Take tasty cooking photos and videos with your smartphone!

Maak smakelijke kookfoto's en video's met je smartphone!

If you love cooking and creating content, you know that making food look good in photos or videos is just as important as its taste! Luckily, you don’t need a professional camera to capture tasty footage. With a little know-how, your smartphone, and some clever tricks, you can create content that even Gordon Ramsay would be jealous of. So, get your phone out, it’s time to capture your creations!

1. Use natural light as your secret ingredient

Light is literally everything in photography, especially for foodies. Natural light makes your food look fresh and delicious. Place your dish near a window and try to get the light to come from the side rather than directly on top of it. It will create a nice soft shadow that adds depth and contrast. Don’t have good natural light? Set up a ring light like the Ulanzi Topshot Ring Light with Tripod
low light or use candles for an atmospheric setting. Avoid direct sunlight! This can cause harsh shadows and change colors. Go for diffused light or use a white sheet to soften the light.

2. Keep your background clean and simple

You've probably seen those chaotic photos: beautiful pasta... surrounded by dirty dishes, towels and a stray
kitchenware. Provide a clean background that really makes your dish stand out. A wooden cutting board, a sleek marble top or a linen napkin can make a big difference.

If you are short on space, you can even use a piece of paper or cardboard to create a simple background. Add the occasional herb or cutlery, but keep it simple. Less is more, especially in food photography!

3. Play with angles and close-ups

Food can look surprisingly different from different angles
look. For example, try one of these three classic angles:

  • Top-down: From above. Perfect for dishes that spread out nicely, such as salads or pancakes.
  • 45 degrees: Adds depth and shows more detail, ideal for pasta plates or poke bowls.
  • Close-up: Turn on the macro mode on your smartphone for the ultimate close-up of textures. For example, the crispy top of a lasagna or the juicy inside of a burger.

Experiment! What may seem strange at first can end up being the perfect photo.

4. Use Burst Mode for action in your videos

Want to pour a sauce, sprinkle herbs or make a nice swirl in a smoothie? Use the burst mode of your camera or make a short slow-motion video. This will give you a smooth action that looks very professional. Remember to perform the action slowly, so that every drop and every piece of herb is clearly visible.

For these photos and videos it can be very useful to use a tripod, so that you have both hands free. A 3-in-1 tripod with horizontal arm from our own brand MOJOGEAR is perfect for this.

5. Make sure you are clearly understood in your videos

When explaining a recipe, make sure your viewers can hear you clearly. For food vloggers, a wireless microphone is essential when making cooking videos. Cooking often requires you to move around, grab ingredients, or stand near different kitchen tools. With a wireless microphone, your sound will remain clear and consistent, no matter where you are in the kitchen. This is essential for clearly communicating your recipe explanations, even when your hands are full or you’re moving away from your smartphone camera. Additionally, most microphones can eliminate ambient noise, such as the sizzling of a pan, so your voice will always be clearly audible. This way, you can create professional, engaging videos that will keep your audience engaged!

View our wireless microphones

Food photography accessories

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6. The Power of Post-Processing: Filters and Color Correction

Now that you have a great photo, post-processing can add the finishing touches. Apps like VSCO , Snapseed , and even Instagram's built-in editing options are great for picking up colors, tweaking shadows, and adding a little extra sharpness.

Avoid filters that are too strong, as they often make your images unnatural. Go for slight adjustments in brightness, contrast and sharpness for a realistic, yet professional look.

7. Tell a story with your photos and videos

A good dish tastes better when you know how it was made. Give your audience a behind-the-scenes look by filming ingredients and build suspense by recording the process step by step. For example, start with a close-up of the ingredients, then film the cutting process, the mixing, and the end result. This way, you create a mini cooking show that will grab your followers from the very first seconds.

8. Get creative and make it your own!

Food photography is your chance to express yourself and your style. Use a signature color, a special filter, or a favorite angle. Don’t be afraid to try something new! Maybe you want to incorporate a different culture into your dishes or create a vintage vibe with your editing. Whatever your signature is, make it something people recognize as truly you.

Now you’re all set to get started! So get in the kitchen, grab your phone, and capture that delicious food. People will not only want to try your dishes, but they’ll also want to see more of your stylish photos and videos. Below, we’ve put together another collection of frequently used smartphone and camera accessories for cooking photos and videos.

Good luck and most importantly: enjoy your meal!

Food photography accessories

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