2 Moody Lighting Setups To Elevate Your Food Photography

2 moody Lighting setups to elevate your food photography !
Equipmrnt I used:
Canon R5
Canon 100mm Macro L RF lens
Godox AD200 ProII
Godox AD300
Godox AD100
Flow Parapop 28" softbox
Grids and 1/2 stop diffusion panel
Profoto AX
Profoto A2
Today, we're diving into a niche that many photographers tend to overlook-food photography. It's a super rewarding business, and with just a little preparation and understanding of light, you can seriously up your game and expand your client list. In this video, I'm going to show you some essential lighting setups and explain how I use two setups simultaneously to boost productivity. When you're on a fast-paced shoot-especially without a food stylist-things can get tricky as the food starts to break down. So, let's get into it and make sure you're ready to handle it all with ease!"
Most of the restaurants who just open in the last few years tend to have dark and moody lighting. It's super important to pay attention to the atmosphere and match your lighting to what they already have. For that dark, moody vibe, you'll want to focus your lights and create some strong contrast, but be mindful of your highlights. Adding a bit of specularity can really help make the food look fresh and appetizing. That's why grids and reflectors often work better than softboxes in these situations.
To keep it moody, backlight your food and use reflectors to lift the shadows. Typically, 2-3 lights and a few reflectors will get the job done, but the key here is diffusion. Diffusion panels are a must for product photography, especially with food, so make sure you understand how to use them. And remember, always build your setup one light at a time-it's much easier to control and tweak as you go. Let's break it down step by step!"
Hard light can bring contrast and color saturation to the image and it is my first choice of lighting
First lighting setup
1.Position your food in an angle or in a way to have a nice flow
2. Start with your first light usually from the back or to the side to enhance the shape of the dish . Have your light just above the plate this way will create interest with light and shadows
3. The fill light goes next and set it low just to lift up the shadows and give more definition.
4. Usually my 3rd light is to enhance the highlites and bring some specularity to make the food look fresh . I am using the Magmod beam attachment with this light masking accessory because I just want a sliver of light on top of the sushi roll to make them pop a little more and enhance the mood .
Pay attention to not blow out all the highlights some specularity looks good and make the food look fresh . Try to create interest adding supporting elements around the dish . This is a trial and error process so be patient
The second setup
The soft box works as main and fill being a large light source compare with the subject I photograph and of course I have it on the back and to the side but it also have it more top down to wrap the light around the food .But as you see the light is kind of flat
In order tho bring some specularity and contrast I have the second light coming from the front with a grid to focus the light and bring some life to the plate . Cross light always works in dark and moody pictures because it creates interesting lighting patterns.

[@_mariochristopher]

Loved this tutorial! Thank you👍🏽

[@tonyroscaphotography]

Thank you !

[@viciwo3396]

great tutorial. Never tried food photography but I can try to replicate this lighting setup. Thanks!!!

[@tonyroscaphotography]

Thank you! Food photography its great skill to have ! Let me know if you have any questions !

[@sarac1512]

Love this video, thanks it's very helpfull!! Could you make one where you show how you do this set up from 0?
I am doing my first food shoot next week and 1 thing i'm struggling to find here on youtube is how to set those backdrops 😂 where is the support?

[@tonyroscaphotography]

Thank you! The supports come with the backdrops and are just plastic stands with some grooves to slide the vertical backdrop and you just set it on top of the other one . But if you just use home made ones you just use some A clamps on each side of the vertical piece to hold it standing up or anything you have available to keep it straight . What are you planing to shoot ?