20 No-Cook Foods Part 1

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Are you a new food photographer and want to learn how to build an epic portfolio? In this two-part food photography tutorial, I offer you my pro portfolio tips and show you my list of 20 no-cook foods for non-cooks.

As a beginner, food photography and food styling can seem daunting, especially if you are not a cook. However, food photography can be fun when you know what to photograph. No-cook foods are a great portfolio builder, even for pro food photographers. By the end of this two-part series, my food photography tips and tricks will give uncooked foods new meaning.

Fresh Produce

Fresh produce is everywhere. You buy it, take it home, and set it up. It’s easy peasy. You also have the option of going to a farmer’s market and bringing your iPhone or DSLR camera. You can take some cool close-ups and detailed photos of food.

Fresh (Edible) Flowers

Fresh flowers and floral arrangements are easy, beautiful, and they need minimal work. You can set them up on a simple tablescape and be good to go.

Fresh Pasta/Grains

Fresh pasta and grains are a beautiful no-cook food that you can bring home, lay it out, dust it with some flour, and be ready to shoot. It’s fine if you don’t want to make your own pasta because many supermarkets sell beautiful, fresh-looking, and freshly prepared pasta.

Salads

You could make a whole portfolio just out of salads. The options are endless. On your list of things to shoot that are no-cook, add salads because it’s a no brainer!

Beverages

Beverages are one of my favorite things to photograph because they are so easy. You get a glass, set it up, think about your composition, and it’s ready to go.

One of my favorite hacks when photographing beverages is to use browning liquid or bitters. If you are shooting a clear alcoholic beverage then you can also use water.

No-Bake Desserts

No-bake desserts have to top your list. There’s a whole list of no-bake desserts that you can create, style beautifully, and add to your portfolio.

Store-Bought Desserts

A lot of the professional, top paid photographers are not cooking their own food. In fact, they have food stylists and chefs working with them on their photoshoots.

You can do something similar at home by buying desserts from the store. Bring the dessert home, unpackaged it, lay it in your set-up, dress it up with whatever garnishments, and you can get to photographing right away.

Canned Soup

Canned soup is a great no-cook option in the fall when there are a lot of blended soups available like pumpkin or split pea. It has the right consistency and density, so you can put it in a bowl and garnish it. Canned soup is an easy option to add to your portfolio.

Toasts/Flatbreads

I love photographing toasts and flatbreads because the sky’s the limit. You can go all out with decorations.

Yogurt

I love using yogurt in my portfolio, especially greek yogurt. You can make a parfait with layers using fruit and granola that makes a beautiful photo.

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Did you like this post and want more suggestions for no-cook foods for food photographers? Make sure to check out part 2, where I share ten more no-cook food suggestions. If you liked the video at the beginning of this post, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I share more food photography tips.

What no-cook food will you shoot first? Leave a comment below to let me know!

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