Looking for suggestions/help with food photos

[Coffee Queen]

I am submitting this in hopes that I can get some help/suggestions as to how I can make my food pictures look better. I am having a very hard time making entrées that are one tone and saucy, like this example, look appetizing. This dish, Sautéed Thai Chicken, was yellow-ish but it looks even more so in my shot. Any editing I did just made the food either way to yellow or an even odder greenish color. I have Photoshop and LightRoom however I am new to editing my pictures and feel most comfortable using Picasa. Also to be considered....my family was hungry and they are easily irritated when dinner is delayed because I am photographing my food so I felt rushed and didn't take as many shots as I usually do.

Thank you in advance for your help!



Camera: Canon
Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/15 sec
Aperture: 3.5
Focal Length: 50mm
Flash Used: No

[Photologyst]

Could you please post a high quality, unedited version?

[Coffee Queen]

Here it is again, hope this helps. This has not been edited. I added the exif information as well.

Thank you.



Camera: Canon
Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/15 sec
Aperture: 3.5
Focal Length: 50mm
Flash Used: No

[edbayani]

check your white balance before shooting, use a tripod, brush up on food styling. if you do not have lights, use a small face mirror with adjustable stand to add some highlights. and lastly, shoot when the family is not so hungry so you won't be rushed and pressured.
anyway, i tried editing and here is what came out.

[Coffee Queen]

Thank you very much for your suggestions. As a new photographer I find it overwhelming sometimes....I haven't even thought of the white balance the last few times I took pictures. I have been concentrating on the light meter and f/stop. I am doing better than when I first started last summer, hopefully checking everything will become second nature soon. A small face mirror is an excellent idea, something so obvious now that I think about it. As for shooting when the family is a not hungry.....the family will notice if the food is cold, the picture can wait until dinner is over and I am not rushed.

Thank you for taking the time to make edits. The contrast between the meat and rice is what I was looking for. I imagine that will be easier to achieve if I check the white balance before the picture is taken.

[ShantDotMe]

Here is another edit I did. I kept it as simple as possible just auto-color & auto curves in Photoshop.



Adding some more contrast/brightness/viberance will even make this one better.

If you are having problem in adjusting the white balance during shooting, shoot in RAW so you will be able to adjust it without any loss later.

As for the food waiting. Well, sure it can wait, but your photos will look way better if the food is fresh (even a 20min can make a difference) hot n steaming!! Also if you do cook veggies, try to keep them a bit undercooked ( to keep the vivid colors).

[cristen]

i tried some editing on your photo, CoffeeQueen. i hope you don't mind

i am relatively new to PS also so i tried ShantDotMe's suggestions. added vibrance to the photo, used auto tone, too. but i still like ShantDotMe's rice.. sooo white and fluffy.

[Coffee Queen]

Thank you for your edits!

ShantDotMe, I can't believe the difference a few adjustments made, THAT is how it looked in real life! I really need to get over my anxiety, leave the comfort of Picasa, and move over to Photoshop.

I will play around with my original picture and try out the changes you recommended. For tonight's dinner I will try photographing with edbayani's suggestions.

Thanks again!

[Coffee Queen]

I have been working on my dinner pictures using the suggestions you gave me. After two meals and many photos I am starting to see improvement. I got a book on Photoshop and will go through it page by page to get my confidence up and improve even more. Thanks again for the suggestions!

Far from perfect, but much improved: