Balanced, accurate lighting is what makes those amazing cookbook images look mouthwatering everytime. Light is how you create the magic, but it can be the bit that can cause the most hair-tearing, especially when you’re working with ever-changing natural light.
But, you really don’t need much to get beautifully lit images. Most setups come down to positioning and controlling the light you already have.
A basic kit might include:
• a window with indirect soft daylight
• a window or outdoor space with direct sun for hard light sets
• a diffuser (or tracing paper, thin cotton, baking paper)
• white card or foam board to bounce light back in
• black card or foam board to deepen or block (flag) light
• small reflectors (foil-wrapped card works just as well!)
If you want consistency at any time of day, just add a daylight-balanced continuous light with a softbox - it behaves similarly to window light.
Shooting glass? We recommend buying a grid with your soft box - it’s an essential piece of kit helping to reduce light spill, which allows you more control over tricky reflections.
Softness vs drama
One of the biggest lighting controls is simply how far your setup is from the light source.
• closer to the light → brighter, higher contrast, more dramatic
• further from the light → softer, calmer, more even
Moving your scene nearer or further from the window or light changes the mood instantly.
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If you want punch and depth, move closer.
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If you want airy and gentle, move back.
Direction of light
Side light is the most common for food and still life. It creates shape, texture and gentle shadow across the set. This works beautifully with most tabletop scenes.
Back-side light (slightly behind the subject - see photo) adds separation and glow, a must have for drinks, glossy foods or anything that needs some specular highlights.
In food photography, avoid front light at all costs, it flattens texture and reduces shadow. Most of the time, a soft side or back-side direction will give you the most natural 3D feel.
Backlighting translucent or coloured drinks with hard light really makes them glow! Image by Suze Morrison @gourmetglow
Diffusion: controlling shadow softness
Adding a diffuser between the light and the set spreads the light and softens both highlights and shadows. Even a thin sheet or baking paper can make a huge difference.
Hard light → crisp shadows, strong contrast, bold graphic look
Diffused light → soft shadows, gentle transitions
Managing shadow with bounce and flags
Once the light direction is set, you can shape shadow with simple boards. White card (bounce card) reflects light back into shadow areas and lifts them. Black card also known as flags (fill cards), absorb light and deepen shadow. Although the fill card easily brightens things, especially on a cloudy day, it can give a weird, unnatural look - small adjustments make a big difference.
A striking image by Suze Morrison at Gourmet Glow using a snoot (a pointed cone to direct the light) on a single light source to really narrow the light hitting the scene. Shot on the Powder backdrop
Bringing it together
Once you’re comfortable with three things: direction, distance and diffusion, then everything else is just small tweaks. In a nutshell:
• direction creates shape
• distance sets contrast
• diffusion sets softness
Lighting on Black Velvet Styling's printed vinyl photography backdrops
Our matte printed vinyl backdrops are created from high resolution files of 100-200MB. The designs are crafted by us from original photos and printed on matte vinyl to ensure no quality or detail is lost - you won’t be able to tell our backdrops aren't real textures when you photograph them.
We use the same unique matte vinyl in two weights: lighter and extra-thick. They’re both the same product, so you can build a set and it’ll look consistent. Perfect for creating that polished, professional set!
Lighting our wall drops
Designed to go behind - our wall 'drops are designed with minimal shadowing and balanced lighting across the surface. That means you can shoot with the backdrop behind the set and the light can be positioned from either the left or right.
A reflection on reflections!
On dark backdrops, you may notice small areas of shine where the light catches - this happens with any dark coloured smooth matte surface. To remove any distracting 'hot spots' pulling the eye, increase your diffusion, reposition your light at a steeper angle relative to the backdrop, or use a larger flag to block off the light's reflection path.
Final thought
Great lighting rarely comes from adding more equipment. It comes from moving what you already have shifting the set, adjusting the diffuser, bringing in or taking away shadow. That’s when your image will hit that sweet spot of intentional, dimensional and beautifully illuminated.
