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How to Take a Good Picture of Pie

2008_11_07-faith-shooting.jpgpie image.gifWith the Best Pie Bakeoff in session, I wanted to pass on a few tips on taking a good picture of pie (or tart) since photos are one of the requirements to enter the contest.

Because so many people now cook with a camera around their necks (and eat with one in their laps) we encourage readers to send in photos with their questions and require them to do so for contests. Many are wonderful, but some could use help. Whether or not you plan to participate in the Bakeoff, I thought a little Pie Photography 101 might be useful.

By the way, I learned most of these tips from my mother, who is a food stylist and did the styling for my book. Thanks, Mom.

 
 

2008_11_07-tips-for-either.jpgA few tips for any pie photo:
• Set the scene: is it a classic apple pie? Then maybe a stainless steel counter-top and a modern fork isn't the look you're going for. Is is a svelte chocolate tart? Maybe then you should include dressier props like an elegant fork or a fancy espresso cup to the side.
• Think a lot about propping. Baking your pie in an attractive pie plate makes a difference. Consider the plate and fork if you're showing a slice. Consider showing textiles like a napkin, tablecloth, or a hot pad. A pair of hands showing a whole baked pie makes a great picture. A body is a prop, too. Perhaps the cook is wearing a fun apron.
• Blue/greens bring out the warm golden tones of crust. This is easily achieved with props.
• Lighting is so important. Unless it's night or raining, it's almost always better to shoot in natural light outdoors. I live in a fourth floor walk-up and shoot a lot on my fire escape, so be creative. Never use the flash unless you have a professional set-up and know what you're doing. The photo above of my Hazelnut Meringue Tart was taken outdoors.
• Always stabilize your camera. If you don't have a tripod, just balance your camera on something: a wine glass, a stack of books or magazines (see Faith at the top of the post) etc.
• Brush a little water or a 1:1 mixture of water and clear corn syrup over fruit just before shooting for juiciness as in the strawberry tart above.
• Fresh out of the oven is usually best.

2008_11_07-slices.jpgFor pie pieces and whole pies with a piece removed:
• Shoot from a low angle when you want to emphasize the filling as in the Chocolate Cherry Tart (above left.)
• Don't let the filling spread over the entire lower crust, i.e. be sure you see the texture of the bottom crust in the picture.
• Crumbs, flakes, dribbles and smears are warm and friendly and yummy. Don't try to be too sanitized.
• Prop up the back edge of pie (if not showing in photo) with wads of paper towels (food stylists use mashed potatoes!) to keep it from collapsing.
• Try shooting from unexpected like from the point of the slice straight back (as in the Pecan Tart above) or from the backside.

2008_11_07-whole-pies.jpgFor whole pies:
• Use cut outs on double-crust pies so filling can be seen, as in the blueberry pie image, upper right.
• Shoot from a high angle in most cases, as seen in the Apricot Galette (upper left) and the Pecan Pie, (lower left.)
• Don't feel you have to show the entire whole pie. It can "creep" into the shot from the side (as in the free form apple tart, lower right), top (as in the Pecan Pie, lower left), or bottom (as in the Blueberry Pie, upper right.) In this case, consider adding other props (server, plate, textile etc.), or for a more modern look, empty space or a simple textile.
• If edges break, they can be "glued" back in with Vaseline or clear cake gel. Use a toothpick or tweezers to handle the broken bits.

Related:
Food Photography Tips for Newbies
Good Question: Best Camera for Food Photography
Ten Tastiest Food Photography Tips

(Images: Chocolate Cherry, Strawberry, and Pecan Tarts from John Kelly Photography, Blueberry Pie from flickr member thebittenword licensed under Creative Commons, Pecan Pie image via flickr member museinthecity licensed under Creative Commons, everything else by Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan)

Tags

Best Pie Bakeoff 2008, Food Art, pie, photography

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Comments (7)

Isn't this a little too much? This bake off is about RECIPES, as the contest page mentions, not who's the best photographer or food stylist. When i read the line about using VASELINE to get your pie to look picture perfect, i knew this post had gone too far...

posted by mh330 on November 7th 2008 at 8:19am
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mh330,

This was simply meant as a guide and it comes from a professional food stylist: of course you won't be judged if you don't use Vaseline to fix a broken crust.

However, when you are entering a contest on the web where not everyone is baking your entry, I would say that doing your best to make it look good is of some importance.

Have fun with it, that's the most important thing!

posted by Sara Kate on November 7th 2008 at 8:31am
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Really useful tips. Food is a tricky thing to shoot, so I always appreciate advice from experts.

posted by lisadinnerparty on November 7th 2008 at 8:48am
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Great tips and beautiful photos. Thanks, Sara Kate! Of course now all I can think about is pie. : )

posted by Farmgirl Susan on November 7th 2008 at 8:52am
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Thanks for this. I am terrible at taking pictures of my food.
My stupid shaky hands don't help! (I find it hard to prop the camera when you need to angle it downward, as is most often the case when shooting pies.)

About not using a flash, what are you supposed to do when it's dark--as is often the case when baking pie that takes a good portion of the day?

Thanks again, I think you guys show great pics here! And I certainly don't think this post has gone too far when I know I definitely "eat with my eyes" first. Especially in a contest where not everyone will be trying the food, looks are really all you've got.

posted by bobcatsteph3 on November 7th 2008 at 8:57am
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I too am wondering the same as bobcatsteph3. Many times I am taking pictures in the evening at dinner and even with all the lights on in the kitchen it is too dark. Even with the flash the background is so dark. I enjoyed the tips and wouldn't mind even more tips for photographing other types of food. Thanks!

posted by driftandfloat on November 7th 2008 at 10:28am
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Regarding lighting when you don't have available natural light:
- Wait until tomorrow to take the picture.
- Failing that, adjust your white balance. Just about every digital camera allows you to switch between a number of settings, so see how changing to your "tungsten", "party", or "shade" settings affects the brightness of your photo. Depending upon your setting and the level of adjustment you can make, you may be able to fake good lighting or at least balance out yellow or blue casts.
- Regarding what SKGR said about props and color contrast, remember that everything bounces light. All the white plates used in the photos above accentuate the pies' colors, but they're also bouncing a clean, white light into the photos. Besides props, you can use a really shiny sheet of foil or a cookie sheet to reflect cool bright light into your shot, or something copper-toned to reflect warm light.
- Download a 30 day trial of Photoshop Elements and screw around with color correct options.

Just my two cents as an amateur photographer working in a dark, ugly kitchen! You can evaluate for yourself: amymlitt.wordpress.com

posted by AMLitt on November 7th 2008 at 3:58pm
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