Snapping pictures of their kitchen creations is the perfect way for young cooks to document their culinary journey. A basic phone camera can capture high-quality images, and as a bonus, it makes sharing them really easy. Since images play an important role in our cooking contests, we wanted to offer a few simple tips that can take your student's food photography from good to great. Little changes really can make a big difference!

1. Use Natural Light

Indoor overhead lighting can give dishes an unnatural color and cast harsh shadows. Shooting pictures near a sunny window results in images with realistic tones and gentle shadows. The best spot for the shot may not be in the kitchen, so explore the lighting in other rooms as well. If the weather is nice, a shady outdoor location will also work. For the most vibrant color, avoid direct sunlight.

2. Declutter the Background

You want the food to be the star of the show. When the leftover cooking mess is in the background, it shifts attention and affects the mood of your shot. Sometimes stuff from the cooking process, such as egg shells and flour sifters, can add style to the picture, but they should be used with restraint. Which leads to…

3. Use Props Sparingly

Carefully chosen props can add visual interest to food pictures, but it's easy to get carried away. If your shot includes a serving spoon, Granny's favorite tea towel, a rolling pin, a vase of flowers, a cookbook, and a scattering of cinnamon sticks, it may look busy and overly staged.

4. Set Up for the Shot Before You Start Cooking

The appearance of many dishes starts to go downhill quickly after plating. Crisp foods go limp, sauces drip down into puddles, and moist surfaces dry out. Gather your props and serving dishes in advance so they're close at hand and ready for action as soon as the food is done.

5. Choose the Right Angle

There are three commonly used angles in food photography.

Overhead (top-down) is shot from directly above the food. This is a good option for dishes with lots of elements that would be hidden from view if shot from other angles. It's also the best choice when the plating shows artistic flair. You may need to use a step stool to capture overhead pictures, or you can set the shot up on the floor.

Table Height puts the camera at eye level with the food. It’s nice for close-ups that capture detail and for stacks of food.

Three-Fourths is shot halfway between the previous two positions. Imagine your food is at the center of a clock face. Overhead is shot from 12. Table Height is shot from 3. Three-Fourths is shot from 1:30. This angle shows detail while allowing you to get the entire dish in the picture.

Finally, keep in mind that these tips are only suggestions. It's okay to buck tradition and trends to capture an image that reflects the student's sense of style and vision for the finished dish. Who knows? Their twist on food photography could be the next big thing.