#31 – 5 ways to draw inspiration from food photos without copying

You have a delicious chocolate cake and you want to photograph it just a little bit differently than before.

Now, chocolate is a delicious subject but it can be a tough subject to shoot. So you see how your favorite photographers have worked with chocolate and find  one image that strikes a chord.

You don’t want your work to look like that same image. Afterall, you’re the artist but that image has really  hit you hard. When you create your version, the resemblance is obvious.  

The challenge of drawing inspiration 

It is easy to get inspired by another artist’s work and create a version that looks exactly like the original. This obviously is not what we want  and we definitely won’t feel good about it. 

The challenge  with getting inspired is that we  either end up creating an image that strongly resembles the original or get   stuck, unable to pull out aspects  that can be used as inspiration . Either way, we  end up questioning our talent.

No matter where we are in our journey we always seek inspiration and should use it to create work that is original. It is not simple but it is not that difficult either. 

 5 ways to draw inspiration from a photo 

 To begin with, when you look at a photo and it strikes a chord just stop and question yourself what is it about that photo that has caught your attention. Next, break it down and think about what draws you into it. 

 Now, let me share with you the 5 components to look out for in a photo to create a style that is uniquely yours. 

1. Colors

 Color is the first thing that stands out in an image. Observe if that is what is striking you. Is it the beautiful pink or the vibrant green that has caught your attention and not the  usual blue-cool combination often used for  chocolate cakes.

 There are some colors we use more than others. For example, I almost never use purple. So figure out what it is that works for you.  Sometimes, monochrome or high contrast colors ignite the creative spark within. Hence, color palettes could be a way to get inspired.  

2. Composition

The 2nd way to find inspiration in a photo is in its composition. It  is often challenging because when we love a composition, we tend to recreate the same pattern in our image. That is the reason some images of cakes and brownies, we see on social media, are so similar.  

 If a composition is what has caught your interest in a photo then Instead of focusing on the exact details of where the glass is placed or where the bowl is located, pay attention to the bigger picture. 

Bring your attention to the direction of the props – do they move horizontally or vertically through a frame; are there different shapes; are there different sizes; how does your eye move in the frame?

 When we  pay attention to the bigger picture-  

 1) We  understand what is drawing us in and we can bring that to our  work 

2) The next time around, we might not have an inspirational image but the inspiration might come from within because of a better  understanding of composition. 

 Pay close attention to what you like about the composition.

Learn from it and then create your version from your own thought process. This will  make your photo unique and also, so You!! 

3. Light

The third ingredient that majorly inspires us is Light. 

You may see  hundreds of chocolate cake photos on social media but only one of them hits you like lightning. It could just be a simple slice of cake with chocolate ganache, kept on a plate and photographed in all its honesty. 

Of the fanciest, most elaborate of photos on the internet, this photo strikes you. Has that ever happened to you? It’s definitely happened to me and 90% of the time it is because of the light in the photo. The light is so stunning – the highlights are so specular and spectacular that your eyes are glued. If that is how you feel looking at a photo, then light is your inspiration. 

Soft light, harsh light, dappled light, exaggerated highlights, deep shadows, there are so many elements of light that could inspire you. Pick your favorite, one that suits your food, the hero, and make it your inspiration.

Center all your photography and composition to achieve that light. Colors, props, light direction, camera angle – all these choices impact the light. So, just by using light as an inspiration, you can table all the other aspects that go into creating a photo. 

4. Props

The 4th aspect that can be a source of inspiration is the use of props. We all have a style & use props that match our style. If you’re wondering about it check out my episode #18 where I have talked all about how our style relates to props.

Props can be a huge source of inspiration without looking like an imitation or a copy. Every photographer uses a different category of props. 

 Observe the props, not only in the context of the story  but also for the mood they create.. Think of the props that would direct all your senses towards the cake. At times, it is a combination of a knife and plates and both in rustic style or just the knife and whisk, both metal. It could even be cake slices with just a ceramic spatula smeared with that chocolate ganache. 

Choose props that suit the mood you’re creating. As you study the use of props you will get several ideas on what might suit your hero. This will help you create a style that is yours and tell a story that is unique and nothing like the original.

5. Camera Angle

Last but not the least is the camera angle – one component of food photography that is often overlooked, but which I find hugely inspirational. 

Whenever I’m drawn to a photo, the first thing I notice is the camera angle because the same subject can create a completely different feel with a different camera angle. Sometimes it is the novelty of an angle for a particular subject that inspires us.

For example, chocolate cakes are most often shot as straight on or flat lay but the feel of a 3/4th angle shot of a slice on a plate always inspires me. If you ever feel stuck figuring out what about the image strikes you, observe the camera angle.. This could be your inspiration after all.

So, here are the 5 ways to draw inspiration without copying or imitating. 

The power of observation 

There are many other ways to get inspired, but these 5 are easy and straightforward. Observing the aspects of a photo that inspire us, can improve our skills in photography, conceptualization and technique. 

So, the next time you’re inspired by an image, use that inspiration to  create your own version of it – unique, distinct and just so  you.   

Streamline your photography process and save time. Here are 10 steps to execute a photoshoot.