90 degree, 45 degree, 10-20 degree, or 0 degree … choosing the best angle when photographing food can be overwhelming. What will make the dish look the most appetizing? How can all of the details of the recipe be shown? What angle will make people want to jump into the photo and enjoy a bite of the food? Just like when a person says, “Shoot me from this side since it’s my better side,” you’ll also want to shoot your dish from its best side. Before you pick up the camera and start shooting, consider these angles when photographing your next recipe.
4 Camera Angles for Food Photography
1) 0 Degree
The 0 degree angle occurs when you shoot the food directly straight on. Think of it as being eye-level with the food. A great tip when shooting at this angle is to bring the dish to the front of the photography setting. Then, place the props toward the back of the photo. You can off-center the dish to achieve the rule of thirds. By keeping the finished recipe toward the front of the photo, you’ll avoid confusing the eye.
2.) 10-20 Degree
The 10-20 degree angle is a bit higher than photographing the food at eye-level. This is a great angle to use when photographing layered cakes, stacks of cookies … really any baked treat would look great at this angle.
3.) 45 Degree
The 45 degree angle is a go-to angle for almost any dish. It’s usually the most flattering since it captures the light in great way, as well as grabs the details of the food no matter if you’re photographing a bow of soup or a stack of cookies. If ever you are confused as to where to start, pick the 45 degree angle.
4.) 90 Degree
What’s your favorite food photography angle?
Disclaimer: The angle drawing is from LearnFoodPhotography.com.
tara pittman says
Great tips! When I take pictures I take from all angles and then choose the best.
Francis Landivar says
Amazing, a photo is worth a thousand words!
Damian says
Hello! Do you ever shoot two angles simultaneously? If so, what programs or tools do you use?