Here's part 2 of Aleksi's tips, he has also kindly agreed to another post with tips for a basic start up kit in the near future:
4. Think even. Once you master the art of using available light, you may want to attempt to push your photography to the next level. Learning how to use a fill light is crucial in many situations where the available light is casting shadows over portions of the dish. Especially with white plates, a harshly dark shadow can kill the mood of the shot, and turn a great looking dish into something that isn't meant for a dog. A great resource to learn about flash photography and manipulating artificial light is www.strobist.com. As is the concept with photography, start small and master the baby steps first, so that when you reach the further chapters, your established knowledge will help you embrace the new concepts and apply them immediately to your images.
5. Look at the pros. Professionals are good for a reason. They study other professionals, and always look to push their abilities to get better. We all make mistakes, lose pictures, do crazy things with lights and end up wishing we had played it more conservatively, but these are the nuances of working in photography. The same can be applied to amateurs. Believe it or not, photographing food is a skill that can be learned simply by watching and learning to look at the details in great images, and understanding how to create a desired theme. Study the details of images that cover your favorite food magazines, or packages, and you will find they have things in common. Simple backgrounds, pleasing colors, even light, and always a touch of elegance are all factors that play into the success of an image to sell. Take these thoughts into mind next time you plan your next photoshoot, and regardless of your equipment or overall abilities, your images are guaranteed to take a leap forward in quality and overall consumer appeal.
