Quick Tip: How to Take Scroll-Stopping Food Photos with Your Phone

Ever wonder why your food looks amazing in person but falls flat on Instagram? The truth is—your cooking isn’t the problem. It’s a few small tweaks to your mobile photo game that make all the difference between a post that gets passed over and one that makes people stop the scroll.

Here’s my quick step-by-step:

1. Clean your lens.
It sounds obvious, but fingerprints blur sharpness. A microfiber cloth works best (your shirt in a pinch).

2. Clean your plate.
No stray crumbs or random sauce drips—unless they’re intentional styling. Mess distracts from the food.

3. Find the light.
Move your plate near a window for soft, flattering natural light. Turn off overhead or lamp light to avoid weird color casts.

4. Reflect if needed.
A cheap piece of foam core (or even a white cutting board) bounces light back onto the plate for balance.

5. Play with angles.
Straight overhead for flat lays, 45° for a natural dining perspective, or eye-level for stacks, drinks, or height. Shoot both portrait and landscape to see what feels best.

6. Skip heavy edits.
Most times, you don’t need much. If you do, Lightroom Mobile is quick, easy, and powerful for light adjustments.

✨ These small tweaks won’t make you a professional food photographer—but they will help your delicious creations get the attention they deserve online. Keep scrolling to see this practice in action!

Happy Snapping,

BK