photo opp
Here’s how to capture Instagram-worthy food photos on vacation
Dining out is one of the best parts of vacationing, especially for LGBTQ+ travelers exploring cities known for their inclusive food scenes. Whether you’re enjoying a beachside brunch in Puerto Vallarta or indulging in cocktails at a chic bar in Berlin, taking pictures of your food has become a key part of sharing your travel experience.
Here’s how to capture the best shots of your meals using just your cell phone, so you can show off the flavors and vibes of your journey—along with some tips for sharing them on social media.
Lighting is everything
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The first thing you should think about when photographing food is lighting. Natural light always produces the best results, as it brings out your meal’s true colors and textures.
If you’re seated indoors, try to position your plate near a window or under soft lighting. Harsh artificial lights and your phone’s flash can create unflattering shadows and glare, diminishing the quality of your photo.
Instead, try adjusting the brightness or exposure settings on your phone.
In places like La Palapa in Puerto Vallarta, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to capture sunlit dishes on their beachfront patio. That natural light highlights the vibrant greens and reds in this octopus dish, for example, and will make your followers want to hop on a plane for their own taste of Mexico.
Frame the shot with intention
Your food is the star of the show, but how you frame it makes a big difference in how delicious it looks.
Using the rule of thirds—dividing your shot into a 3×3 grid—helps you balance the photo and avoid awkward, dead-center compositions. You can also incorporate elements from your surroundings, like the table setting or the restaurant’s decor, to give your followers a sense of where you’re dining.
At London’s Kaffeiene, for example, the café’s cozy, stylish interior offers the perfect backdrop for capturing a latte or pastry. Framing your coffee top-down against the weathered wood table makes for a better photo and tells a story about the space you’re in.
Angles matter
Different dishes require different angles to shine. An overhead shot captures the entire spread in one go for flat foods like pizza.
Taller foods like burgers, cocktails, or cakes benefit from a side angle that emphasizes their height and layers. Getting the angle right can make even a simple dish look irresistible.
For instance, when you’re at The Nook On Piedmont Park in Atlanta, a side shot of their famous tater tot nachos (aka totchos) lets you showcase every mouthwatering layer. Combine that with one of their iconic Bloody Marys in the frame, and you’ve got the perfect brunch shot.
Play with focus
Your phone’s autofocus can sometimes choose the wrong point of interest. Manually tap the screen to focus on the most appetizing part of your dish, especially when you want to highlight intricate details like garnishes or dessert layers.
A shallow depth of field, with a slightly blurred background, helps keep the focus on the food.
At Nobody’s Darling in Chicago, their craft cocktails are a great subject for this technique. By focusing on the garnishes or glassware while the bar scene blurs behind, you’ll create a visually striking photo that makes your drink look like the centerpiece of the experience.
Mind the background
Even the most beautiful dish can lose its appeal if the background is cluttered or distracting. Take a moment to tidy up the area around your plate.
Clear away anything that doesn’t belong in the shot—like dirty napkins or half-empty glasses—and opt for a clean, neutral background. This helps keep the focus on your food.
In this shot at Billy Brunch in Barcelona, the rustic table settings and colorful dishes make it easy to capture stunning food photos. While the background is busy, everything has its place—including the pile of colored pencils that help visually communicate that the restaurant is kid-friendly.
Include people for a personal touch
Food is a communal experience; sometimes, including people in your photos can make the image more engaging and authentic.
A hand reaching for a fry or someone sipping a drink can add warmth and context to the shot. It shows what you’re eating and the joy and connection of the dining experience.
For example, at Big Pink in Miami, capturing a friend sipping a drink while their brunch is on display adds personality to the photo. The palm trees and vibrant colors in the background also give the image a sense of place, making it feel like a snapshot of an unforgettable meal in Miami’s iconic Art Deco district.
Including hands or people in your photos helps bring them to life, reminding your audience that food is meant to be shared.
Use editing apps wisely
Editing apps like VSCO, Lightroom, or those provided in your Photos app or Instagram can enhance your photos by adjusting brightness, contrast, and saturation.
Subtle edits can bring out the vibrancy of your food without making it look overprocessed. Avoid heavy filters, though—natural, realistic images tend to be more visually appealing, especially when your goal is to make the food look fresh and delicious.
When dining at vegan spots like Souley Vegan in Oakland, a few tweaks to highlights and shadows can help the complementary colors of their plant-based creole dishes pop.
Stay mindful: Enjoy the moment, but don’t overdo it
While capturing every detail of your meal is tempting, finding a balance is important. Snapping a few shots is great, but don’t spend too much time obsessing over getting the perfect picture. Doing so can detract from the experience of actually enjoying your food and the company you’re with.
Be considerate of your surroundings, as well, especially in busy restaurants or bars. Try to take your photos quickly and without disrupting staff or other diners. The goal is to capture the moment without taking away from it.
At the end of the day, your meal is there to be enjoyed in real-time. After your quick photo session, put the phone down and soak up the moment before your food gets too cold.
Share your food, support the community
Related:
Food photography is more than just taking a pretty picture for Instagram—it’s about capturing the essence of your dining experience and sharing the inclusivity and community you encounter along the way.
For LGBTQ+ travelers, sharing food photos from queer-owned or LGBTQ+-friendly spaces not only highlights amazing meals but also supports businesses that create safe, welcoming environments.
By focusing on key elements like lighting, composition, and intention, you can turn your food photos into memories that reflect your journey’s flavors and culture. And remember, it’s not just about the food.
When you post, tag those restaurants or cafes and consider dropping them a review on sites like ours. It’s a great way to celebrate these inclusive spots and help others find and support these excellent community hubs.
Your posts can help lift up our community, one delicious meal at a time.
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