Although I’m not a food photographer, or food stylist, I l-o-v-e photographing food at home! It’s such a great way to help document life. Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way and am excited to share with you!

#1. Get close! Take a bite!
The best way it was ever explained to me was: “you want to feel you can take a bite out of the food in the photo!” So get close. Not so close you can no longer tell what the food is, but close enough you feel you can smell it through your screen! I love sharing this tip in person, because you can literally see the light bulb going on when sharing this tidbit : )

#2. Use Natural Light
Find the best natural light in your house and use it. My kitchen gets a lot of cool indirect light in the mornings, but warm and sometimes harsh direct light in the afternoons. Knowing your light helps you get gorgeous photos. If your living room gets the best light, then clear off an end table or pick up an easily portable table at a garage sale and use it for staging. Using a built in camera flash to photograph food is sometimes a necessity, but you really lose texture. It might take a little forethought, but find the natural light!

#3. Take Notes
Next time you’re thumbing through a magazine, or searching for a recipe on foodnetwork.com or walking past Williams-Sonoma, notice the photos that make your mouth water. Take mental (or actual) notes of the photo(s). What was the main focus? What colors were in the photo? How much of the food was in the photo? What angle or direction was the food photographed? And use these notes to try to emulate that photo. That’s inspiration staring you in the face!

And I have to mention that one of the other reasons I love to photograph our food at home it that it’s a great way to build a family recipe book! Something I hope to make one day to pass on to my daughters : )

Oh, I almost forgot… I wanted to share the recipe!

Sleepy Sunday Banana French Toast

• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 very ripe banana, mashed
• 8 slices cinnamon raisin bread
• powdered sugar to taste

Preheat griddle to medium heat.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and mashed banana. Set aside.

Prepare hot griddle with a thin layer of butter.

Dip each slice of bread, one at a time, into mixture. Coat completely but do not soak bread – don’t make it soggy! Place immediately onto prepared griddle. Cook on each side until golden brown, about 4 – 5 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining slices. The banana and sugar carmelize to provide a fabulous sweetness, and when cooked just right, really you don’t even need syrup! Serve with a sprinkling of powdered sugar, a side of fruit and enjoy immediately!

Thanks for stopping by and have a joyful, creative, blessing filled day! Happy crafting!
xoxo,
/c