The Art of a Foodstagram

Isabelle Cheng's food photography tips are good enough to eat.

By Isabelle Cheng @allons.y

Photo by: Isabelle Cheng / @allons.y

The secret to Instagram-worthy food pics? Practice, patience, and a great camera. I’m taking you behind the scenes to see food stylists’ secrets and learn how to get the perfect food pic.

Food photography shot with the Galaxy Note8

Food Mode

The Galaxy Note8 camera has built-in Food Mode to make the color and details of any dish pop.

Learn More

Photo by Isabelle Cheng /@allons.y

Captured with the Galaxy Note8

It’s all about the atmosphere

As a food stylist, the biggest lesson I've learned is that people respond to the atmosphere I create just as much as the food. Get inspired by what's around you. Grab the creamer and utensils or show off amazing floor tiles to draw different elements into the photo. It's the little details that will fill the frame and add mood to the picture.

Food Mode

The Galaxy Note8 camera has built-in Food Mode to make the color and details of any dish pop.

Learn More

Using the grid to lineup food photography on the Galaxy Note8

Tip

Stand on a chair or step-ladder to get the best photos of the whole scene.

Photo by @allons.y

Captured with the Galaxy Note8

Bright ideas for dim light

While it looks like all my food photos are taken with great natural light, often times I end up in dimly lit or dark rooms trying to capture the perfect pic. If the lighting situation isn’t ideal, I always turn to the pro setting on my Galaxy Note8. The dual aperture will intuitively use the rear camera to capture clear photos regardless of the lighting. If it’s an incredibly dark room, I often bump up my ISO to a higher number and adjust the white balance.

Tip

Stand on a chair or step-ladder to get the best photos of the whole scene.

Photo by @allons.y

Captured with the Galaxy Note8

Add movement to the photo

Adding movement to the food photo is a great way to add realism to the picture and gives you that “in the moment” feeling. Easily add action by incorporating hands into the photo; ask someone to pour maple syrup on French Toast or stir cream and sugar into coffee. Clicking the shutter can be tricky in these moments so I like to use Burst shot. This way I get that exact moment when the syrup is dripping perfectly without any of the blur.

“The best way to create movement is to move. The food may be stationary, but you aren’t.”

- Isabelle Cheng

Photo by @allons.y

Samsung Sessions: Do x The Moment (Creating a Mood)

Create a mood

Watch my Samsung Sessions video to see how I compose my photos using the rule of thirds and negative space.

Take photos like a food stylist

Whether you're snapping avocado toast for fun or shooting for Foodstagram stardom, the Galaxy Note8 has all the tools you need to stay on top of your food photography game.