This post is Sponsored by Swanson but my opinions are 100% my own!

I’m not the best at taking pictures of food, but I’m trying.  You really need a good camera, good lighting and an eye for styling.   All those together will give you great pictures.   If you’ve been on Pinterest you’ve seen good, bad and OK pictures of food.  I know a lot of great food photographer’s but they all started somewhere so you can do better with some helpful tips,  and so can I!

Believe it or not nearly 1 in 4 Americans posted a photo of their meal this past holiday season (according to a recent survey commissioned by Swanson), here are some Food Styling and Photography Tips from Swanson to help make your pictures better and more appetizing.

Tips from Swanson to Make Your Holiday Food Photos Shine

• Capture the Cooking Process – There’s no need to wait to the meal hits the table to start capturing your holiday food photos. Start with some action shots in the kitchen, like stirring the pots on the stove or pulling the golden brown turkey or Moist & Savory Stuffing out of the oven.  ·
• Choose the Right Serving Dish – Using a smaller serving bowl for stuffing or mashed potatoes makes the dish look full and plentiful, while taking up less space on the holiday table. Choosing a dish in a contrasting color helps the food pop.
• Add a Garnish – For photo worthy dishes, add a garnish of an ingredient that is found in the dish or that complements its flavors. For example, butternut squash and sage soup can be topped with fried sage leaves, creme fraiche, pumpkin seeds and even pomegranate seeds to add color and texture. If your dish features a signature ingredient like stuffing with cranberries, reserve a handful of berries to sprinkle over the top before it goes into the oven.
• Hold Steady – For crisp food photos, make sure your smartphone doesn’t shake. Brace your elbow against the table to cut down on movement or turn on the “anti-shake” setting available on some phones.
•  Change Your Angle – Try changing the angle to make your food photos feel fresh. Photograph the holiday table from directly above for an interesting shot or capture a finished dish from the side like with these glazed carrots.
•  Incorporate Color with a Tablescape – Choosing a colorful background can really make your dishes pop. Try a tablecloth in a saturated hue that works well with the different dishes you’ll be serving.
• Try a Filter – When capturing food, avoid over-filtering your photos; food looks most appetizing in its natural colors and doesn’t need a rainbow of effects.

Did you know that January is National Soup month?  Well it is and Swanson has some great broths to help make your soup something the entire family will love.

Swanson Natural Goodness Chicken Broth is full of rich chicken flavor, but has 1/3 less sodium than regular broth and is fat-free.

Swanson Chicken Broth is the go-to for holiday dishes, including stuffing and turkey. This broth is the perfect balance of chicken, vegetables and seasoning to bring a rich, distinct flavor.

Swanson Beef Stock is made from farm-grown vegetables, to add robust flavor to keep dishes juicy.

The new Swanson Flavor Infused broths (Mexican Tortilla, Thai Ginger and Chinese Hot & Sour) are perfect for adding unique flavor to meals without the hassle of hard to find ingredients.

(1) Koupon Karen reader will win some Swanson Broths!

To enter the giveaway, use the Giveaway Tools widget below. Email and feed subscribers will need to click-through to the site to enter the giveaway.

As a reminder, comments left on Facebook or Twitter will not be included. You must follow the instructions on the widget about the proper way to enter. Of course Facebook is in no way associated with this giveaway!

Disclosure: I received a Free product for review. My opinions are 100% mine.