If you want to become a professional food photographer, you need to have a solid understanding of both the culinary arts and photography. A culinary degree with prior knowledge of photography will give you the best foundation for success. This will ensure that you know the subject of the photo, including how food is prepared and its chemical properties, which may be affected by the conditions in the photograph. In addition to having a good grasp of the culinary arts, it's also important to have a basic understanding of photography.
Knowing how to use the camera in manual mode and understanding concepts such as aperture, depth of field and exposure can be especially important for food photography. If you're looking to learn more about photography, our Introduction to Photography course is a great place to start. After completing that program, many aspiring food photographers find that they still need a greater understanding of the culinary arts, as well as some experience in food styling. With a combination of these two elements, you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful food photographer.
