Food photography

An example of food photography, by A. J. Yao

Food photography is an artistic technique employed to exaggerate or enhance the appearance of food, often for advertising purposes. Photography techniques such as lighting, backgrounds, focus, depth of view, filters are adjusted in ways to increase the allure of the food subject. Other tricks of the trade include painting or coloring the photographed objects in order to make them look more appetizing; painting an uncooked chicken or fowl a deep, glistening brown, for instance, is a standard technique.

There are three main objectives of food photography: packaging, advertising, and editorial.