Action food photography – tricks and tips

Food stylists love to tell a story through their pictures. And what better way than an action shot. They are fun to shoot but can get a little complicated. Here are a few tricks and tips for making your job a tab bit easier while capturing movement on camera. 

• Equipment or an extra pair of hands: I had to, and occasionally, I still do rely on my family while taking an action shot. They become the hand model for my shoot. They are easy to handle and come free of cost.
  

• Camera settings: I always go for manual mode. First comes the shutter speed. Shoots involving a fast action like sprinkling sugar, splash shots, or dusting flour need a high shutter speed of 1/160 and above to get a crisp image. However, for pouring shots with milk or ganache, you can choose below that speed. Next, change the drive mode from a single image to a continuous shoot to get burst.
  

• Preferences for ingredients
  Liquid: You might want to adjust the consistency of sauce or chocolate with water or milk to prevent changing the taste. Make sure there is no lump to get a continuous flow. 
  Solid: Sometimes, getting the right image with regular salt might be a challenge, my tip, use sea salt.
• The angle of camera: My favorite when it comes to an action shot is straight-on angle. But it might vary depending upon the dish or shoot. A beautiful contrasting backdrop helps the hero shine through. 

• Implied movement : a symbolic gesture that represents movement even though in reality there is no movement at all. I started with these shots. For example, my little one reaching out for a cookie or cupcake, kneading dough, cutting fruit or chocolate, etc. 

I hope these tips help you capture the action for food photography in the best possible way.