10 Best Food Photography Courses For Beginners in 2024

In today's visually-driven world, where social media platforms are brimming with enticing food images, mastering the art of food photography has become more than just a hobby—it's a valuable skill that can open doors to new career opportunities and culinary adventures. If you've ever been captivated by the exquisite images of mouthwatering dishes in cookbooks or online, you might be wondering how to capture those stunning visuals yourself. Fear not, aspiring food photographers! This blog post will guide you through the realm of the best food photography courses designed especially for beginners.

Food photography is an intricate blend of culinary art, storytelling, and technical prowess. It goes beyond mere snapshots of meals; it involves creating visually appealing narratives that engage viewers, evoke emotions, and showcase the essence of the dish. Whether you're an amateur chef seeking to enhance your culinary creations or a budding photographer eager to explore the world of gastronomy, enrolling in a food photography course can be an excellent first step toward mastering this craft.

This article will delve into a curated selection of the finest food photography courses available for beginners, carefully chosen based on their comprehensive curriculum, expert instructors, and positive student feedback. These courses cater to photographers with varying levels of experience and cover essential topics, including lighting techniques, composition, food styling, post-processing, and even the nuances of storytelling through visuals.

Top Food Photography Courses List

Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen
Basic Food Photography
You Found It! Foodies Ultimate Food Photography Masterclass
How to Shoot Food Photography: Complete Guide for Beginners
Smartphone Food Photography: Practical Guide
The Ultimate Guide To Food Photography
Commercial Food Photography For Beginners
Food Styling Tips and Techniques for Beginners
Food Styling and Photography for Instagram
Food Styling: The Art of Plating

Disclosure: We're supported by the learners and may earn from course purchases.

1. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen

Are you ready to take your food photography skills to the next level? In just an hour, the DIY Food Photography course will empower you to capture stunning photos of your culinary creations using resources right in your home. In this hands-on course, you'll learn how to create professional-quality food photos, whether you're an Instagram foodie, a food blogger, or an aspiring chef.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

Take beautiful photographs of food in your home.
Compose a variety of mouth-watering food photographs that tell your food's story.
Create a unique setting and style for your food photography.
Control natural light in your home to shoot better photographs.
Edit your food photographs to make them look even better.

You'll discover how to choose the perfect location for your food photos, leveraging the unique aspects of your home to create mouth-watering images. Learn how to expertly style your food and setting, creating an appealing visual narrative that tells the story behind your culinary creations.

Lighting plays a crucial role in food photography, and this course shows you how to achieve optimal lighting with affordable tools like a white sheet and a simple $1 poster board. You'll also gain insights into selecting the best camera and settings to capture your delicious dishes in their full glory.

Finally, the course covers the art of post-processing. Discover how to edit your photos to make them even more tantalizing and visually appealing. Learn essential editing techniques that will enhance the colors, textures, and overall presentation of your food images.

By the end of this course, you'll have the skills and confidence to produce professional-grade food photos. Whether you're looking to impress your family and friends or elevate your online presence, DIY Food Photography will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to capture delicious images that will leave everyone craving your culinary creations.

Course rating: 4.4 out of 5.0 (3,117 Rating total)
Duration: 3 Hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion

2. Basic Food Photography

Unlock the secrets of captivating food photography with Basic Food Photography, a comprehensive course that seamlessly combines the art and technology behind creating stunning food images. Regardless of your camera, this course will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to take stunning food photos anytime, anywhere.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

How to tell a powerful and engaging story through food photos.
How to style your food in ways that are aesthetically appealing to the camera.
How to create dynamic lighting setups that make food scenes look stunning.
How to create and use a variety of surfaces that create dramatic backdrops for your pictures.
How to use props & accents that add depth and complete your scenes.
How to choose the type of camera that meets your food photography needs.
How to take stunning food photos on a smartphone.
How to frame your shots with the perfect composition for food photography.
How to conduct a successful food photo shoot from start to finish.
How to adjust the essential editing effects that make your food photos look more stunning and realistic.
How to use Adobe Lightroom to create an efficient workflow and apply key editing effects.
How to export and share your photos with the right dimensions and quality settings.
How to use social media as a food photographer in ways that gain recognition for your pictures.

Food storytelling is at the heart of this course, teaching you how to convey a delicious story through your food and the scene it is presented in. You'll discover the art of food styling, learning how to make your dishes visually appealing and photogenic, resulting in breathtaking pictures that entice and inspire.

With a focus on photo shooting techniques, you'll learn how to maximize the capabilities of your equipment, whether it's an iPhone or a DSLR, enabling you to consistently capture well-composed and visually pleasing food photos.

Image processing is another important aspect covered in this course. You'll discover key editing effects that enhance the realism and appeal of your food photos, ensuring they stand out and engage viewers.

Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (1,340 Rating total)
Duration: 5.5 Hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion

3. You Found It! Foodies Ultimate Food Photography Masterclass

Are you ready to enhance your food photography skills and capture stunning images with any camera? Look no further. The Fundamentals of Food Photography course covers everything you need to know in a fun and easy-to-understand format. Whether you're a beginner or have some photography experience, this course focuses on true photography fundamentals, specifically tailored for the captivating world of food photography.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

Food Photography - Finally capture the personality of your food creations!
Learn All The Important Tips To Working With Natural Sunlight - This Is Major!
Clearly See Real Improvement In The Quality Of Your Food Photographs
Learn The Essential Tools For Food Photography - all of which you can get at any dollar store!
Learn How To Apply Color Theory To Your Food Photography For Real Improvement
Learn The Important Topic Of Composition Which Helps Tell YOUR Food Stories
You Will Learn The Fundamentals Of Editing & The Correct Chronological Order Of Those Tasks
Learn the steps you’ll need to potentially monetize your food passion/journey in the future
Understand The Framework Of Building Your Long-Term Body of Work That Can Potential Earn Money In The Future.
Learn The Many Potential Income Sources With Your Food Photography

With a clear emphasis on the essentials, this course breaks down the key principles that apply directly to beginner photographers venturing into food photography. Through comprehensive instruction and practical demonstrations, you'll gain the knowledge and techniques necessary to elevate your food photography to new heights.

The course covers various topics, from understanding lighting and composition to mastering styling and storytelling techniques. You'll learn how to make the most of any camera, allowing you to create beautiful food photographs regardless of the equipment available.

Furthermore, the course delves into the art of food styling and storytelling. You'll learn how to arrange and present your dishes in a visually pleasing manner, capturing the essence and narrative behind the food. These techniques will elevate your food photographs and evoke a strong emotional response from your audience.

Course rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (548 Rating total)
Duration: 4 Hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion

4. How to Shoot Food Photography: Complete Guide for Beginners

This course will provide you with valuable knowledge and skills to elevate your food photography to new heights. The course covers a range of topics that are essential for capturing stunning food images.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

How to take appetizing and professional-looking photos of your food.
How to capture a perfect pour and swirl.
How to capture a splash.
Food styling and plating techniques.
What are recommended props for Food Photography?
How to edit or enhance food photos.
How to use lighting techniques.
Composition techniques and actual demonstrations.
Compose 4 types of shots to get all the best angles.

Firstly, you will learn the fundamentals of food photography. This includes understanding the basics of camera settings, exposure, and focus, as well as techniques for capturing food in the most appealing way.

Additionally, you'll learn editing techniques to enhance and optimize your food photos. From adjusting exposure and colors to cropping and sharpening, you'll gain the skills to make your images truly stand out.

Finally, you'll learn how to export your photos for different platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, websites, and blogs. Understanding the specific requirements and optimizations for each platform ensures that your food photographs look their best when shared online.

By the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of food photography techniques and the skills needed to capture stunning images of food. Whether you're using a professional camera or a smartphone, this course equips you with the knowledge and expertise to create beautiful food photographs that will impress and inspire others.

Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (311 Rating total)
Duration: 3.5 Hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion

5. Smartphone Food Photography: Practical Guide

Unlock the secrets of capturing amazing food photography with the smartphone you already have. This comprehensive course is designed to equip you with practical steps and techniques to create stunning food images, regardless of your smartphone model.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

How to take amazing photos with a smartphone.
How to set simple yet powerful artificial light.
How to create images with BRIGHT mood and DARK mood photography.
Setting photo properties and background.
How to find affordable alternatives for photo properties.

The core course covers essential topics, including setting up simple yet powerful artificial lighting in your home to ensure you can take photos at any time of the day. You'll learn how to control photo properties and backgrounds, as well as editing techniques to enhance the beauty of your photos.

In addition to the core course, you'll have access to a range of bonus sessions that delve into specific themes and techniques. These include smartphone dark mood food photography, smartphone bright mood food photography, color food photography, smartphone 3D food photography for melted food, smartphone natural light food photography, smartphone flat lay food photography, smartphone rustic food photography, smartphone smoke food photography, smartphone levitation food photography, and creating DIY food photography backgrounds.

Course rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 (182 Rating total)
Duration: 15 Hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion

6. The Ultimate Guide To Food Photography

Are you ready to uncover the secrets of creating breathtaking food photos that rival those found in gourmet magazines? Look no further. This Ultimate Guide to Food Photography will teach you the essential steps and techniques to transform any plain dish into a premium, visually captivating masterpiece.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

How to create stunning food photos with minimal equipment.
How to correctly use your camera - even if it's not an expensive one.
How to use tools at home to arrange your photos beautifully.
How to edit photos the right way - making them look magazine-worthy!
The 5 biggest mistakes of food photography - and How to avoid them.
How to create stunning surfaces for less than $30.
How to attract your first clients.
How to build yourself a portfolio and reputation as a food photographer.

With this course, you'll learn the art of creating stunning, high-quality food photos right in the comfort of your own living room. No need for expensive studios or fancy equipment. You'll discover how to unleash your creativity and find inspiration effortlessly, allowing you to continuously improve your skills.

The course also focuses on helping you avoid the five most common food photography mistakes, ensuring that your photos are flawless and truly exceptional. You'll delve into the world of colors, learning how to utilize them effectively to make your photos stand out and evoke emotions.

Post-processing is an essential part of food photography, and you'll be introduced to various editing software options and learn how to use them effectively. From enhancing colors to removing imperfections, you'll gain the skills and workflow to edit your photos with ease and finesse.

Finally, the course offers guidance on how to establish yourself as a food photographer and attract your first clients. You'll learn strategies and tips for marketing your skills, building your brand, and positioning yourself as a sought-after professional in the industry.

Course rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (112 Rating total)
Duration: 5 Hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion

7. Commercial Food Photography For Beginners

Welcome to the world of food photography, where you can learn the art of capturing professional-looking photos of food that will grab attention and entice viewers. Whether you're an aspiring photographer, a foodie, a blogger, or a business owner looking to enhance your online presence, this course is designed to equip you with the skills and techniques needed to excel in food photography.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

Be confident in your food photoshoot.
Watch me shoot for a local food business.
Learn the basics of commercial food photography.
Learn lighting setup, styling, props, composition, color harmony, and photo editing.
Tips on how to communicate with clients.
Tips on how to get clients.

In this course, you'll witness Rose as she plans, prepares, and executes a real photoshoot for a Taiwanese Café. From setting up lighting and selecting props to styling the scene and editing the final images, you'll see every step of the process. Rose leaves no stone unturned as she shares her tried-and-true techniques, providing valuable insights into the art of food photography.

This course is perfect for beginner food photographers, foodies, bloggers, photographers looking to venture into food photography and food business owners who want to understand the intricacies of a food photoshoot. You don't need a fancy camera to participate; your smartphone camera is sufficient for your food photography journey.

Throughout the course, you'll gain a deep understanding of composition, lighting, prop selection, and scene styling. You'll learn how to create inviting and professional-looking food photos that will enhance your online presence and attract customers to your business.

By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and skills to capture stunning food photos that evoke the senses and make viewers crave the dishes. Whether you're capturing images for personal enjoyment, a blog, social media, or commercial purposes, this course equips you with the tools to bring your food photography to a professional level.

Course rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (30 Rating total)
Duration: 2 Hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion

8. Food Styling Tips and Techniques for Beginners

If you have a passion for plating and styling food and want to create stunning food photos, then this course is perfect for you. In this course, you will delve into the art of intentionally planning and selecting props, utilizing layering and color harmony, and incorporating storytelling techniques to create visually appealing and irresistible food photos.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

Food Styling Tips and Techniques.
How to style a soup, a salad, a main dish, and a dessert.
How to properly plan and where to get inspiration.

This course will help you learn the secrets and techniques behind effective food styling. The instructor will guide you through the step-by-step process and reveal behind-the-scenes insights into creating a mouthwatering food photo. You'll gain a deep understanding of how to plan and select props that complement the food, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing scene.

Whether you're a professional food photographer, a foodie, a home cook, or someone who simply wants to beautifully present their dishes, this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to elevate your food styling game. Enhance your online presence, attract more followers and customers, and create stunning visuals that leave a lasting impression.

Course rating: 4.7 out of 5.0 (42 Rating total)
Duration: 1 Hour
Certificate: Certificate of completion

9. Food Styling and Photography for Instagram

Are you ready to unlock your creativity and capture stunning, Instagram-worthy food photos? Join Kimberly Espinel in this course as she guides you through the process of styling, photographing, and editing delicious food images that will leave your followers drooling.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following topics:

Introduction
Food Styling and Getting Started
Food Styling in Action
Photo Editing and Instagram
Final project

Begin by diving into the fundamentals of food styling and the essential principles to consider. Learn about the power of color theory and how you can use it to create captivating food photos that catch people's attention as they scroll through their feeds. Create a mood board and shot list to plan your shoot, and then venture out to gather the perfect ingredients. Kimberly provides valuable insights into the dos and don'ts of capturing various types of food.

To wrap up the course, Kimberly shares her expert advice on sharing your food photos on Instagram. Explore the world of hashtags, stories, captions, and more to maximize your exposure and engage with your audience effectively.

Course rating: 15,041 total enrollments
Duration: 3 Hours
Certificate: Certificate of completion

10. Food Styling: The Art of Plating

In this comprehensive course, you'll embark on a culinary journey and expand your skills in food styling to create beautifully plated dishes down to the last detail. Join expert instructor Jodi as she guides you through the art of arranging, layering, and styling a delectable culinary presentation. Additionally, discover how to build a stunning portfolio of your food photography.

In this food photography course, you will learn the following:

Introduction
Developing and Implementing Style
Four Course Meal
Creating the Final Image
Final project

Begin by developing your style based on the culinary story you want to tell. Engage in a brainstorming session to determine the desired aesthetics and create a mood board filled with visual references. Dive deeper into your concept by compiling a detailed list of materials and props needed and explore effective ways to source them.

Explore the essential aspects to consider before photographing your meticulously styled plates. The course covers the best lighting options to enhance your food photography and provides tips on adding last-minute styling touches to ensure your plates look their absolute best. Discover different food photography techniques that will elevate your images and enable you to capture exceptional shots that truly showcase the beauty of your culinary creations.

As you near the end of the course, delve into the realm of basic editing using various apps to refine and enhance your food photos. Learn how to create a strong portfolio that showcases your skills and culinary artistry, leaving a lasting impression on potential clients and collaborators.

Course rating: 10,676 total enrollments
Duration: 1h 47m
Certificate: Certificate of completion

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