5 tips for capturing FLAWLESS motion & pour shots

If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably know that there’s nothing we love more than an awesome motion or pour shot. I mean, come on, they’re just so good… Ready to try your hand at capturing FLAWLESS motion and pour shots? Read on, friend!

But before we begin we really want to emphasize how ✨  MAGICAL ✨  we think a well executed motion shot is. So, why are we so obsessed? Well, motion and pour shots help guide our eye within a frame, strengthen and connect our composition, and create a dynamic and vibrant photo. Basically, we love seeing something that should be in motion captured in a still frame.

Plus, it just looks, like…really pretty. 😍

01. Put your camera on a tripod

Trust us when we say holding your camera *while* drizzling caramel on a cake usually doesn’t end well. Save yourself the sticky mess and pop that camera up on a tripod! Don’t have one yet? Grab our go-to tripod right here. Or, simply set your camera on a chair or pile of books for an easy hack!

02. Use manual focus

Manual focus is your best friend when it comes to capturing a great motion shot. With manual focus, your camera’s shutter speed can go as fast as possible without stopping to refocus between shots. And when you’re trying to photograph a dusting of powdered sugar, you simply won’t have time to deal with that pesky refocusing.

03. Use high speed continuous mode

Motion shots are tricky to capture, but only taking one photo at a time makes it WAAAY harder! Save yourself the trouble and switch to high speed continuous mode so you can get a burst of photos in rapid succession. Then, simply choose your favorite from the photo burst!

04. Set your shutter speed to at least 1/800th of a second

Prioritize your shutter speed to be at *least* 1/800th of a second. Motion and pour shots move quickly, so you’ve got to have a fast shutter speed to get that extra crisp, extra clear shot.

BONUS TIP: increase your ISO! Since you’ve made your shutter speed at least 1/800th of a second it’s important to increase your ISO to properly expose your photo. This way, you’ll be able to capture all the beautiful light illuminating your food shot. And, by the way, it’s OK if your ISO goes up to 1600 or 3200 (ideally, don’t go past 6400 because it will start to get grainy!).

05. Use the straight on shot

Motion and pour shots LOVE it when you capture them straight on, rather than overhead or at an angle. The straight on shot captures all that drizzly, drippy, dusty glory — so make sure you point your camera at a right angle to your scene!

…

Now it’s your turn! Try out our tips and start capturing some FLAWLESS motion and pour shots and tag us @foodtographyschool on Instagram so we can be part of the magic ✨ .

P.S. We only recommend products we really, truly love. That’s why this email contains affiliate links, which means we get a little commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.