Irresistible recipe? Share it here.

The Setting
Unless you have a high-end DSLR, most digital cameras come with an array of shooting modes to choose from. Look for the symbol of a mountain and turn the dial to it. This mode sets the camera up so that as much of the scene you're shooting will be in focus as possible. At times your camera might also select a slower shutter speed in this mode (to compensate for the small aperture) so you might want to consider a tripod or other method of ensuring your camera is still.

1. Try turning off the flash.
2. Use natural light. Natural light tends to make for a better photo with food, so set your dish by the window or somewhere with lots of natural light.
3. Get close to the food! Stand up close to the pan, plate or cutting board until it fills the frame. The food is the subject, so let it take the stage.
4. Show a serving of the food. A whole bread pudding or souffle is lovely, but helps us visually taste the food if your photo shows what the food looks like seconds before you get to take a bite.
5. Use your elbows on the counter or on stacked cookbooks to stabilize the camera like a tripod. With the flash off, you'll need to hold the camera very still to get a good shot.
6. As necessary, use your photo editing software and lighten things up and color correct if the shot is overly yellow (nobody wants to eat anything that looks too dark or mysterious).