Introduction to Food Photography for Restaurants
A course by Cole Wilson , Photographer
Learn to professionally photograph food, exploring different camera, lighting, and editing techniques to capture appetizing dishes in a restaurant setting
We start a meal with our eyes. That’s why capturing dishes in their best light is so important. Photographer Cole Wilson has traveled around the world photographing food and the people who enjoy it for restaurants, companies, and publications including The New York Times and The New Yorker.
In this online course, he teaches you how to make dishes look irresistible through creative food photography. Explore lighting, angles, editing, and more to capture striking images that make people’s mouths water. Discover how to capture beautiful photos that nourish people's senses.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 16 downloads
- 94% positive reviews (62)
- 5,641 students
- 18 lessons (3h 6m)
- 16 additional resources (8 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
Adobe LightroomWhat is this course's project?
Capture and edit a selection of professional photographs featuring an appetizer, main dish, and a cocktail.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in learning to capture striking food photography for restaurants.
Requirements and materials
Basic photography knowledge would be beneficial.
In terms of materials, you will need a flash or strobe, a camera, lens, and access to editing software like Lightroom.
Reviews
Cole Wilson
A course by Cole Wilson
Cole Wilson is a photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. He was raised in a creative household and first began learning about photography in particular in high school. He went on to study at art school before dropping out to pursue more practical experience, working with photographers in the editorial and commercial fields, and eventually landing jobs of his own.
Initially, Cole mainly photographed portraits but, after being hired by The New York Times to work with a chef, was also commissioned to capture food photography, an area he has since specialized in. Commercially, he has worked with brands like Square, Chobani, Adidas, and Classpass, and he has also collaborated with publications including The New Yorker, and WIRED, among others.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Mise En Place
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From Portraits to Food Photography
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Client Brief
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Research, References and Style
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Equipment
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Lighting and Camera Use before Shoot Day
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U3
The Fun Part: Capturing the Food!
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Day of Prep
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Shooting the Cocktail
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Shooting the Appetizer
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Shooting the Main Dish
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Full Spread
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U4
Selection, Editing and Color
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Photo Selection 1
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Photo Selection 2
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Photo Editing 1
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Photo Editing 2
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Exporting According to the Brief
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Get More Out of Your Food Photography
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FP
Final project
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Introduction to Food Photography for Restaurants
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate photographers seeking to enhance their skills in food and editorial photography, with a focus on adaptive lighting, creative composition, and professional workflow.
You’ll need a digital camera (DSLR or mirrorless), a basic lighting setup (like a single strobe or flash), reflectors, and access to editing software such as Lightroom or Capture One. Some lessons also cover using natural light and minimal gear.
You’ll learn adaptive lighting for challenging spaces, techniques for both food and portraits, building a portfolio, editorial vs. commercial approaches, color grading, composition, and creating mood boards and client briefs.
Yes, the course includes strategies for single-source lighting, managing shadows, and optimizing setups in tight or challenging restaurant locations.
You’ll be guided through portfolio-building strategies, including creative experimentation, shot selection, and curating images for commercial and editorial use.
Yes, the course teaches portrait techniques and shows how to adapt them for food photography, including lighting, composition, and storytelling.
The course covers color grading, using saturated colors, and employing color as shape to create visually striking food images.
Adobe Lightroom
Fácil comprensión en la fotografía gastronómica, excelente curso, me ayudo me aclaro muchas dudas
Buen contenido del curso. Toca temas elementales en la fotografia gastronomica, es una buena guia para comenzar en este rubro.
buen curso
Easy and smooth intro to Food photography... Really enjoyed it!
Exelente curso, me ayudo bastante.