We gave the “rule of threes” a field test at the Stuffed Olive. A plate of grilled salmon tacos, a pink lemonade martini and decorative water glass made our photo a well-rounded success. Photo: Duane Tinkey Writer: Jinessa Lewis We all love snapping a quick pic of a gorgeous dish, but phone cam eras don’t always do food justice. So we asked a pro: Food stylist Casey Halder shared simple, no-editing tips to take better food photos every time. COMPOSITION Set the stage for your star dish. 1. Try the “rule of threes.” Say you have a beautiful main course, but the photo looks boring. Tuck in two other items, like a fork and patterned napkin, to add interest and make the place setting feel more full. 2. Follow the (similar sounding) “rule of thirds.” To apply this basic photography principle, open your phone’s settings app and toggle the 3×3 grid over your camera screen to help set up your shot. Instead of placing the dish in the exact center, use the grid to position the dish where two of the lines intersect. Then add the two other items in the remaining space. These two rules work together to create visual interest. 3. Move back. With phone cameras, objects tend to appear larger in the photo than in real life, so scoot back to fit more of the dish into the frame. CONTRAST Your camera loves opposites. 1. Start with color. If you’re shooting red-sauce pasta, try adding a green salad to the frame to make the entree pop. 2. Add textures. The word “texture” can be confusing in a visual medium, but think of it this way: If you have a brothy soup, add a sandwich with crunchy bread for visual contrast. 3. Mix shapes. Phone photos are inherently rectangular, so pairing them with round bowls or square plates adds another layer of interest. LIGHTING Good lighting is the key ingredient. 1. Use natural light whenever possible. If you’re shooting at night, you may have to get creative. 2. Try a 45-degree angle. If there are overhead lights at the table, shooting from the proper angle will highlight the shadows on the dish. 3. Avoid the flash. If the lighting is uneven or indirect, it’s tempting to use your phone’s flash, but this can blow out the photo and make the food look unappetizing. An easy fix: Ask a companion to shine their phone’s flashlight onto your dish to create softer, more flattering light. MOVEMENT A little motion adds energy and appeal. 1. Take action. Most foods have something dynamic you can highlight through movement. Pull apart a hot mozzarella stick, for example, to show its gooey strings of melted cheese. 2. Offer direction. Most viewers “read” photos from left to right, just like a page of text. In a photo, you can create a sense of flow by arranging to help the viewer’s gaze move naturally from one dish to another. 3. Add a bit of life. Hands grabbing drinks, utensils diving into food, even a single bite — all of these add life and make dishes feel craveable. ...read more read less