Author Topic: Food Photography Handbook (Read 3472 times)

AM24 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 23, 2025, 14:49 »

@Tom. If you're still experimenting with lighting, I thought I would add a summary of my section on lighting.

Backlighting adds light to the back and casts shadows in the front, and can flood the image with light. This is used for: adding halos to objects, shooting high-key images, shiny objects, rising steam or transparent glassware. Side lighting, either slightly to the front or slightly behind, is used to highlight food from the side and casts shadows on the other side. This is used to capture shadows and highlights necessary for a dynamic photo. Your image will look three dimensional and, therefore, more authentic and appealing. This is the most popular for food photographers because it works for many layouts.

If you photograph food from the front, it will look smooth. There will be no shadows to capture beautiful textures and no highlights to accentuate the natural contrasts of your subject. Your image will look two-dimensional and unappealing, and should be avoided.

It takes a while to master all of this, so keep practising and experimenting.

All over lighting works for stock photography but has its limitations for food photography. Premium food photography buyers buy images for magazine covers, cookbooks, social media advertising, web banners, blog hero headers, wall art, and even billboards, and need delicious looking food. Textures, highlights and shadows make your food look 3-dimensional, authentic and therefor more delicious.

Big Money · « **Reply #26 on:** February 24, 2025, 10:22 »

Quote from: AM24 on February 23, 2025, 14:49

@Tom. If you're still experimenting with lighting, I thought I would add a summary of my section on lighting.

Backlighting adds light to the back and casts shadows in the front, and can flood the image with light. This is used for: adding halos to objects, shooting high-key images, rising steam or transparent glassware. Side lighting, either slightly to the front or slightly behind, is used to highlight food from the side and casts shadows on the other side. This is used to capture shadows and highlights necessary for a dynamic photo. Your image will look three dimensional and, therefore, more authentic and appealing. This is the most popular for food photographers because it works for many layouts.

If you photograph food from the front, it will look smooth. There will be no shadows to capture beautiful textures and no highlights to accentuate the natural contrasts of your subject. Your image will look two-dimensional and unappealing, and should be avoided.

It takes a while to master all of this, so keep practising and experimenting.

All over lighting works for stock photography but has its limitations for food photography. Premium food photography buyers buy images for magazine covers, cookbooks, social media advertising, web banners, blog hero headers, wall art, and even billboards, and need delicious looking food. Textures, highlights and shadows makes your food look 3-dimensional, authentic and therefor more delicious.

thank you so much Annie!

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #27 on:** February 24, 2025, 11:31 »

Quote from: AM24 on February 21, 2025, 14:46

I love blue cheese and it photographs really beautifully. The only thing wrong with your photo, Pete, is the background. The two-tone is too distracting. But a full black background would have been too flat. It's good to have some texture in your backgrounds too sometimes.

Getting the right background is 50% of what makes a good photo. As you know I used to go to salvage places and get a lot of things there. Like those old wooden large trays that I painted and distressed. Or get some sample vinyl floor tiles. I still use the dark slate ones.

Here is a page I left out of the book because it was getting too large. The background of my black forest trifle in the champagne glass are those dark slate vinyl tiles. Used just 4 - 2 behind and 2 on the base.

Oh, and there are my polka dot cups and saucers !!

Not my photo, just used for an example. However... Good advice on backgrounds and worth remembering. I also have flooring and counter samples for backgrounds. The further advice on side lighting for food is also always something to remember.

Yum, Yum, one of my delicious and attractive food photos.

AM24 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 24, 2025, 13:41 »

Well done, guys. Next week, we can move on to Styling.

(just kidding)

yuriy · « **Reply #29 on:** March 02, 2025, 17:35 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on February 24, 2025, 11:31

Quote from: AM24 on February 21, 2025, 14:46

I love blue cheese and it photographs really beautifully. The only thing wrong with your photo, Pete, is the background. The two-tone is too distracting. But a full black background would have been too flat. It's good to have some texture in your backgrounds too sometimes.

Getting the right background is 50% of what makes a good photo. As you know I used to go to salvage places and get a lot of things there. Like those old wooden large trays that I painted and distressed. Or get some sample vinyl floor tiles. I still use the dark slate ones.

Here is a page I left out of the book because it was getting too large. The background of my black forest trifle in the champagne glass are those dark slate vinyl tiles. Used just 4 - 2 behind and 2 on the base.

Oh, and there are my polka dot cups and saucers !!

Not my photo, just used for an example. However... Good advice on backgrounds and worth remembering. I also have flooring and counter samples for backgrounds. The further advice on side lighting for food is also always something to remember.

Yum, Yum, one of my delicious and attractive food photos.

what's funny about this is i have posted and sold kind of similar images. the concept being junk food looking greasy and unappetizing. could be used for an article about clogged arteries or obesity.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #30 on:** March 03, 2025, 12:44 »

Quote from: yuriy on March 02, 2025, 17:35

what's funny about this is i have posted and sold kind of similar images. the concept being junk food looking greasy and unappetizing. could be used for an article about clogged arteries or obesity.

Some of the strange images, that I upload now and then as a joke or filler, have actually sold on multiple sites. Heck if I know why. Unlike planned shots with great lighting, aligned subjects, all organized and they just died. I did one of cooking a pizza on a gas grill, and it's not that special. It was sold for an article, "Never cook a pizza on a grill"

AM24 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 08, 2025, 16:20 »

Quote from: stoker2014 on February 20, 2025, 05:22

Sell your book on Amazon, I read it sells well there.

Ok, it's now up on Kindle. Plus a glossy cover Paperback format coming soon. The paperback is taking a bit longer because of some extra formatting changes I had to make to convert it but should be up in a day or two.

For those who don't have Kindle, the eBook is still available in pdf sold through Payhip via my website. But the price has gone up - for all the reasons I mentioned above.

All the details are here: https://milleflore.com/books

So, Stoke, are you going to buy a copy - seeing you put me through all that trouble?

stoker2014 · « **Reply #32 on:** March 08, 2025, 16:43 »

Good decision, now a lot of people will see your book. They won't necessarily buy it, but they will definitely find out about it.
Kindle book format is mobi, and as I understand it, the book should be in black and white. But why does it weigh 750 MB in mobi format?
In fact, the mobi format is understood not only by Kindle, but also by other e-books, even those made in China.
Maybe I'll buy it someday, I need to think about it.
Usually I download all this stuff for free from pirate sites, torrents.

Releasing a paper version of the book is also a very good decision. If you promote this book on Instagram and Facebook, you can have good sales. Because there are many people who want to read such literature not on a tablet, but on paper. It is also nice to put such a book on a shelf, and also to give it to someone. No one gives a book in pdf format.

I also thought that you can also sell the paper version of the book on Amazon, in your ad. I saw similar ads there, you can buy either for Kindle or a paper book. Perhaps it is worth placing a few pages on Amazon as an advertisement.

AM24 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 08, 2025, 16:58 »

It has a LOT of full color photos, plus a lot of special formatting, every page is designed for a handbook format - with visual impact - not a textbook. See a couple of sample pages attached. Even just uploading them here I had to shrink them down a LOT.

But I will look at how I can reduce it.

Oh god, no. Not pirate sites - the bane of a writer's existence

(There's enough problems now with AI and intellectual property.)

stoker2014 · « **Reply #34 on:** March 08, 2025, 18:02 »

Quote from: AM24 on March 08, 2025, 16:58

It has a LOT of full color photos, plus a lot of special formatting, every page is designed for a handbook format - with visual impact - not a textbook. See a couple of sample pages attached. Even just uploading them here I had to shrink them down a LOT.

All e-books are black and white. Kindle, of course, released one color model, but few people have it. Therefore, you do not need to insert color photos into the mobi format, and especially large ones. The size of an e-book is only 6-7 inches, the screen resolution is HD at best.
If you have a regular e-book, see how your book works on it.
Few people are interested in using visual impact on an e-book. I don’t even know if this works in the mobi format.
In general, the size of your book for Kindle should be up to 10 MB. You can also sell pdf format and a paper book in the same ad. Each option may have a different price.

The philosophy of e-books is not about quality. E-books are used to quickly obtain information and quickly access information. Also, e-books are very slow, they have little RAM and little disk memory. Your book with a size of 750 MB will open on such e-book for 10 minutes, and leafing through it will be sheer hell.

AM24 · « **Reply #35 on:** March 08, 2025, 18:32 »

Quote from: stoker2014 on March 08, 2025, 18:02

Quote from: AM24 on March 08, 2025, 16:58
It has a LOT of full color photos, plus a lot of special formatting, every page is designed for a handbook format - with visual impact - not a textbook. See a couple of sample pages attached. Even just uploading them here I had to shrink them down a LOT.
All e-books are black and white. Kindle, of course, released one color model, but few people have it. Therefore, you do not need to insert color photos into the mobi format, and especially large ones. The size of an e-book is only 6-7 inches, the screen resolution is HD at best.
If you have a regular e-book, see how your book works on it.
Few people are interested in using visual impact on an e-book. I don’t even know if this works in the mobi format.
In general, the size of your book for Kindle should be up to 10 MB. You can also sell pdf format and a paper book in the same ad. Each option may have a different price.

The philosophy of e-books is not about quality. E-books are used to quickly obtain information and quickly access information. Also, e-books are very slow, they have little RAM and little disk memory. Your book with a size of 750 MB will open on such e-book for 10 minutes, and leafing through it will be sheer hell.

I have already bought a copy for my own Kindle to check for any issues, and although Amazon puts a warning there that it is a large file, it didn't take that long to download, certainly not as much as 10 minutes, and moving through it wasn't a problem, but thank you so much for all your advice. Very helpful, and I will certainly look at making it smaller. Having that file size warning there might deter some buyers. Thanks Stoke!

ETA. Not sure what you mean about all ebooks are in black and white. Mine was in full color. And very good quality.

ETA

Ahhhhh, I just realised what you were saying. You're talking about the original kindle devices. I am talking about the Kindle App that I have on my tablet (iPad)

stoker2014 · « **Reply #36 on:** March 08, 2025, 18:51 »

Quote from: AM24 on March 08, 2025, 18:32

Ahhhhh, I just realised what you were saying. You're talking about the original kindle devices. I am talking about the Kindle APP that I have on my tablet (iPad)

Most people have black and white books and they are very slow in terms of opening large graphic files. Only tablets or PCs are used for such files.
Of course, I am talking about e-books with an E-Ink screen, which is safe for the eyes and which you can look at for as long as on regular paper.
If someone wants to read your book on a tablet, they will download your pdf file.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 09, 2025, 03:31 »

So what format do you have uploaded to Amazon under the name Kindle? If you uploaded a pdf file there, then write that it is a pdf file, and not a format for e-books.
You can probably sell pdf format on Amazon. And perhaps you don’t have to sell mobi format for e-books on Amazon. But if you can convert your pdf format to mobi format, then you can also upload mobi format under the category book for e-books (Kindle).
Thus, your ad can consist of three versions of your book:
1. pdf format.
2. mobi format.
3. Paper book.

AM24 · « **Reply #38 on:** March 09, 2025, 03:58 »

Quote from: stoker2014 on March 09, 2025, 03:31

So what format do you have uploaded to Amazon under the name Kindle? If you uploaded a pdf file there, then write that it is a pdf file, and not a format for e-books.
You can probably sell pdf format on Amazon. And perhaps you don’t have to sell mobi format for e-books on Amazon. But if you can convert your pdf format to mobi format, then you can also upload mobi format under the category book for e-books (Kindle).
Thus, your ad can consist of three versions of your book:
1. pdf format.
2. mobi format.
3. Paper book.

Actually, I think these are good questions because there may be other members here who might be toying with the idea of publishing, especially if they have some specialty areas. There's nothing better than expanding one's intellectual property!

Firstly, I want to add again that I was helped enormously by Steve Heap, stock photographer and published author, who was extremely helpful and supportive all along the way - and still is.

OK, this is what I did:
I opened an account on KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and uploaded via Kindle Create. My book was a special format, so I had to use a 'Print Replica" format - designed for books with lots of photography and/or graphics. (Cookbooks, Photography, Comic Books, etc)

I uploaded my PDF to their Kindle Create app, and it turned it into a special format .kpf file that I then uploaded to the Kindle Direct webpage.

More about this here:

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GUGQ4WDZ92F733GC

Once your books are up on their system, under your 'Bookshelf" tab, you will get this. See attachment. And you enter all the relevant details, proof-check physical books for print, etc.

The options they give you are: Kindle eBook, Paperback - and even a Hardcover. They give you a template to design your own covers, and all the printing costs are fully outlined according to book size, cover and color choices. The books are sold as print-on-demand. The commission on physical books are 60% less printing costs. The 2 eBook commission structures are outlined in my early posts.

That's it!

stoker2014 · « **Reply #39 on:** March 09, 2025, 06:23 »

Quote from: AM24 on March 09, 2025, 03:58

I uploaded my PDF to their Kindle Create app, and it turned it into a special format .kpf file that I then uploaded to the Kindle Direct webpage.
More about this here:
https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GUGQ4WDZ92F733GC

I read and realized that Amazon now sells books not only for e-books, but also for tablets and applications. Your book is available for reading only on Kindle Fire and Kindle Apps, this is what you wrote there.
I also couldn't find the option to buy your book in paper form, the product page doesn't have the option you attached in your post.
But if Amazon can create a printed book itself and send it to the buyer, this is good for you. However, it is not clear what is more profitable, to print it yourself or to have Amazon print it.
If you want your book to be read on e-books, you need to upload it to Amazon in EPUB or DOCX format. In this case, Amazon will be able to convert them to AZW3 format for e-books Kindle.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #40 on:** March 09, 2025, 06:48 »

There are several ways to convert PDF to EPUB. Here are some popular tools:

Calibre
Calibre is a free and powerful eBook management program that also supports conversion between many formats, including PDF to EPUB.

Adobe Acrobat Pro also allows you to export PDF to various formats, including EPUB.

Sigil is a free EPUB editor. It provides convenient tools for editing existing EPUB files, improving the structure and formatting of the book.

If you want to create a high-quality eBook, with a well-adapted format for reading on devices e-books, EPUB is the best choice.

But your existing option is also good. Adding more buyers who read only on e-books is already your choice.

AM24 · « **Reply #41 on:** March 09, 2025, 13:59 »

The paperback format is now up and available. It was only just approved.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZDYKX3G

Thanks for all your info, Stoke. You've been very helpful. Very much appreciated. (You don't have to buy the book, I was just kidding above.)

stoker2014 · « **Reply #42 on:** March 10, 2025, 10:00 »

I would also add a few preview pages to your Amazon advertising so that the buyer can see not only the cover, but also what the book looks like visually.

AM24 · « **Reply #43 on:** March 13, 2025, 15:04 »

Quote from: stoker2014 on March 10, 2025, 10:00

I would also add a few preview pages to your Amazon advertising so that the buyer can see not only the cover, but also what the book looks like visually.

yes, I agree. that's exactly what I want to do too. But I can't make any changes to my listing at the moment. Not sure why? I may have to write to them. It seems to be stuck or something.

But my own copy of the paperback arrived yesterday - and I am very happy with it. The glossy cover and premium color pages look really good. It's a bit thin, the book is only 106 pages being a condensed handbook, but otherwise, Amazon has done a great job on the printing.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #44 on:** March 13, 2025, 16:55 »

For some reason, I personally prefer books in hardcover rather than paperback. But it doesn't matter.

AM24 · « **Reply #45 on:** March 27, 2025, 18:27 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on February 24, 2025, 11:31

Quote from: AM24 on February 21, 2025, 14:46

I love blue cheese and it photographs really beautifully. The only thing wrong with your photo, Pete, is the background. The two-tone is too distracting. But a full black background would have been too flat. It's good to have some texture in your backgrounds too sometimes.

Getting the right background is 50% of what makes a good photo. As you know I used to go to salvage places and get a lot of things there. Like those old wooden large trays that I painted and distressed. Or get some sample vinyl floor tiles. I still use the dark slate ones.

Here is a page I left out of the book because it was getting too large. The background of my black forest trifle in the champagne glass are those dark slate vinyl tiles. Used just 4 - 2 behind and 2 on the base.

Oh, and there are my polka dot cups and saucers !!

Not my photo, just used for an example. However... Good advice on backgrounds and worth remembering. I also have flooring and counter samples for backgrounds. The further advice on side lighting for food is also always something to remember.

Yum, Yum, one of my delicious and attractive food photos.

This is a cute photo. I really like it. Very AUTHENTIC! And yes, this stuff sells as well as the other.

My book was no 2 best seller in food photography on Amazon au this morning.

I've started writing my next one, Delicious Styling, about 1/3 of the way through, not just for food bloggers but anyone getting into food photography or need styling tips and know-how. That may be of more interest.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #46 on:** March 28, 2025, 02:52 »

The book is even bought on Amazon? Maybe stockers should stop uploading to stocks and start selling their photos as books on Amazon?
Do they buy a paper version or an electronic one?

AM24 · « **Reply #47 on:** April 14, 2025, 18:34 »

No 1 in Food Photography on Amazon USA today!

This whole thing started because Terry once said, take all your blogs and wack them into an eBook and put it up on Amazon.

Well, it ended up being a lot more than that, but very enjoyable. And with some wonderful support. I'm surprised it got to No 1 in USA so quickly, but I've updated the book, added another 80 pages (its now 180p), lowered the price a little - and Amazon's been promoting it.

In its first month of sales (March), I earned more than I did on SS. Just goes to show that there are other ways to boost your income. Just go through your blogs, guys!

cobalt · « **Reply #48 on:** April 14, 2025, 23:33 »

Following this thread with renewed interest.

Not just because the food pics look great, but I have started a new project and might write an ebook.

I have lost over 80 pounds with a healthy morning meal followed by fresh fruits, then chocolate, cake or anything bad.

Combined with intermittent fasting I feel like I have cracked the code for easy and automatic weight loss.

No calorie counting, a pizza every week, very cheap, no gym needed, although I try to go swimming once a week and attempt to walk 4000 steps a day.

The warm cooked healthy morning meal stimulates my metabolism which had slowed down a lot with endless yoyo diets.

Plus there is science about feeding your gut bacteria well and they will produce appetite dampening chemicals and keep you happy.

I started a blog on medium, so people can follow the last 20 pounds of weight loss.

https://medium.com/@jasminsbreakfast

There is also an insta with the same name.

Comments and critique welcome!

No beautiful food pictures yet, but I am trying to improve that.

Also taking little videos for stock.

When I have enough articles and have refined and rethought what I do and why it works, I want to summarize it in a useful little book.

Usually I don‘t follow recipes, but perhaps while doing this project this will improve. I really don‘t enjoy cooking.

One good thing that came from the vurrent Adobe disaster, I finally started the blog.

Apologies for my ugly food pics

AM24 · « **Reply #49 on:** April 15, 2025, 01:45 »

Well done, Jasmine!

Following you on Insta and looking forward to watching your progress.

Following what I wrote on your post, 'the saying "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper" is based on scientific evidence that recommends consuming the bulk of your calories during the day when you are the most active. This approach aligns meal timing with the body's natural rhythms and can offer several health benefits, including improved metabolism, better appetite regulation, enhanced cognitive function, and better weight management.'

I don't have a weight problem, but I suffer from non-diabetic Reactive Hypoglycemia, inherited from my mother, which was getting so bad on my former low-carb diet that I was having blood sugar crashes almost every night. So I swapped to the Blue Zones diet which is high carb and high fiber, and low animal fat. I haven't put on any weight, in fact I even lost some, and my hypoglycemia is under control. My body craves Sourdough Bread (which is really good for blood sugar control) so I recently bought a starter kit to make my own and will be blogging about that soon, too.

Well done on the blog and looking forward to the book - and hey (!) maybe a little cookbook later. You never know

And yeah, big breakfasts are the key. Its helped me!

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Author Topic: Food Photography Handbook (Read 3472 times)

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