"Make sure that any distracting elements are not in the shot and take notice of all the elements in the frame," Agoulian said.
"Photograph dishes that have been put together really well and that have a great range of colour," she said.
Lickyourphone's other tips include using natural light, use a good quality camera or smart phone (the bloggers use a Canon SLR) and take lots of shots, as you can never have enough content.
Here are the duo's top 5 tips below:
1. Use a good quality camera or smart phone
The higher the quality of the initial shot, the less editing you'll have to do later. We personally use our Canon for really crisp, vibrant images and with wifi compatibility we can upload and post on the go. But not to worry if you don't own a professional camera, we frequently use our iPhone 6S for those impromptu photo opportunities.
Pro-tip:
We switch to HDR mode (high dynamic range) on our phone and adjust the exposure by holding down and moving up or down the screen to achieve better lighting. On any smart phone, we advise you to play around with and explore the professional settings to use your device to its fullest potential.
2. Lighting
Try to access as much natural light as possible such as near a window. But if you happen to be in a dark lit spot, get a friend to shine their camera's light torch directly above covered by a thin napkin to diffuse the light. This will light up your subject better and avoid harsh shadows.
Alternatively, use the flash on your camera. We find it works especially well when photographing burgers to get that lush look.
3. Composition is key
Especially for a flatlay. Make sure that any distracting elements are not in the shot and take notice of all the elements in the frame. Photograph dishes that have been put together really well and that have a great range of colour.
If you're after a close up shot, pick a focal point and capture an interesting composition by zooming in on the food. Shoot it up close and personal for an engaging shot and remove any competing objects in the background like a scrunched up napkin.
Add in some props, like these beautiful summer fruits. Or even if you had a vase of flowers already on your table (as some cafes do), include them in the shot to add a pop of colour and to set the scene.
Pro-tip:
On your camera or smart phone, switch on the grid to get a better sense of symmetry and alignment.
4. Don't be afraid to play with your food
Yes! Forget everything your parents told you as a kid. Inject some personality and movement into your shot. Cut into that egg yolk or souffle to achieve the perfect egg porn or chocolate ooze.
Feature a friends hand grabbing some of those tasty truffle fries or twirling some tagliatelle pasta. It's food, it's not meant to be so serious so have fun with it!
5. Photo selecting and editing
Take lots of shots, you can never have enough content. Then go through and favourite your best options for editing, you may even want to see which will work best for Instagram dimensions and your feed.
There are heaps of really versatile photo editing apps out there, we personally love Snapseed as it allows us to have more control than the standard Instagram settings.
Pro-tip:
Avoid the overuse of filters as they can often distort the natural beauty of the shot.
