Shreya Adding texture to your frame almost makes the photo come to life. It looks more realistic, rustic and catches the viewer’s attention. In this post, I will be talking about three of my favorite ways to add more texture to your food photos with photo examples of course.
1. Adding fabric
Adding different kinds of fabric in your frame serves two purposes. First it fills some space in your frame and second it brings depth to the photo. The light bounces off differently from the fabric compared to the other components in the frame, adding a subtle complexity.
P.S Link to the chicken curry recipe :
One of the best fabrics to use is cheesecloth or gauze fabric because it creates beautiful ripples of light and shadow within its fold. I ordered mine on amazon (linked at the end of the post) but I’ve also seen different colors available in Hobby Lobby.
Chunky knit sweaters/throws are perfect to bring warmth and coziness to your frame, especially when you are showcasing soups, hot chocolate or any fall/winter goodies.
2. Parchment paper
Yes, you read it right! The same parchment paper you use to line your baking tray can serve a dual purpose and add texture to your food photo. My favorite trick is to crush the paper and open it back. This gives a very raw and rustic look which I love.
P.S. Link to these yummy masala sweet potato fries recipe
3. Adding elements used to create the dish
Now this is a trick I swear by. Adding the elements you used to create your dish in the frame builds a story. The viewer can just look at the frame and guess what the dish is from the ingredients present. This is a great tool to boost engagement on your food photos.
It’s simple really, place the main ingredients used in your dish around the final product. This also helps fill the space around the dish instead of just showing the blank background. Here is another example of a pesto I made some time ago. I have placed the basil, garlic, parmesan etc in the background which I’ve blurred while focussing on the star of the frame, the pesto. And, this frame contains an element already mentioned in this post, can you guess what it is? Comment if you find it!
And that was it for this post. Hope the tips were helpful and now you can create some beautiful frames for your food photos. Remember, it’s all about practice and trying different things and settling on what you like best.
