Food Photography: A Beginner's Guide to Creating Appetizing Images

Gissemann’s comprehensive guide covers the entire food photography workflow from equipment selection to final edits in Lightroom. The book excels in its thorough treatment of lighting, with detailed explanations of hard versus soft light, natural and artificial sources, diffusers, reflectors, and flash. Her background in stock photography shows in the precision and repeatability of her techniques.

Why Start Here

This is Gissemann’s most complete and accessible work, designed to take a complete beginner through every stage of the process. The systematic structure makes it easy to find and revisit specific topics, and the lighting chapters alone are worth the price for anyone struggling to understand why their food photos look flat or unappealing.

What to Expect

A 232-page paperback with a methodical, course-like structure. Gissemann writes clearly and includes plenty of example images showing different setups and their results. The book also covers practical topics like choosing props and time-saving tricks that working professionals rely on.