Plate to Pixel - Helene Dujardin

Facts about the author:
Hélène Dujardin
a pastry chef for five years
professional food photographer
blogger - Tartelette

Book description:
Food photography is on the rise, with the millions of food bloggers around the word as well as foodies who document their meals or small business owners who are interested in cutting costs by styling and photographing their own menu items, and this book should serve as your first course in food photography. Discover how the food stylist exercises unique techniques to make the food look attractive in the finished product. You’ll get a taste of the visual know-how that is required to translate the perceptions of taste, aroma, and appeal into a stunning, lavish finished photograph.


This is a really informative book for food bloggers, photographers, and people who love food and/or photography. I picked it up to read for The Kitchen Reader reading group.  It also fit nicely into my Foodie Readers Book Challenge 2013.  Double score!

It's not too technical to read (which I feared a little).  And she has a way with words that make you excited to learn more.  This line for example - "A picture is worth a thousand words, yes; let the first one be Wow!" The pictures are gorgorgeous.  The tips and instructions are so helpful.

She spends a good deal of time talking about light.  There is an entire chapter devoted to natural light and one on artificial light.  My favorite chapters were the ones on composition and food styling.  I learned a lot of great tips from these sections that I've already been able to put to use.

For me, this isn't a book you read once and then leave forgotten on a shelf.  It is one that you refer back to when shopping for cameras, photography equipment, troubleshooting photography issues, tips on composing a good shot, creative ideas for shots.