank you 🙏

Thank you!! super educational

So helpful. Thank you!

Thanks much for sharing.

That was very helpful! Thanks!

Great video. Definitely subscribing.

In 2021 this video is still relevant. Thank you

Impressive Video, Keep up the good work!

Hi there. I love your videos and you help me out alot th tips and tricks. I'm a absolute beginner and realy enjoy your videos...keep it up...

Very good expliction thank you

Very nice guide. Thanks very much.

Thank you so much for what you do. I just found your channel in 2021. I use a Samsung phone ( Galaxy A70) for my photos as my old canon was not so good and the camera much better in the new phone. I have a baking lessons website so learning from you all your tricks and info of how to photograph things best at home. So please make some more videos that us phone users can watch (I literally am binge watching all your videos.)

Your videos are awesome. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience. I always had problems when I take photos of soups. Since soup remains flat, no contrast gets built, I never had good photos of soups. Can you pls make a video on photographing soups? Thank you once again.

Love your videos! Can you make a video about how to setup the scene to take a shot?

such a great, helpful, informative video - thank you, Joanie!

Hi Josie! I really appreciated this video because I am a cake decorator on Instagram and mostly do frontal shots.

Wonderful advice

Amazing wow your very awesome teacher very good explanation nice sharing thanku so much for your shareing this video

you are so good!

Great video!

THANK YOU SOO MUCH!

Amazing

Wonderful video .. thank you

Very good content !

great tips. the little one on the left stuffing his face with that first piece of cake was priceless!! lol.