Food photography is a specialized genre of commercial photography. One can see food photography in advertisements, magazines, packaging, menus, and cookbooks.
Professional food photography is a collaborative effort. It usually involves an art director, a photographer, a food stylist, a prop stylist, and their assistants. In advertising, it is often – and sometimes controversially – used to exaggerate the attractiveness or size of the advertised food, notably fast food.
Food photographs are usually composed and shot in the same way people are served food. It is laid out on a table setting and shot from an overhead perspective. This is the point-of-view of the eater.
We usually shoot such images in studios. This is because controlled lighting conditions are important to highlight the product. The art director selects the color palette and lighting to minimize distraction and effectively complement the food.