*This is a guest post*

If you are a food blogger, you probably already know that the pictures that you take of your recipes can have a major impact on the popularity of your blog. If you can take pictures that make your readers’ mouths water, you are sure to bring in and maintain a lot of traffic. Although it can take a lot of trial and error in order to get good at taking pictures of food, following these tips can help you take better pictures right away.

Don’t Use Your Flash

Although it might be a habit to turn your flash on, especially when you are taking pictures indoors, it is important not to use your flash if you want to take good pictures of food. The flash can make your food look washed-out, uneven and utterly unappealing.

A Steady Hand Isn’t Good Enough — Use a Tripod

Holding your camera in your hands might seem sufficient, but it can be very hard to keep a steady hand while taking an up-close shot of food. Therefore, it is worth it to invest in a digital camera and accessories that will help you take a stabilized picture. A tripod can be worth its weight in gold when it comes to taking food pictures, and they don’t even cost a lot. You can check out some photography websites like Snappit Digital Cameras and Accessories or even rig up your own homemade tripod if you want to.

Use the Macro Setting

If you have a point-and-shoot camera — instead of a more expensive DSLR model — try using the “Macro” setting on your camera when you are taking your food shots. This setting makes it possible to take closer shots of your dish, and it blurs out the background in a tasteful manner that really puts focus on the food.

Try a White Plate

Although you might be proud of your beautiful dishes that are in all sorts of gorgeous colors and patterns, they might not be right for taking pictures of food for your blog. You can experiment with these dishes once you gain a little more experience in food photography, but most people find that plain white plates and other dishes are best for beginners. They make your food really pop in the photo and can be much easier to photograph.

Don’t Forget the Props

Experienced food photographers know that you should always “stage” your photos for best results. This can mean simply folding up a pretty napkin or placing a piece of silverware near the plate, but it can also include using various placemats, table linens and more to create a beautiful background. There are lots of things that you can use to create a nice background — even scrapbook paper works nicely — and you don’t have to spend a fortune on them. Taking the time to set the stage for a nice photo can make the difference between a gorgeous picture and one that isn’t so appealing.

Author Bio: Joanna is a Brisbane resident who is currently studying photography herself, she writes blogs to inspire other beginner photographers.

*This is a guest post*

In an increasingly complex world the idea of dressing up and reaching out for fantasy can seem an ideal proposition.

Parties

 Most people love a good party, especially children, and this is demonstrated by the growing popularity of costumes and themed parties. There are so many ideas and styles to choose from that sometimes one is spoilt for choice. For anyone who is conscious of the cost of a party, it’s probably far cheaper to buy a costume rather than risk having food or drink spill down the front of a new and expensive outfit and then have to fork out for an expensive dry cleaning bill.

 Having a themed party can also make the choice of food and decorations a lot easier for the host. For example a Wild West Party could entail the preparation of burgers and nachos and the choice of dress is easy, big hats, waistcoats, gingham dresses and any other configuration that you can evolve.

Character

One of the reasons that dressing up is so popular is that for a short while we can become someone other than ourselves. Thanks to a dinosaur costume, an introverted and shy child may very well transform themselves into a raucous untamed animal. Similarly, a reticent adult may totally amaze their friends when dressed up as Captain America or Superwoman.

 It’s important for all of us to escape from the cares and worries of everyday life and a fancy dress party provides the perfect opportunity to release one’s imagination. The fancy dress costumes do not have to be expensive; you can buy one essential item of clothing and then transform your image with clever make-up and add other items of clothing from a thrift shop. The important thing is to have fun and take the opportunity to share a moment of madness with others, building lifelong memories in the process.

 Anyone who is lacking in inventive ideas should just have a look at a few film magazines and select one of their favourite movie characters to emulate. It’s surprising how becoming someone else, even for a couple of hours, can release the spirits and make everyday life just that little bit easier – so why not give it a go?