There won’t be an exact answer to the question what is the best background color for food photography? It depends on colors in food and accessories to choose the right background.
When it comes to food, it’s not only about the taste, it’s also about what people see. As a food blogger, you not only take care of the food taste but also take care of te visual images to make viewers’ mouths water.
Want to take your food photography to a new level? Choosing a match background can help you out. So, what is the best background color for food photography? Together find out the answer in this blog post.
About the color wheel
Before diving deeper into what is the best background color for food photography, let’s explore fundamental things about color wheels.
The color wheel is a circular diagram that shows the relationships between colors. It’s a useful tool for understanding color theory and combining colors harmoniously.
The wheel arranges colors into 3 main groups – primary, secondary, and tertiary.
- The primary colors are red, yellow and blue. These can’t be created by mixing other colors.
- Secondary colors are made by combining two primary colors equally, giving us orange, green and purple.
- Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary and secondary color. This gives us colors like red-orange, yellow-green and blue-violet.
- Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the wheel, like red and green. These create high contrast when combined.
- Analogous colors sit next to each other, like blue and purple. These create harmony and consistency.
The color wheel shows how colors relate to and interact with each other. Using these principles, we can combine colors in aesthetically pleasing ways, whether in art, graphic design, or food photography.
How to choose a background color for food photography by the color wheel?
From the basic things about the color wheel, now give it a try to apply them to choosing the background for the next food photograph.
Complementary colors for the background and food
Complementary colors like orange and blue are opposite each other on the color wheel. When used together, such as an orange food with a blue background, they create striking color contrast. This draws the eye and adds excitement
The above picture gives you a closer look at the idea. If you are taking photos of a dish with orange as the main color, you can think of a background of blue.
Use analogous color for the background and food
Analogous colors are next to each other on the wheel, like red and pink. Combining an analogous background and food color, like red food on a pink backdrop, creates a harmonious, subtle color palette.
Take the picture above as an example. Red strawberry or red pepper can be taken photos in pink backgrounds. It easily makes the pictures pop and different.
Neutral background colors for food photography
Neutral backgrounds like white, black, gray, and beige can be excellent choices for food photography. Though subdued, neutrals put the focus entirely on the food.
An all-white backdrop makes colors pop and adds a clean, minimalist look. It works especially well for darker foods like chocolate, berries, or beans.
Black backgrounds create dramatic contrast and make bright ingredients stand out, like red peppers on pizza or white mozzarella.
Shades of gray nicely complement both light and dark dishes, providing subtle contrast. Beige and wooden backdrops evoke a rustic, earthy feel perfect for hearty stews or homemade bread.
Neutrals provide versatility since they pair well with any food colors. Just keep in mind that lighter neutrals like white and beige will create separation from the background while darker shades like black and charcoal gray will cause the food to blend more. Consider the color and texture of the cuisine when selecting a neutral food photography backdrop.
Pro tips to choose the best background color for food photography
Food is various in taste and color. If you are a new food blogger with a low budget, how can you invest in dozens kind of backgrounds to take photos? Luckily, we have a smart and easy solution for you to choose the best background for food photos and pay $0.
Use a free online background removal tool like remove-bg.ai to apply 100+ templates for background to your photos.
Feel free to take food photos at home and then upload them to Remove-BG. It will automatically remove the current background from the picture then you can replace it with a new one. Whatever background color you want, white, black, gray, or begie, or wooden, Remove-BG has them all. The AI technology is really smart and they won’t lose your image quality.
Conclusion
Following the tips above allows you to use the color wheel to make food photos that pop. Don’t be afraid to experiment with exciting color combinations to make your food photos irresistible. Use color strategically to highlight textures and make mouths water!