The Best Camera Angles for

Food Photography
Are you new in food photography? Then you need to know the most
commonly used angles people use when taking photos of food.

We’ll tell you why you need to use each angle for every photoshoot and how
to execute them properly.
Why Do You Need Different Angles
for Food Photography?
Many factors can make or break your food photography—issues
with lighting, composition, or food and prop styling all impact the result of
your work. Even minor decisions in these areas can cause an image to feel
slightly “off.”

Camera angles are essential when composing for food photography. A

perspective that might work very well for one image will not necessarily
work for another. So before you pick up your camera, think about which
perspective will help bring out the dish’s best features.

There are three main food photography angles: overhead, 3/4, or straight
on.

They may sound a bit technical. But these camera angles are quite easy to
remember. Overhead is like the bird’s eye view. Meanwhile, you can think of
the 3/4 as the diner’s point of view. And finally, straight on refers to the
camera being level with the table.
Image by Jose Tebor
Slight variations on these camera angles for food photography exist. But
these are the main ones that professionals and enthusiasts use all the time.

How to Use the 3/4 Camera Angle

This angle is when you place your camera anywhere from 25 to 75 degrees to
your subject.

Typically, 45-degrees is the most common angle for commercial food

photography. It’s a popular angle because it’s so versatile. It allows you to
show the front and surface of the dish, as well as the sides.

And did we mention that it’s also the same perspective that people see when
they eat food?
The 30-degree angle is a variation of the 45-degree angle. The camera angle
is slightly lower and allows the viewer to see the background.

Let’s look at the images below to see how the 3/4 angle works when
photographing food. The image on the left was shot at 30-degrees while the
image on the right was shot at 45-degrees. You can see the background in the
left image. But in the image on the right, you see the ingredients in the food
much better.

Both of these photographs were shot at 70mm, so the focal length was the
same. The differences came from the camera angle.
When choosing the angle for photography of food, think about what kind of
dish you’ll be serving your food. For a salad served in a bowl, we would want
to see deeper into it. That means choosing a 45-degree angle rather than a 30-
degree angle.

Choose your camera and props before you start setting up your shot, as one
will influence the other. So will the lens you use and the distance between
your camera and subject.

When you’re shooting with a longer lens, you typically only see the food and
the table. I almost always shoot at 70mm or higher on my full-frame camera.

When it comes to food photography, a 50mm lens is a wide-angle lens. If you

are only shooting one dish, it may show more of the background more than
you prefer.

If you’re taking photos with a 50mm lens, you’ll need large surfaces and
backgrounds. You’ll also have to get very close to your food to omit what
you don’t want in the shot. Otherwise, you’ll capture a lot of unnecessary
space.

The 50mm is a great lens to work with if you are doing a tablescape or have
other dishes or props in your scene.

For shooting one dish or minimalist food photography, I find 50mm too
limiting. In food photography, the food needs to be the focus, even when you
have several elements in the frame. These should support the main subject,
not detract from it.
How to Use the Overhead Camera
Angle
Thanks to Instagram, the overhead shot has become one of the most popular
camera angles lately. It’s excellent for smartphone photography because
phones have a very wide-angle lens. So if you are a budding food
photographer, this is one of the best angles to try!

Food shot at 45-degrees on the phone can appear as if it’s sliding off the
table, due to the distortion caused by a wide-angle lens.

The overhead has several benefits. For instance, it’s useful for fitting several
elements into a scene such as a tablescape. That’s why it’s an excellent
perspective for storytelling. You can see a variety of props, ingredients, or
dishes of food in the frame when you shoot from overhead. It is also often
more convenient to compose your shot using this angle than a 3/4 or straight-
on.

In the image of the spaghetti carbonara below, the 90-degree angle allows us
to see into the dish. It brings to full view details such as the bacon, parsley,
grating of cheese, and the ground black pepper. It is a minimalist shot with a
lot of negative space, but the result is pleasing to the eye.

We can see a lot of texture in not only the food but also the pan and the
background.

Texture is an essential element in food photography, and the choice of an

overhead angle allows us to utilise it effectively.
However, the overhead angle doesn’t work for every type of food shot. It
eliminates depth, which gives a more graphic pop to an image. So that means
it’s not suitable for every kind of food. With the overhead angle, you
emphasise the shape of the food and various elements of the scene.

How to Use the Straight-On Angle

This camera angle is most suitable for “tall” foods, like burgers or stacks of
pancakes. It emphasizes the height of a dish. When you are shooting burgers
and sandwiches, the bun or the top piece of bread hides what is inside. That’s
why taking the shot from anywhere above the food doesn’t make sense.
Remember, the objective is always to focus on the best features of the food.
In the image of the Eton Mess below, straight-on was an obvious choice. It
allows us to see the meringue and whipping cream layered with the fig and
blood orange slices. In the image of the chocolate brownies, we can see their
texture and the cherries. And we have the contrast of the sprinkle of icing
sugar.

Had I taken the shot overhead, the icing sugar and the texture of the top of the
brownie would have been the focus. And that’s terrible because people
wouldn’t have any way of knowing what’s in the food.
Other Great Angles You Can Use in
Food Photography
We mentioned earlier that the 3/4, overhead, and straight on aren’t the only
angles out there. You can also use the ones we listed below for photography
food:

Low Angle
The low angle is a variation of the straight-on shot. The only difference is
you need to go slightly lower than the dish you’re photographing.

This perspective makes the dish look bigger than its actual size. That’s why
you see it a lot in advertisements. You can use it when taking pictures
of burgers, a stack of pancakes, or anything else with height.
Image by Amirali Mirashemian

Close-up
Do you need to showcase the ingredients inside the food? Then consider
doing a close-up shot. It allows you to show the texture and the detail of the
dish you’re photographing.

This way, your viewers will get a better idea of how the dish will taste and
feel in their mouths. In most cases, this perspective is only complementary to
the main shot. In other words, you’ll need to establish what people are
looking at with the main shot. So when they look at the close-up, they’ll
know it’s the same subject.
Image by Inja Pavlic

Dutch Angle
Dutch angle is just a fancy name for tilting your camera slightly. It’s not
common in food photography. But you can try this if your set has sharp lines
or geometric shapes.

Instead of making everything straight, you can skew them a bit to create
some interest. In turn, the diagonal shapes you create helps direct the
viewer’s eye to the food.
When Should You Use These
Angles?
Always prioritise the food you are shooting. Does it have layers, like a
sandwich? Or is it a flat food, like a pizza? Also, think about where you want
to place the main focus of interest. My recommendation is that you focus on
the front of the food.

If the food has layers, you need to avoid overhead shots. Instead, go for the
3/4 and straight-on angle. That way, you can show everything that’s in it.

If the dish is flat or has most of its ingredients at the top, then do overhead
shots.

If you are shooting with your phone, use the overhead or straight-on
perspective. Avoid taking slanted angles. There is a tendency when starting to
shoot food photography to take pictures at an angle. It never looks good and
will brand you as an amateur. Especially if it seems like the food is about to
slide off the table!

When you’re taking pictures of food, don’t limit yourself with just one angle.
I even recommend you do all three angles. After all, that’s what most
professional photographers do. They want to cover everything, so they don’t
miss any details. That thought process also allows them to give their clients
more choices.

Of course, you should also consider trying other angles. Doing so allows you
to come up with a unique perspective. You see, the more different your
images are from others, the more likely you are to succeed in this genre. So
don’t be afraid to experiment! After all, you have all the time to do so, since
your subject doesn’t move.
Conclusion
Knowing how to use 3/4, overhead, and straight-on will help you a lot in
product photography. Once you become familiar with these angles, you don’t
have to waste time figuring out how to photograph your dish. After all, you
only have three choices to make.

The more you shoot and practice food photography, the more intuitive it will
become. You’ll learn to quickly choose the angle that will best work for the
items you are shooting. It can be beneficial to plan things out in advance, but
you want to allow some room for creativity too.