The Art of Bringing Food to Life

In today’s food photography tutorial we will be going through food styling and storytelling—this is where the magic really happens.

So far in this series you have learned how to use your phone settings, light your shots, frame your composition and choose your camera angles… but now we’ll look at how to make your food photos start to feel like a story. And that’s what really connects with your audience.

You might be shooting bread, like the image I’ve shared here, inspired by the stunning recipes in Modern Sourdough from Margot Bakery, one of the latest baking books to be added to ckbk. Or it might be a colourful curry, or a gooey brownie, it’s the story you tell that makes someone pause, feel something, and click that “follow” or “save”.

What do I mean by storytelling?

I don’t mean writing a caption. I mean using your photos to hint at what just happened, or what’s about to happen. It could be the last slice of bread on a wooden board. A glass half full. A hand about to reach in. That sense of something real.

Here’s the thing: we eat with our eyes, but we connect with emotion. So your image has to do more than look pretty it needs to say something.

Before you style, don’t forget the foundations

Before we dive into the styling tips, just a gentle reminder that none of this works in isolation. You still need:

Good lighting - Side lighting works beautifully here to bring out texture, especially for rustic bread or focaccia.
A clean flat lay - This setup works best overhead, so use your iPhone's yellow cross alignment to keep it true and straight.
Strong composition - Think about how your eye moves through the scene. Try triangle or curve compositions we talked about in Article 3.

These are your building blocks. Don’t skip them.

3 ways to style bread like a pro (and tell a story while you do it)

You don’t need to go overboard. Simple, thoughtful styling goes a long way. Here's how I approached the sourdough bread setup in the image I’ve shared:

1. Always show the best side of your food

Bread is humble and beautiful, but not every slice is photogenic. Select the best pieces. If you’re cutting it, make sure you get a clean, confident cut (use a serrated knife and let the bread cool slightly). Expose the interior crumb. Show contrast between crust and softness. That’s where the story lives.

In this shot, I stacked a few slices slightly off-angle to create natural depth, then used the broken piece to add that “just eaten” feel.

2. Add garnishes that make sense

Styling isn’t just throwing things on a board. Think about what belongs in the scene. In this case: rosemary, good olive oil, maybe some olives or sundried tomatoes. They’re all flavour companions to the bread, and they also add visual interest, pops of green, purple, gold.

A drizzle of oil makes the crust shine. A sprinkle of sea salt gives texture. Think: “How can I elevate the scene without making it look staged?”

3. Embrace the mess (just a little)

Crumbs on the table? YES please. A torn piece of bread in the corner? Adds life. Don’t feel like you need to clean everything up.

Realness is part of your story. But be intentional, make it look natural, not chaotic. A good tip is to shoot once everything is styled, then gently remove one or two items and shoot again. Sometimes less is more.

A quick recap

When it comes to food styling and storytelling, ask yourself:

Does the food look its best?
Do the props belong in the scene?
Am I telling a story, or just placing objects?

That’s how you move from “content” to captivating content.

What’s next?

In the next, penultimate article in this seven-part series, we’ll look at editing. I’m not a fan of relying too heavily on the edit. I always say: editing is like garnishing a dish, it should elevate, not overpower. Get it right in-camera first, and the edit becomes the cherry on top.

As always, if you’ve been inspired to try styling and shooting your own bakes, tag me on Instagram so I can see what you’ve created and cheer you on. I love seeing your progress!

Rupa xxx

Live online food photography workshop

If this series has sparked your curiosity and you’d love to see how I style a dish from start to finish in real time, I’m planning something special a live online workshop where I’ll walk you through my full creative process: from selecting props and placing elements, to capturing the final shot.

To reserve your space for the live workshop, drop me a DM on Instagram @iphonefoodphotography and I’ll personally send you details of how to register when it goes live.

Food photography with Rupa: Part 5 – Food styling and storytelling