Creative Food Photography: How to capture exceptional images of food

by Kimberly Espinel

Food is an expression of who you are, where you come from and what makes you smile. Food photography is the act of sharing that story with the world in the spirit of creativity and generosity.

Creative Food Photography is for photographers who already know how to shoot in manual mode, who have watched the Youtube videos, googled all things food photography and want MORE - more creativity, more information, more of what’s not on the internet!

In this beautiful, inspiring and thoughtful book, food photographer, stylist and photography teacher Kimberly Espinel explores the ways in which food photography can be brought to life, through planning, styling, and the study of natural light. With warmth, passion and gentle encouragement, Kimberly helps you to play with new ideas and grow in confidence as you discover your own unique style.

From how to put together a mood board to understanding how to compose your shot, Creative Food Photography covers everything you need to take your images to the next level. Whether you want to beautify your blog or Instagram, or embark on a new adventure as a food photographer, this book is for you!

Genres: Photography, Food

208 pages, Hardcover

Published January 7, 2021

Reviews

[Ritumbhara Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the First and Best Part - Creative Food Photography isn't one of those stereotypical Food Photography books flooding in the industry..

I absolutely love that this book is ONE OF A KIND
That does not concentrate solely on the technical aspects but rather encourages creatives question a lot of deeper aspects that would help them find their unique style, delve deeper into aspects beyond technicality and as a result help them CREATE EXCEPTIONAL FOOD IMAGES!!

Also, there are multiple places where the author's words filled me with tears!!
Sucha heartfelt book that has all my heart!!

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a gem for photographers, professional and novice alike.

Kimberly's teaching style feels warm, gentle, encouraging, and welcoming, which complements the easy to read and digest text. It's not a big, dry textbook that you have to force yourself to read. The language used is simple and easy to understand with small paragraphs and a lack of jargon, increasing its accessibility. There is definitely a time and place for the more jargon-filled, written text-heavy, and perhaps more technical text books, but I think the approach Kimberly took for this book is perfect for the purpose of it.
There are a plethora of images to accompany the written text and demonstrate ideas, not to mention it makes it a visually gorgeous book.
Whilst it does not teach how to use your camera or how to edit (it does not claim to), it would definitely save beginners a lot of grief in finding their style by giving them the tools to experiment and play around with their photography.
For the more experienced shooter, it still offers a tonne of information, giving a fresh perspective and providing food for thought, which is invaluable to learning and growing no matter the stage you're at.

I loved that she included lists and checklists with questions to ask yourself and consider so that you have a more concrete idea of how to approach a shoot or plan. I also like it as it essentially consolidates information for you. So instead of having to piece together all the information to figure out what should go on your list of pre/during/post-shoot considerations, it's already done for you.
I also love that there is no emphasis on a particular photography style and strongly urges you to find and embrace your own style (the first chapter is literally about finding your style).

This is the kind of book you could read over and over again at different stages in your photography journey.

[Linh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars - I loved it. Kimberly has put so much thought into every single page. I bought a hard-copy as I like the feeling of a book in my hands. The photos are beautiful and the writing really clear and easy to follow. So many creative suggestions inspired me to shoot from this book. It is not a book for beginner photographers, but as a freelance food photographer myself it was just perfect for me. I also love Kimberly's nurturing, positive style of writing; she guides you gently and encourages everyone to be themselves and to be an individual - I think that's why I prefer this to other food photography books I have read. The author is not trying to make you into a copy of them, instead you are encouraged to find your own style, to find what works for you personally, not necessarily to follow the trend and fit the mould of what other photographers are doing but to do what feels good to you. Artificial lighting is not covered in this book, but as Kimberly rightly points out, there are many other resources (books, online videos, classes etc.) where you can go to learn about these things.
Thank you Kimberly for this book. It is a treasure to me.

[Ainsley Fuster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning in all areas! 5++ stars!

It is so nice to be able to pick up a book dedicated to teaching you more advanced techniques rather than the first half of it being just about how to get to know your camera. Although there is a lot in here that can help a beginning artist who has held a camera no more than twice in their life, I feel like this book really calls to the community who wants to further and really hone in on their own personal style.

Kimberly has written this with a gentle guidance which is extremely inspiring. Her personal experiences dotted throughout the pages helps motivate self-confidence as well as prepares you for what is expected should you find yourself on a client shoot.

This book is constantly within arms reach for me and I can't see myself not using it as a reference in the future. Do yourself a favour, even if you are a tiny bit interested in food photography - this book will ignite a fire in you that may, at the very least, change the way you look at the food world around you!

[Lauren Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a free, PR copy of Kimberly's book Creative Food Photography to give my honest thoughts. This book is extremely well thought out, full of examples and beautiful imagery, it's a real insight into Kimberly's process as a photographer. She shares useful tips on a range of topics that go into food photography that are useful for photographers at every stage of their journey. My style is very different from Kimberly's and I felt I could learn and take away so much from this book to apply to my own work.

I'd highly recommend this book for anyone interested in food photography, particularly if they are expecting to shoot exclusively in natural light. This is not the book for you if you're an artificial light shooter, but that's not a downside, it's a very in depth look at this style of photography.

The book's structure is logical and easy to follow, and it's extremely engaging with all the beautiful photographic examples

A well rounded, thoughtful book for food photographers

[Ricardo Mora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently working my way through Creative Food Photography and am already feeling so inspired by all the images. I have always loved Kimberly's use of color and composition in her images and she gives so much advice in this book on how to incorporate that into my photography. There are definitely a lot of tips for people that are just starting out on their photography journey, but she also gives a lot of good tips that I hadn't thought of before or heard from any other photographers. I still sometimes struggle with ideas on composition when working on my own, but there are a lot of composition tips that I plan on incorporating into my upcoming shoots to really help me tell a story. I think that every time I go back to this book throughout my career I'll find a new tip or idea to help me further elevate my food photography.

[Marli Visser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has truly changed the way that I look at Food Photography. At first I though to photograph food can be a nice hobby - but after reading this book (I bought myself the hard copy) I realised that Food Photography is almost like a language. You can truly speak to people through the photos you take. You can evoke emotion, you can make them EXPERIENCE something if they look at your pictures. It's not only about all the technical aspects - it's about the story you share and the emotion that the viewer experience.

Kimberly you are an amazing teacher and I'm THE biggest fan! Thank you for truly sharing your heart. I am experiencing a fire in my soul and can't wait to spend my days in my kitchen capturing stories that will touch the lives of others. You are my inspiration.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative Food Photography is an incredible and inspiring food photography book! I bought on digital copy of this book when released and then I got a hard copy. I am rereading it and I am still so fascinated, not only by the beauty of Kimberly's stunning captures, but also by all the valuable contents, so thoughtfully put together inside this gem. This book provides ample inspiration for any food blogger or food photographer. Very difficult to put it down!
I cannot recommend this book enough! Truly inspiring and a must read!

[Aisha Ambreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has given me a lot of confidence while approaching a shoot. Now I do a careful planning before a shoot because of the tips Kimberly has shared. What I liked the most about this book that when I didn't lose interest for a second while reading this book. It appeals to my creative mind, allows to be myself while still exploring the technical aspects of food photography. Kimberly wants to create an independent creative soul who has freedom to create and break rules. Thank you so much for writing this book and sharing it with the community.

[Sara Loureiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kimberly's book is more than a food photography technical book, this is an inspirational book, that makes us search our own style and put ourselfes outhere with confidence, growing our creativeness. I first bought the kindle verson, but couldn't help to buy the hard cover too, that is always in my living room, where I shoot, because I'm learning a lot with it and for keep me going when a soot session is not going the way I wanted. A really inspiring human being, author of a inspiring book.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really amazing guide to both starting and continuing your food photography journey! Kimberly covers finding your style, planning a shoot, styling, lighting, shooting, editing, and everything in between! This book is incredibly helpful for both inspiration and for troubleshooting when things don’t go as planned. I love how natural and authentic Kimberly’s style is. She has a gift for both food photography and teaching!

[Leiliane Valadares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative food photography by Kimberly Espinel is a must have for a food photographer and stylist. The book is a true guide for those who want to develop their own style and reach a higher level of skills. Kimberly shares her valuable knowledge and incite us to play and enjoy photographing food, using the creativity, tools and skills we have in place. As a professional food photographer and stylist, this book became my favourite to have around.

[Irini Savva · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential book for anyone wanting to find their creative voice in food photography. I recommend this book for anyone who has already begun their food photography journey and would like to define their own style. Having already done Kimberlys food photography course, I can say that the book is exactly how the author teaches-very inspiring, thoughtful and thorough.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for the modern day aspiring food photographer. As someone who is a visual learner I enjoyed all the photos Kimberly included to highlight her points. And this isn't just a book, it's also a workbook with sections for the reader to use as a guide to find his/her own style and create a food story. I found this helpful and inspiring.

[Claudia Capparelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Kimberly is an amazing photographer and I loved the way she explains concepts. The pictures are amazing! I'm sure I'll read it again sometime to assimilate everything. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for their own style, but also to anyone who wants to approach food photography.

[Giselle Vernice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-have! I spend my days off browsing through the book and digesting all the helpful information Kimberly has so thoughtfully put out. I love how it is so simple and at the same time, very comprehensive, a great balance for beginners and pros in food photography. Can’t wait to finish this!❤️

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a beautiful and comprehensive guide for food creatives that want to learn to master food photography. The book deals with many important topics and useful tips, from finding your style, planning, creativity and editing. The warm and encouraging voice of the narrator is felt throughout the whole read, which makes it a true moment of joy. A must-read!

[pet_str · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a gem! Kimberley is an excellent teacher and she explains everything so well - I can already see how my photography is improving. I love all the photos in the book, everything is so well thought through.. So if you're looking for ways how to get better at food photography, this is most certainly the best way how to do it.

[Making Food Simple · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of good content in the book. However, I wasn't thrilled with the kindle formatting. It reminded me of a pdf. The text wasn't as sharp as other kindle books and a little blurry (though you could read it). I would recommend getting the print version over the kindle version.

[solène · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very helpful and quite unique book full of stunning pictures. Not only am I a fan of Kimberly Espinel's work, I also loved the way she shared tips and information about both photography and food styling.

[Lotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must have for any aspiring food photographer. So many inspiring photos and easy to follow tips and suggestions to make it actionable moving forward. Highly recommend it!

[Fadzly Omar · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book for students

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife is a food photographer. I wanted to understand how food photographs are taken. This was a good book for layman like me. This book have lots of beautiful photographs.

[Donna Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative Food Photography unlocked my creative process!

Kimberly approach is warm, friendly and to the point. She addresses the formal education and then she taps into the creative aspect to help you awaken that spirit and drive that’s just dying to come out! You will want to re-read this book several times, even book mark many pages for reference. It is well written- and the point of view is inclusive. Start where you are and build from there. I recommend this book, now on to taking her course.

[Leiliane Valadares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative food photography by Kimberly Espinel is a must have for a food photographer and stylist. The book is a true guide for those who want to develop their own style and reach a higher level of skills. Kimberly shares her valuable knowledge and incite us to play and enjoy photographing food, using the creativity, tools and skills we have in place. As a professional food photographer and stylist, this book became my favourite to have around.

[Christa Eker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I'm well aware that I rushed through it. I told myself to slow down a million times, but the writing, the layout out, the photography it's just so wonderfully absorbing.

Never fear ı'll be rereading again very shortly, and I imagine that's something I'll continue to do. Thank you, Kimberly Espinel, for making such a wonderful relatable book.