Food photography on your phone

Good food photos are mostly about angle, light and what you leave out. Here is how to shoot plates, flat lays and cafe tables with just your phone.

Pick the angle for the food

From straight above for flat food: pizza, bowls, plates, a table full of dishes.
From the side, at table height, for tall food: burgers, layered cakes, drinks in a glass.
From about 45°, the way you see food when you sit down, for most everyday dishes.

Top-down: hold the phone flat

Hold the phone level and parallel to the table, right above the plate, and put the plate in the middle. A crooked phone turns round plates into ovals. Most cameras show a level or crosshair when you point straight down.

A plate of chicken, potatoes and broccoli shot from above, centered on a grey table — The photo

A plate of chicken, potatoes and broccoli shot from above, centered on a grey table, with the guide drawn on top — Top-down: the plate in the middle, phone flat

Flat lay: arrange, then shoot

For several items, such as breakfast, ingredients or coffee and a pastry, lay them out in a loose grid with even gaps, then shoot from above. Leave a little space at the edges.

Four dishes (soup, sushi, karaage, dumplings) in a neat grid, shot from above — The photo

Four dishes (soup, sushi, karaage, dumplings) in a neat grid, shot from above, with the guide drawn on top — Flat lay: a neat grid from above

Leave space, or put the dish on a third

A small plate on a big, plain table looks calm and modern. Or place the dish on a third and let the background fall away.

A bowl of noodles low in the frame with a plain wall above it — The photo

A bowl of noodles low in the frame with a plain wall above it, with the guide drawn on top — Negative space: a small dish, lots of plain space

A ramen bowl on the upper right crossing, side dishes around it — The photo

A ramen bowl on the upper right crossing, side dishes around it, with the guide drawn on top — Rule of thirds: the bowl on a crossing

Light: sit by the window

Daylight from a window, coming from the side or slightly behind the food, makes texture and steam stand out. Turn off the flash and avoid mixing warm ceiling lights with daylight. Tap the food to focus and drag the brightness down a little if the plate looks washed out.

A woman with an iced matcha by a cafe window, lit from one side — The photo

A woman with an iced matcha by a cafe window, lit from one side, with the guide drawn on top — Side light: window light from one side

Cafe shots

Step back and use the cafe itself: a doorway, a window or shelves around your cup or friend. That is the Frame in frame guide, and one of the easiest ways to make a cafe photo look styled. See more in how to take aesthetic photos.