Top Tips for Shooting Short Food Videos

Short videos are increasingly becoming more popular, grabbing people’s attention and engaging them, especially on social media. When it comes to food, videos can tell a compelling story—from prepping the ingredients to placing the final dish on the table—showcasing every step of the process.

We spoke to judge Mick Watson, Head of Global Content Marketing, MPB and Nikithaa Kumaran, who won the category in 2023 with ‘Mango Curry’, for their top tips on how to make a great food video.

Mick Watson’s Top Tips

Tell a Story

The challenge with food videos is that the audience isn’t there for the payoff - the smell and taste of food. So instead of showing ingredients or an event, tell the audience a story. Think about how to hook them (always ask yourself why the digital audience should watch something they haven’t experienced?) and what the payoff is (a finished plate or someone serving or eating the food etc).

The 2023 winner 'Mango Curry by Nikithaa Kumaran’ brings us in with the whole process, everything from washing and cutting to tasting, seasoning, serving and eating.

Think about Lighting

As the audience isn’t there make sure that the lighting makes the food as inviting as possible. Too light and the ingredients will look washed out, too dark and they’ll lose vibrancy. Is there natural light to use? Can you capture the ambiance of the location?

Pacing and Editing

Deciding whether to use voice or music will help you with pacing, as will deciding whether to vary transitions and use slo-mo for impact. The key is to keep audience interest, so too many editing tricks can stop any flow and keep the audience from fully connecting, but too little movement and action can make the finished piece monotonous.

Nikithaa Kumaran's Top Tips

Simplicity

Keep it simple, we connect to the film better that way. I try to choose dishes that remind the viewer  of a good memory.

Human element

Always include a human element. I like to bring out the personality of the person making the dish rather than just focus only on the hands that make them. For. eg, my mother is always chatty when she cooks, I always try to include a bit of her laughter or talks in the videos.

The everyday

Using everyday utensils gives a sense of easiness in the video as opposed to having complicated setups.

Drama

Have drama for eg, the slow dripping of water after washing vegetables, steam coming off a cooker, deep frying a dish etc.

Ready to put these tips to the test?

The best way to sharpen your food videography skills is through practice! Why not take it a step further and enter the MPB Award for Innovation category of our competition? Accepting both photos and videos, it’s perfect for both photographers and videographers of all skill levels looking for a creative challenge.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Discover the other fantastic categories in our photography awards!