How to Get Shopping Mall Food Court Trays to Look Gourmet-Level Good
No matter how fresh, styled, and clean the steam table is, the cafeteria-style setting for food photograph does not lend well to the best appetizing image you can get.
Hey there,
If you're a food blogger, restaurant owner, or just love taking pictures of your meals, you know the struggles of trying to capture the perfect shot in a mall food court. From the lack of natural light to the bustling crowds and busy atmosphere, it can be a challenge to take beautiful food photos in this setting.
Curry & Kabob House Indian Cuisine is personally one of my favorite Indian restaurants in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area. The owners are very particular about their recipes and where they source their food. With the right concept, they would do well with their own brick-and-mortar space.
However, with a little creativity and patience, it's possible to overcome these obstacles and take stunning food photos in a mall food court. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Use natural lighting whenever possible. Good luck trying to make fluorescent-lit mall chicken tenders look appetizing. Food courts can be dimly lit, so try to find a spot near a window or outside area to take your photos. This will help to capture the true colors and textures of the food.
Experiment with angles. Try shooting from above for a bird's eye view, or getting close to the food for an intimate shot. This can add interest and depth to your photos.
Play with the composition. Consider including props or other elements in the frame to add interest and depth. This can help to make your photos stand out and tell a story.
Use editing tools to enhance the colors. Food photography often requires a little bit of editing to make the food pop in the photo. Use editing tools to enhance the colors and make the food look its best. I use Adobe Lightroom on my mobile and Capture One on my desktop.
Have fun and be creative. Above all, remember to have fun and be creative with your food photography. Don't be afraid to try new things and experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you. Additionally, some dishes are often messy in presentation much like Indian curries and sides. This can make it difficult to capture the food in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and appetizing.
Don’t take photos of food inside the steam table. Consider using containers, black containers if possible, or plates to make the food stand out. Black backgrounds can help to highlight the vibrant colors of the food and make it the star of the shot especially if you have a rice dish. Just be sure to use a contrasting color for any garnishes or toppings to add some visual interest.
I didn’t pick this image because of the low-resolution quality, it’ 's all that I had.
Notice the flat light, the white rice blending into the container, and no forethought of the floor being in the shot.
This image was taken in a brighter area of the food court. Here, the brighter light can assist in revealing more details. I pulled the shrimp out as well so we could see it is in fact the Shrimp Biriyani. I cropped it very close to cut out any distracting background.
I’ve been getting into the hard light trend with product and food photography, so this image is my favorite. It was noon so I found a table that sat directly under a sunroof on a bright day and took advantage. The black containers make the red chicken tika and green spinach pop.
With these tips in mind, you can take appetizing and flattering food photos in a mall food court and show off your culinary creations to the world. You may be stuck in a mall food court, but at least the food is looking GOURMET-level good. Happy shooting.
Here we took 100% control over the lighting, styling, and background. These images were used for the Curry & Kabob House’s menu and digital assets. For this investment, it made sense to bring in the gear and a simple plan to empower their brand. I do want to mention when it comes to blogging, thought-out smartphone photos are better as they tend to provide a more real and raw appearance for social platforms.
Overall, food photography presents unique challenges, but when done properly, it can be a beautiful and mouth-watering way to showcase the vibrant flavors and rich cultural traditions of the Virginia, Maryland, and DC areas, including shopping mall food courts. Visit our Food Photography Blog for more tips, tricks, and advice on taking stunning food photos.
