There are moments when the scenery is so perfect it is enough to hold the camera and take a shoot. Unfortunately, most of the time we need to add a little bit more magic to be able to create a photo that will make others hungry.

Let me present you steps I follow when organising food photoshoots:

1. Find the best spot for your shooting. Remember, somewhere close to natural light will be the best. Natural light will give you softer, more natural highlights and shadows.

By using artificial light, you can make beautiful food photography possible at any time of day and in any conditions. It is consistent, predictable, and always there for you even if it is dark outside.

2. Think about background and a base. If you are lucky, your walls can work perfectly as a background and your kitchen top or table as a base. My house is during refurbishment and I must improvise at this moment with backdrops I bought, or which were made at home. A plain coloured or blurred background will draw your eye to the food.

3. Props. Every additional item of the photo is important. Every spoon, napkin, flower, everything is playing special role. Make sure you have the photo in your head long before you take it. Draw a sketch, this could be something to help you organise yourself. There are moments that, the props you had in mind from the beginning will not work as you were thinking. It is good to have alternative. Have to different cups, or one cup and one bowl, there are many possibilities.

4. Watch for the glare of lights on the subjects you are going to photograph. Just by tweaking a little the source of light, you can make a such a difference to your photo.

5. Choose prop colours that complement the food. Examples of complementary colour combinations: red and green, blue and orange, yellow and purple, yellow-green and red-purple, red-orange and blue-green. Put things close to each other and try to see if they are working together or clash. By choosing props, colours, type of food, light, you are creating atmosphere. Your photos can be playful, romantic, fresh, moody, worm, cold and so many more.

6. Texture is taking your photo to the next level. Try to include three different texture in your scene. Cutlery, herbs, napkins, there are endless possibilities. Sometimes placing some of the ingredients which are included in your dish would be enough. Step back and take a look if everything is how you imagined. Take a look at your set up from few different angles.

7. Camera and lens. Make sure battery is charged, lens is clean. Check your settings, ISO, F stop, white balance. Your food composition may be perfect, but your camera settings can ruin everything. Take a shot.

PRACTICE!!! Every set up is going to be better and you will feel more natural. Take time, do not rush, even the Rome was not built in one night.