Focusing in on Today’s Food Photography Trends

Written By: Katherine Plueger

According to Le Cordon Bleu, food photography is “a form of visual storytelling, helping to create a narrative that draws the viewer in and makes them want to try it.”1 There are some that view it as a form of art, with plated food, for example, akin to “a chromatically rich sculpture.”2 And still others that appreciate it as a device used to build brand identity, and increase memorability and conversion rates.3

With food photography powering content in every area from websites to packaging, sales materials, media, and events we believe it’s all three. Therefore, we keep our finger on the pulse of trends in this space. Here are just 5 of our current favorites:

Blue Flame Culinary Studio, 2024

Shadow & Filtered Light

Influencers and even established chefs have popularized “the gauzy, filtered light of late morning and late afternoon,” “dappled light,” and even “long, sharp shadows.”4

Motion

Capturing a sense of motion in a still shot to bring to life to a fizz, sizzle, squirt, or wisp of smoke.5

Blue Flame Culinary Studio, 2024
Image Credit: Cherrydeck
Photography by Alisa Chirva

Levitating

Food items balanced on top of each other, or hovering in mid-air in a surreal fashion.6

“Beyond the Cake” Wedding Food Photography

Specific efforts to capture the food, in addition to the ceremony, bridal party, and guests are becoming more popular to “seal the memory and pizzazz of the occasion.” Snaps of buffets, grazing tables, late night snack traditions, etc.7 are now becoming part of the wedding photo session.8

Image Credit: The Knot
Photography by Hannah Bryerton

World Food Photography Awards

An annual competition awarding excellence in food photography and “celebrating food stories from around the world.”9

In addition to a pulse on trends, we’ve earned bragging rights for our award-winning work – including in-house photographers, videographers and food stylists, as well as a recent redesign of our studio from the ground up.

Blue Flame Culinary Studio provides a foodservice back-of-house (BOH) kitchen and consumer kitchen equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and all the amenities you need to bring your stories to life. Our thoughtful design and experienced team provide everything from real-time content creation and photo/video shoots, to cooking demonstrations, sales trainings, virtual product launches, recipe development, food gatherings, and more!

Ignite your retail or foodservice vision at Blue Flame Culinary Studio. Reach out to get on the books!

Katherine Plueger

Vice President, Strategy & Insights at JT Mega

Katherine Plueger conducts category, competitive and consumer research to develop the actionable insights that lead to better strategy for our clients.

Katherine Plueger, Vice President, Strategy & Insights

[1] “Food Photography: Why is it Important?” Le Cordon Bleu, cordonbleu.edu, 2024
[2] “Food Photography, Anxiety, and Desire,” Panorama, Journal of the Association of Historians of American Art, Fall, 2017
[3] “Why Food Photography Is Important for Your Restaurant Website and Menu,” Restaurant Website Builder, 5/21/20
[4] “It’s Always Sunny on Food Instagram,” Eater, 10/31/23
[5] “Macro, motion and artful perfection: five trends in food photography,” Canon-Europe, 4/13/22
[6] “Trend Food Photography Ideas You Should Try This 2024,” cherrydeck.com, 12/07/23
[7] “2024 Wedding Food Trends That You Need to See & Taste ASAP,” the knot, 11/17/23
[8] “Trends in Wedding Food Photography: An Aesthetic Take,” wevaphotography.com, 5/07/24
[9] “24 Delicious Photos Shortlisted For Food Photographer Of The Year Awards,” Forbes, 4/18/24