Food and Drink Photography Insights:
Focus on Beautiful

What you’re looking at

A Mediterranean picnic spread — full of colour, contrast, and sunshine. This week’s shot is about abundance and energy. It’s a flat lay designed to feel relaxed, not rigid — like you’ve just set the garden table and cracked open the olives.

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Lighting setup

• Key light: Hard light from above right, using a gobo projector to give the dappled effect and add texture to the food
• Second light: Bouncing off the ceiling to give a softer fill
• Fill cards below and to the right of the scene to lift the darkest areas

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Camera settings

• Shutter: 1/200
• Aperture: f/11
• ISO: 250
• Lens: 35mm
• Tripod-mounted and levelled for clean overhead symmetry

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Styling and prep

There’s no central hero — it’s the spread that sells it. That meant careful spacing between bowls, enough texture in the food to feel tactile, and pops of fresh ingredients (like rosemary, chillies and whole tomatoes) to add dimension. The background was a printed vinyl to create the feel of a large tree trunk.

The bowls were all selected to complement their contents, without too much matching. This needed to look real and natural. This one isn't a gourmet restaurant — it’s a family lunch in the garden.

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Editing touches

• Adjusted shadows slightly for clarity, but kept the hard light character
• Cleaned a few drops of oil and imperfections here and there
• Slight boost to the reds and greens to hit that summer vibe without over-saturating

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Why this works

• It feels casual, not contrived
• The bold shadows and bright colours draw attention
• There’s plenty of visual interest without feeling busy
• The variety invites the viewer to explore the image — and the menu

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Worth knowing

Not every image needs a single focal point. Sometimes, it’s about atmosphere, story, and inviting the viewer in. Immersing them in the environment. Making them want to reach out, grab the food, and taste each item.

If your offering includes boards, buffets or boxes, don’t miss the chance to make the whole spread look desirable. We’ll help you capture it in a way that sells not just the food, but the feeling.