Is it edible?

Is it edible?

Probably the most question I am asked for most food photos I share.

Well, the answer is YES! I try to use the real ingredients as much as I can. If there is a way for it to be consumed after, I'd prefer it that way. So most of the food photos I share are 100% edible. But not the giveaway to a friendly neighbor kind of edible. 😆

If you've been following me a while, you'd probably remember I mentioned why I don't give away the exact food I used for photos. My hands are all over them. 🤲🏽 Assembly, positioning them the way I want to, breaking into pieces, carefully stacking them together. Hands. Sure, cute little tongs and chopsticks are available for use too, but my hands have more control.

So it's edible, but only for the party living in my household. 😁👨‍👩‍👦

There are a lot of food photography tricks out there, especially in the rise of Tiktok. Revealing all the good ole' secrets of food photography. And those are real tricks but not used all the time. Some food stylists use alternative ingredients to preserve the composition or texture of food.

That cheese pull? Some would use glue in addition to cheese. Yep, that white craft glue. It mimics cheese consistency but can stretch without breaking right away.

And why do they use such? Cause real food behaves differently. Cheese only pulls like that when it's fresh-out-of-the-oven. When its temperature falls down, the cheese will not stretch as good, and it's not going to be as stringy.

How do I manage to capture real food?

I do it FAST. From assembly to styling to taking that shot. Before the bread gets soggy before the ice melts, before the sauce gets too runny. And it's HAAAARDDD. I have to snap the photo perfectly before the food changes.

You would think photographing food is as easy as pressing that capture button. I tell you, it is not. But real food rocks. But I also use some food photography tricks and cheats. Would you like to know more about them?

Let me know in the comments below!