How to Edit Food Photography Images Using Lightroom
Do you want your food photography to look the best it can? If so, then you will need to be sure that the images are edited properly. The food photography editing process involves many steps from picking the right editor to mastering your editing workflow, but make sure you’re not making these classic food photography editing mistakes.
3 Biggest Food photography editing mistakes
Editing Mistake #1 – Not editing at all
The biggest mistake I see is believing you need to achieve it ALL in camera. Editing is part of the process. Don’t underestimate the importance of editing your photos properly.
Editing Mistake #2 – I don’t need to read histograms
Every food photography editing process is different but one of the first things that you should do when you are editing food photography is read the histogram. If the food photography is underexposed or overexposed, then it can be difficult to edit and fix without knowing this information from reading a histogram. One of the easiest ways to fix food photography with an underexposed or overexposed histogram is to use the whites and blacks sliders, rather than the exposure slider.
Editing Mistake #3 – Focusing on Global Adjustments
If you focus your food photography editing on global adjustments, then you will not get the best possible outcome for colour and exposure.
Global food photography edits are more effective when used on a food photo that is already well edited to add in your style. It can be difficult to make global adjustments if the food photograph was not taken well in the first place as these global adjustment will just amplify any problems with a food photo before making it better.
5 key food photography edits
Cropping
The food photography aspect ratio can change an image’s mood and composition. For example, if the food photography has a small food on the plate with tall lines on either side, then you might want to use a portrait aspect ratio. Otherwise, you may want to use a landscape food photography aspect ratio for food with more items on the plate and less tall lines around it.
Ensuring you pick the right picture ratio format and use Lightroom’s crop guide to help you make a good food photography edit.
White Balance
Selecting proper white balance is another food photography editing trick that can make food more visually appealing and accurate in food photos. Different lighting temperatures will cause food photos to have different colours and moods, so it is important to select the right lighting temperature that matches how you want your food photo to feel.
Set the Mood with Exposure
Food photography lighting sets your overall mood of the photo, but don’t be afraid to push the boundaries in edit. For example, food photography that is too dark with high contrast can be brightened up by pulling the blacks down and pushing the highlights up to create a warmer food photo.
To Sharpen or Not?
I’m sure that you’ve seen food photography that looks too sharp. It’s like the food is taking a razor blade to your food photo. There are some people who intentionally want their food photography to look this way, but most of the time it’s because they don’t know how to properly sharpen food photos.
Before I learned how to sharpen food photographs, I would go overboard with my food photo editing and do things like sharpen too much or overuse noise reduction – both are problems as they can make food photos look less natural or out of focus.
The best way to learn when and how to properly sharpen food photographs is by practicing with a lot of different programs and applications. The more food photography you edit, the more food photography editing knowledge and skills you will have.
If it’s your first time sharpening food photographs, then I recommend using a light hand on the food photo sharpener to get used to how it can be done. You may also want to turn off any noise reduction if there is one built in as this can make food photographs too fuzzy.
Lastly, HSL Adjustments
Hue saturation and luminance adjustments are all used in food photography editing to make subtle changes. I can’t tell you how many food photographers are completely missing out on this opportunity to make their food photography pop or add a colour grading for the season/style of their photos.
Mastering your workflow
Food photography editing is a skill which takes time to develop effectively but once you master it, the sky’s the limit! Once you have an understanding of how food photography editing works, you will be able to create food photographs that make your food photography stand out.
Wanna learn how?
