Compose Food Photos Like a Pro
Finally Understand How To Create A Stunning Image
Do any of these sound familiar?
- You just don’t know how to start putting your images together.
- You have no idea where to put your props.
- You have no idea where to place your food in your image.
- You question every item you place in your shot.
What if this is how your photo shoots went?
Finally have an idea and direction of what your photo is going to look like before you even start working on it.
Know exactly where your food items and your props should be placed on your set.
Have an understanding of WHY you are putting your props where they should go in your images.
THE RULE OF THIRDS EBOOK & COMPOSITION OVERLAYS
TAKE YOUR COMPOSITION TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Do you struggle with your food photography composition? Maybe you understand the Golden Ratio intellectually, but you’re still unsure of exactly where to place your food and props on set. Where should you put your main food subject? What props should you use? Which way should the cutlery be facing?
Rule-of-Thirds: A Guide to Composition for Food Photography will empower your creative process with templates that will take the mystery out of composing your food stories. Whether you’re a beginner just starting to learn about composition, or a more advanced shooter who feels stuck-in-a-rut, the 42 templates featured in this book will instantly transform your food photography.
Now, let me tell you about a brand new awesome tool to help you with your composition: The Rule-of-Thirds Template Overlays. What if you had a guide that literally told you where to put everything in your food photos? How much would that simplify things for you?
rule of thirds ebook
What you’ll learn
- Why you need to define your style before choosing your props and backgrounds
- How to place your cutlery the right way so you don’t break the cutlery cardinal rule
- How using the simplest technique will improve your photography right now (hint: it includes the number 3)
- Why the wrong color background can break your photograph and what you should use instead
- What are the best color combinations to use in your food photography to make your food looks awesome
- What is the focal point and why it’s so important in composition
- What is the Phi grid and why it’s actually better than the rule-of-thirds
- Why your post processing program of choice can be a powerful tool in helping you get better compositions
- How to use pattern effectively in your food photography so you don’t ruin your images
What’s included
Part I – The rule-of-thirds is only one compositional principle but there are others. This section goes over the principles of composition in detail. Artists have been using these principles for centuries. Now you’ll find out how to apply them to your food photography. Learn about the various patterns and symmetries that can emerge within the frame, and how to crop your images for optimal impact.
Part II – Case studies from my own work will give you a behind-the-scenes look at my creative process and how I execute composing my professional work. I walk you through my thought process when approaching composition, how I choose my lighting, and how I select props and backgrounds.
Part III – A big part of composition for food photography is knowing where to place everything within the frame. This section of 42 templates will take the guesswork out of composing your scenes and allow your creativity to soar.
The eBook also includes my BONUS Guide to Propping. The props and backgrounds you choose are a huge part of your composition and will have a powerful impact on your food photography. Learn how to curate a prop collection, where to source backgrounds, and what backgrounds and props work best in service of your creative vision.
COMPOSITION OVERLAYS
HOW THESE WILL HELP YOU
- 42 compositional designs to give you several options for your composition
- 84 transparent overlays in two different aspect ratios – choose what you need based on where the images will be seen
- Use while you are shooting tethered using Live View in Capture One Pro to compose your image in real time
- Use as a Loupe Overlays in Lightroom to help you compose images that follow the rules of good composition
- Can be used with any RAW editor that accepts PNG files for flexibility
WHAT CAN YOU ACHIEVE WITH THESE OVERLAYS?
WHAT IF THIS…
COULD LOOK LIKE THIS?
Whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced food shooter, chances are that you sometimes struggle with composition.
These composition overlays are transparent PNG files that can be used in Live View in Capture One Pro. Compose your images in real time without having to second guess where to place your various compositional elements .
They can also be used with Tethered Capture in Lightroom as composition and cropping guides. Roughly set up your props according to the overlay, take a shot, tweak the placement and take another shot. With the overlays as a guide, you’ll instantly be able to take food photos that follow the principles of good composition without having to second guess where to put all the elements of your food story.
The composition template overlays also come with a bonus – the PDF eBook Getting Started with Tethered Capture for Food Photography. If you aren’t shooting tethered yet, this is the perfect time to learn how!
Christina here! The following products are using my affiliate links to my good friend Darina’s products. Should you choose to buy anything, I will receive a commission at no cost to you.
Option 1 – All the Goodies
Ebook Overlay Bundle + All Bonuses $49
You Get Everything! This is a bundle with the Rule of Thirds Ebook, the Composition Overlay Template files, along with two bundles, the Getting Started With Shooting Tethered Guide AND the Propping Guide.
This is everything you need to radically change your food photography.
Rule Of Thirds eBook – Has 110 pages, 7 case studies with examples that will show you how to create a beautiful composition.
Composition Templates – 84 overlay templates in PNG file format. One set of overlays for each aspect ratio.
Instructional Video Showing you how to use the overlay templates.
All THE BONUSES! – With the bundle, you get everything above AND the eBook “Guide To Propping” along with the eBook “Getting Started With Tethered Shooting For Photography”.
Pick this option if you want everything. Your bonus goodies will be inside two download files.
Option 2 – The eBook
Rule of Thirds Ebook $29
With this 110 pg., three-part eBook, you’ll have all the the tools at your fingertips to immediately improve your food photography composition.
Part I – Principles of composition explained.
Part II – Case studies of images putting these principals in use.
Part III – 42 composition diagrams showing several composition options.
Bonus – Propping Guide
Pick this if you already have the templates. Your bonus will be inside the download file on page 42.
Option 3 – The Templates
Composition Overlays $27
The overlays are individual files of the composition diagrams that you can use while you are shooting so that you know EXACTLY where to put items.
42 Overlays – These overlay templates are PNG files and can be used in Adobe Lightroom and Capture One Pro while shooting tethered.
Two Aspect Ratios – 3:2 and 5:4 ratios. Pick the ratio you need that closely matches your camera.
Instructional Video showing you what to do with the overlays
Bonus – Guide to Getting Started With Tethered Shooting
Pick this if you already have the eBook. Your bonus goodies will be inside the zip download file.
Testimonial
Gayle used overlay #3 to create this stunning image
“These composition overlays are genius! Adding them to my workflow allows me to quickly and confidently compose a beautiful scene in half the time.”
– Gayle McLeod Food + Photography
about THE AUTHOR, Darina Kopcok
Darina is a commercial food photographer and educator based in Vancouver, Canada.
In addition to shooting for clients all over the world, Darina teaches at the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts.
She writes content for several photography education sites such as Pro EDU and Digital Photography School, and for her own blog.
