There is no simple trick to suddenly becoming an expert food photographer being featured in Food & Wine’s annual issue of the greatest restaurants around the world. However, that does not mean you cannot pick up your smartphone and learn the basics right now. Starting a lucrative career that pays the bills in food photography doesn’t have to involve expensive equipment and endless courses. A good eye for detail can provide your wallet with cash and your palette with a cornucopia of culinary delights to last a lifetime.
I have spent years working hard to elevate my food photography game. While I pretend to be a humble photographer, there are plenty of shots I take that make me smile and think, “that isn’t half bad!” One of the easier tricks to learn to elevate your own food photography sessions is known as the rule of odds.
What is the rule of odds?
With the rise of social media, there has been a boom in food photography. Whether it’s for your Instagram feed or an upcoming blog post, it’s important to take into consideration some best practices when taking pictures of your delicious meals. The Rule of Odds is one such principle that can help you achieve better results when photographing food.
The rule states that a frame should have an odd number of objects in it. This can be applied to almost any form of photography with any subject. This means when there are two or more objects within an image, and they’re arranged in either a grid pattern or in an asymmetrical fashion, the viewer’s eye will be drawn to the odd number.
This happens because our minds are trained to look for imperfections—and what could be more imperfect than one object in a group of two?
The Rule of Odds applies to almost any situation. Nature, math, art, and architecture all abide by it. It’s also been proven time and time again by artists who have used this technique throughout history.
I work in Rome and can happily point out famous paintings and architecture that use this principle in their design to captivate an audience.
How to plan a photo session with the rule of odds
Food photography is a lot of fun, but it’s also challenging. There are many factors that come into play when you’re shooting food, such as lighting and angles. While there’s no magic formula for creating great images every time, there are some things you can do to improve the likelihood that your next photoshoot will be a success.
The first step to improving your food photography is planning. Planning helps you figure out precisely what equipment you need and how to use it effectively before embarking on an adventure into the kitchen with your camera in tow.
The rule of odds is a fundamental principle of composition. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but it can help you create visually appealing photos. To create something a bit more fun, choose one item that attracts attention first and then fill in the rest with similar items around it until all are visible within the frame. Make sure everything looks great together (and not just good). Experiment with different arrangements until you find something that works.
Ask your client for details about the types of food you will be photographing so you can create an image that balances the overall look and appeal to attract more customers. Consider the frame of your photo and how it will work in different mediums when you set up your rule of odds shot. You don’t want to set the stage for a beautiful food photo only to crop out the essential parts later on.
Where to learn more
Now that you’ve learned the rule of odds, you can use it to plan your next photoshoot. It’s a simple rule to follow, but it will help you create more engaging photography.
Keep in mind that there are always exceptions to any rule. If you go and check out my Instagram page @niccoleone, you’ll find plenty of photos where I happily disregard this rule. Most of the time that is because there is a visual story I am telling that is far more important.
Think of the rule of odds as a tool in your chest. Something you can bring out whenever you feel a photo is missing that special extra x-factor that it needs to pop from the screen. Experiment and take some chances. You are discovering your own visual voice, and that requires taking a risk or two in the process. Good luck, and be sure to come back often as we explore the fantastic world of food photography together!
