What tempts you to purchase a packet of chips or a cool milkshake can? Perhaps crunchy chips sound effect or dunked cherry splashing milk in an audiovisual. Be it editorial food styling for a magazine or TV commercial or film, learning the basics of food styling gives you an upper hand.
The hand behind food styling and photography make your campaigns taste great. Food presentation is an artistic expression, just like food itself.
What is styling in food?
Food art or culinary arts are a subject of deep interest as it prepares you for every ‘how to’’. Culinary arts not only deal with gastronomic techniques but also the appearance of various food items, just like what a fashion stylist does with costumes.
Presentation is one of the most crucial Ps of food. The artistic presentation of food for photography or AV requires proper food styling, technically referred to as “food styling.” It recreates the look of a perfect, sumptuousness for food items with the help of some underpinnings which are categorized as food styling props.
While the chef shows his artfulness in preparing meals and menu planning, the Food stylist makes sure it looks appealing to the customers with aesthetic food styling.
Food styling photography is a powerful art that influences not only the look of the food but also helps in visualizing its taste. In my view, creative food styling placates the psychological essentials of an individual. That’s why you should spend time for presentation as much as you do on the ingredient list or at least a good fraction.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO MAKE FOOD APPEALING:
The artistic work on food, drink, or edible objects creates an attractive film display. The examples of food styling and photography ensure styling appeals to the eyes as well as the taste buds. Food styling photography revolves around four things that you should consider making a dish look eye-catching when planning your perfect food styling assignment.
COLOR-
Color balance is the key element in food styling and plating. The background color stirs the emotion around your creation. You can inject drama in your food photography with a muted background or plate and vibrant food. Working with color assists you to get started. You can learn the basic color combination with the color wheel.
The color temperature has a central appeal. Well, a secrete here… Red in food styling and design has an emotive hue that connects well on screen so, use it often.
TEXTURE-
The texture of the food instantly catches the eyes of a viewer. If the food lacks the natural texture, a helping of garnish, sprinkles, seeds, sauces, or a dip adds the texture element to the presentation. This gives the perception of crunchiness and chewiness to the food. It would help if you play with color and texture essentially in food styling techniques to get that perfect click.
SIZE AND SHAPE-
Both the size and shape of food and serving dishes are important while plating for pictures. It can change an individual’s perception. The layouts you create in your thoughts before shaping it for the screen actually craft an effective scene. Points of focus in a cut or an arrangement guide the eyes that is a must-watch in food styling and design for beginners.
Benefits of food styling and designing to the hospitality industry
As I stated above, Food styling has the power of how it is visualized. The psychological communication continues in line with apprehending the eminence that a restaurant carts to the table. To some, a Food presentation describes the quality of a restaurant, the experience level, and the expertise of their kitchen staff. So, food styling for photographers can be an approach to boost their earnings.
Learning the basics of food styling and designing
Food styling communicates the vision of the client in terms of a perfect-looking shot. Best food stylists will surprise you with their phenomenal work, leaving you excited with the beauty of well-groomed food. In addition, the food stylist also plans the ingredients within a budget such that your food rightly conveys the feel you have chosen for the shoot.
So, where can you draw food styling inspirations from?
Since the dawn of social media, especially, photo sharing sites the trend of food styling and designing for Instagram has popped. And this is the place to start food styling for beginners. Further, you can find great food styling ideas there. It can extend a new horizon for bloggers, chefs, students, and women to nurture their careers, complementing their love for food. You will also get pro tricks on how to shoot meals with a smartphone.
Pursuing a course in culinary arts does not limit to cooking and kitchen management but opens a new horizon for the operational art of food photography styling. As many of you (probably, non-hotel management graduates) might have less or no idea about this new opportunity, follow us to know and discuss each aspect in detail one by one.
The food styling and photography course focuses to teach and improving the art. A newbie can benefit from the food styling tricks and tips shared by the experts. We will also help you to put together the essential tools for a basic food styling kit.
