Project two: Creative techniques A feast for the eyes

The festive season is upon us and it’s a time for gathering with friends and family, sharing gifts with our loved ones and, above all, stuffing ourselves silly.

But wait! Before tucking into yet another mince pie, the smorgasbord of edible delights that festoon dining tables at this time of year affords us an ideal opportunity to try our hand at food photography. So for this tutorial, we’re using a variety of commonly found Christmassy treats to try some classic foodie photo techniques.

It’s not enough to simply photograph each individual dish on its own, but you need to create miniature ‘sets’ for each shot. A natural wooden table works well for your mini-studio ‘floor’ to place everything on, and you’ll need a variety of rustic-looking props, plates and serving