Ever wondered how to recreate a stunning presentation plate you’d find in your favourite restaurants? Dining out isn’t just about the food itself, it’s also about the experience: the ambience, the service, and the presentation. GMS shares top tips on how to make your meals look five-star worthy, at home.
Take insta-worthy food pictures
• Plan ahead: while you’re at home, take note of how the light enters your building.
• Natural light is great for food photography. Use curtains or drapes to filter harsh sunlight.
• Move around – you may find the best light is where you least expect it.
• A real trend on social media is ‘flat lay’ shots (shot from overhead).
• Flatten a cardboard box, use some paint to add colour and texture, or use sheets of coloured paper, and simple portable backgrounds.
• Experiment with your composition: test-shoot some plates and cutlery; the colour and texture will look different through a lens (I do this to plan a shoot before the food is cooked).
• Add light detail with a reflector – stick some aluminium foil to a board and play around with light.
• Smartphone cameras are great for food photography; experiment with filters and effects.
• Download free photography apps, I use Photoshop Fix to adjust and colour-balance my food shots.
• In low light, use a friend’s phone on torch mode to add extra light – avoid flash as it makes the food look flat and blown out.
• Take pictures outside of apps like Instagram – this will give you better quality images and more final editing options.
5 rules of food presentation
1. Keep it simple – too many elements can make a shot look crowded and confusing.
2. Make sure your props complement each other – stay away from overpowering patterns and textures.
3. Don’t over- or under-fill a plate or bowl – keep the portion sizes realistic.
4. Keep it hot and fresh – plating and timing are key. Set out the props, then add food for a neater look.
5. Add colour – some dishes can look bland, so think about adding some fresh herbs, chopped leaves or bright chilli flakes.
Make your home-cooked dishes look irresistible
There are so many ways to give your meals that 5-star treatment:
• Serve grilled steaks and burgers on wooden boards.
• Upcycle old food tins: wash, remove the labels, line with baking parchment and stack with fries.
• Serve a salad in a ‘leaf bowl’: remove the outer leaves from an Iceberg lettuce and voila, an edible bowl.
• Serve pasta in a huge serving dish: get creative – that plate hanging on the wall could make the perfect centrepiece!
• Bring the griddle pan from the stove to the table – there’s nothing more impressive than a hot, sizzling pan.
• Take soup to the next level: add freshly grated cheese, and fresh herbs, drizzle some olive oil, invest in some balsamic gel, and get creative.
• When plating a salad, add some vegetables to the plate first then add leaves; top with more vegetables, add nuts or crumbled cheese. Now, your salad will look less flat.
• If you’re trying to shoot the perfect burger, my tip is to have a second bun, toasted. Allow it to cool, then pick out the inside of the bun. When it’s placed on the burger, it will sit better.
• Use some old jars to serve drinks – add lime wedges and straws to add height to the shot.
• Use a matching plate and an upturned cereal bowl to create a cake stand – this will add height to the shot and make the cake the star of the show.