I often get emails from readers wondering what camera and lenses I use to take the photos on this site and I thought I would take a minute to describe the equipment and process I use here.
Camera Equipment
Canon Rebel XT
Many of the photos on Simply Recipes are taken with a Canon Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR
Canon has recently released the newest version of the XT, the Canon Rebel XTi 10.1MP
Photos for some of the older recipes were taken with a cheapo FujiFilm digital camera whose main advantage was that I could take macro shots without a flash. For example, this photo was taken with the old camera. The shot is okay, but doesn’t compare to the photos I’m taking with the Canon DSLRs.
A tripod is necessary for most photos taken with a macro lens. The 50mm lens is so fast (wide aperture, or lens opening, so faster shutter speed, less blur) that I rarely need to use a tripod if using that lens. Lara Ferroni of Still Life With… has written a comprehensive post about tripods which I highly recommend.
Software
The secret sauce of the photography on this site is Adobe Photoshop (Windows
Left – before Photoshop, Right – after Photoshop
Photoshop also can help one take an underexposed photo and reveal what is in the shadows.
Left – before Photoshop, Right – after Photoshop
Photoshop is a professional tool, with a steep learning curve. Years ago I subscribed to the tutorials at Lynda.com to learn this software. Lynda.com’s tutorials are self-paced and very well done. For $25 per month you have access to a library of thousands of tutorial videos, and many are provided for free, just so you can see how useful they really are. Lynda.com also has tutorials for Photoshop Elements
Another resource is Photoshop expert Jan Kabill’s Photoshop Online video podcasts.
Lighting and Staging
A few years ago now, when I was first starting this site, I asked the lovely Clotilde of Chocolate and Zucchini for advice regarding taking photos. I hated what my photos looked like, and hers always looked so gorgeous. She recommended that I use the macro setting of my camera, never use the camera’s flash, and use indirect natural light whenever possible. I have since learned that lighting is pretty much everything.
Whenever possible, I take photos in the middle of the day, outside in our covered porch. I use a lawn-furniture table and put a background on top of it, depending on what I want the background to be. I have a couple of marble tops, a large piece of slate, and several colored poster boards. For a long time I used an old white sheet. When I use a white background, it reflects back the ambient indirect sunlight of the afternoon, creating almost a white-box effect. Lately I’ve taken to using various wooden cutting boards as background. The wood is warm and works well to show off the food.
Left – the background; Right – a photo taken using that background
Taking photos indoors is much more challenging. This is where the 50mm 1.4 lens comes in handy. It shines in low light conditions. (By the way, from what I hear, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens
Final Notes
When I started taking photos of food a few years ago, the results weren’t all that stellar. However, with some decent equipment, and a lot of advice, I’d like to say that the photos around here have been improving. If you are interested in food photography, here are some terrific resources:
- Still Life with… – Lara Ferroni’s highly informative food photography blog including Lara’s Guide to Food Photography Gear
- Notes about Photography from Matt of Matt Bites
- Food Blog School’s photo tips, also Food Blog School has a list of posts that are all photography related as a category in the right sidebar of the site
- Heidi’s food photography tips
- More advice from Clotilde
- Photoshop Online Video Podcast
- Inspiration from Keiko of Nordljus who takes breathtaking photos, and who uses a Canon Rebel with a 50mm f/1.8 lens
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom – what’s next from Adobe, available for free as beta software until Feb 28, 2007
- Food Photography Tips from Pixar’s Sharon Calahan an inteview with Sam Breach of Becks & Posh
- Food Styling and Photography – tips from Béa Peltre at the 2007 BlogHer conference
- Food Photo 101-1 – Great tutorials from Nikas Culinaria, including tips for point and shoot cameras
P.S. I eat the food I photograph, usually right after the photo is taken. So, no fancy food styling with glue and glycerin for me, thank you.
Being a digital imaging trainer, I would have to say that you have done very well! The only other pieces of advice I would give to other photographers wanting to do product shots is to possibly invest in a inexpensive lighting kit. You can purchase a relatively inexpensive set of “hot lights” (lights that stay on – much like a lamp – instead of flash) with, stands and color-balanced flourescent tubes for well under a hundred dollars. Diffuse the light with a cloth or plastic panel (you can do this with the much cooler-to-the-touch flourescents) and now you can get consistent results all the time. Using natural light is nice, but often inconsistent (especially for those who live more north!).
And one more thing, unless you are really going to get into color management and adjustment layers, Photoshop Elements 4 is an excellent program (much better than version 1 or 2) with most of the most useful tools (like healing brush, layers, etc.) for a fraction of the price. It also is a little bit easier to use as well. After saying that though, if you plan on getting into photography more seriously, go all the way to Photoshop.
Nice to see someone use good lenses though. :) (the 85mm lens is quite nice as well).
Good job, Elise.
Nice posting. I love the photo’s on your site.
I’ve a (dusty and ill used) associates in Commercial Photography and I think much of your stuff would hold up pretty well in a cookbook.
BTW, it’s a myth that glycerin or glue is used in food photography. It’s illegal to alter the actual food in any signifigant way if the picture is to be used in advertizing. Nuthing on the food that doesn’t get et! The most common tricks are done with temperature, making something hotter or colder.
The best is for soups. To get that “Chunky” soup look, layer the bottom of the bowl w/ glass beads so the soup solids come to the top.
But I bet you know that. Keep up the good food!
Wonderful, informative post! Thanks.
Loved this post for the info but my favorite part was the “ps”. I’ve thought to myself MANY times how much I love your photos because they look like the food I prepare not those “staged” photos using glue and glycerin as you said. Also love the pics showing different stages of preparation. Thanks!
Now cut that out! Before, I would come here and be envious of all the great food that was gracing your table each day. Now I am envious of the camera you are using to take all the photos.
I have to tell you I enjoy your cooking blog better than any others I read. I will toss in a request to have some more Mexican food recipes, especially TexMex.
Gracias para una Blog muy buena.
Love your site, and the photos too! Oh, the recipes as well ,-)!
If they are photos intended for the web, not for printing, Macromedia Adobe’s Fireworks does the job as well as Photoshop.
It’s not as professional, and won’t do all PS will do — but the learning curve is just so much easier.
A free solution is gimp (see gimp.org). Both PS and Fireworks are expensive!
Thank you for the tutorial. I needed it! :) Do you mind disclosing about how much one would expect to spend to purchase equipment similar to what you are using?
Elise! What a fab, informative post. Thank you for sharing such valuable tips! Excellent.
This is so informative! I just posted on my own (idiot) camera..and well…I think I should reconsider and move on up to the DSLR grownups.Thanks
I was advised not to get the lens that comes with the Rebel, but I did, and since it’s only about $100, that’s a pretty good deal for a multi-purpose lens. However, yes, I’ve now decided to make the plunge into lens and am deciding which I want more; the 50mm or the 60mm macro.
Oh, and I am also in the market for a nice front porch to shoot photos on, but they don’t sell those on Amazon. I don’t think…
Great tips Elise! I really like the one using the cutting boards for such a warm wooden background.
Thank you for this post, Elise. I’m trying hard to get my food pictures to look more professional and every piece of advice is welcomed. I use an Olympus E500 SLR- Evolt 8.0 megapixels. It came with two lenses and I’m trying to learn to take close-up shots. Some seem to work and others don’t. No idea of what I’m doing wrong. You have given me added impetus to keep on trying. Thanks for the tips!
My partner used to shoot for clipper magazine (a local magazine advertising restaurants). The strategy he found most useful involved angling the food. That is, in order to have beautiful depth and to be able to see the food from more angles, they would set up the food so that they shot from an angle. If I can explain it right, the front of the food (where the camera is) should be the lowest, and then you can build kind of a ramp (underneath the cutting board base), so that the back of the picture (furthest from the camera) is raised a little. You usually can’t tell in the picture that the food is on an incline, but it makes for nice pictures.
Thanks for the tips! I have used my cutting board often but never thought of the wooden background. Very informative for beginners like me:)
Elise, awesome job on the recipes and photography! I am a Canon girl myself. That 50mm f1.4 is a sweetie:) Gonna try you Mom’s London Broil recipe tonight.
~Nat
A really excellent and very informative post. A great help, thank you :)
What an incredibly helpful article for those of us who are new to taking photos of food! You’re photos are as gorgeous as art. Thanks for the tips.
This is really very fantastic site on recipes and taking photos of the food you make. I’ve wanted to do the same thing as you, document the family recipes and hope to be able to launch a similiar web site some day, but I can only hope it will be this good. Thank you.
You’re welcome! ~Elise
What a terrific and unexpected post! I usually visit your terrific site browsing for new recipes and have always enjoyed the accompanying photos. It’s great to get some insight into how you make them.
What a comprehensive guide. There’s so much to learn.
It is so great that you show your first photos. It shows the long way you have made to where you are today and gives me hope and encouragement – I will get better!
I never thought that blogging will bring a new hobby to my life – photography. And what an expensive hobby this is…
Thanks.
Nurit
Thank you so much for this–so helpful!
Digital SLR’s are great for this type of photography, thanks for telling us what you use
(I like the Canon Rebel XT) and thanks for the tips also ;)
Thank you for the tips. I need a new camera after a mishap while hiking. I have noted your tips.
Fantastic tips…thanks! I’m very new to this, too. Like you, I hated all the pictures I was taking until another blogger took me aside and told me two magic words: Natural Light.
Thanks for this post…I learned even more. Cheers!
great links and advice, thanks!
thanks for the information and tips.
i’m prone to shoot using my digicam, a Panasonic Lumix LX3, as it has fast shutter speed, wide aperture, and works well in low light setting (esp in restaurants). the latter’s important as I blog mostly about my food endeavours all around Malaysia.
though sadly, no setting up can be done, as I’m sure I’ll look silly carrying a big sheet of white cardboard, or props around. :)
Thank you so much for the tips. I need some brushing up on my photos. my look kinda dull and sad. You are very helpful! =)
Elise, Thank you so much for the detailed information and the helpful links to other great photographer’s tips! I’m finally getting around to researching the information I need for my first DSLR, and I find your tip on purchasing the lens separately very helpful. Also, after reading this post, I’m less likely to purchase ‘too much camera.’ Initially I was thinking about a 7D, but I think the Rebel (like yours) will do the job well. Thanks so much! Christine
I’m trying to learn about food photography. Thank you for posting these great tips!
I was directed to your site by my friend because of my interest in canning crispy pickles (the ice bath). I stayed on the site because of your photos. What a fabulous job you have done, they are beautiful!!
Kudos to you
Thanks Frances! ~Elise
Wow, this is s helpful because I do have issues with backgrounds and such. I guess I need more wooden cutting boards. :D The natural lighting is a great idea, however, I live in Canada and just right now it’s raining. Not so good for photos. Thanks for the advise, it sure is helpful. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and photography resources! I found your blog via Smitten Kitchen, and am so glad I did (and now I am craving sweet potato fries). Thanks again!
Thanks so much for this post. I’m working on my photography skills, and this was so helpful!
Hi Elise,
Thank you so much for the tips. I came across your blog when I was looking for some homemade ice cream recipes. I believe it was for homemade peach and your recipe was great.
I too just started a blog (1 post only right now and just launched it before Tnaksgiving). My pictures aren’t that great at the moment and so your tips are excellent. Most of my shots have been taken in the kitchen with normal kitchen lighting and sometimes flash. I don’t have Photoshop yet to “FIX” my photos, so it is on my Xmas list.
Great site and continued succes!!