Foodstagram 104:Taking Great Photos using Instagram with your Delicious Foods.

If you have an Instagram, or if you’ve dipped even the slightest toe into this social media black hole, you’ll know that the amateur Instagram “food photographer/blogger” is a current phenomenon. These photographers fill their profiles exclusively with photos of food. From homemade, chia-seed covered, agave-nectar-smothered pancakes, to perfectly scooped artisan ice cream cones, to minimalist tuna tartar to something as simple as a well-filtered protein bar, Instagram food photography is all encompassing. It is nondiscriminatory. If you have a smartphone and you’re having lunch, you, too, can be a food photographer.

That being said, there is a definite demographic which has taken to Instagraming food most voraciously. Unsurprisingly, American college girls seem to be taking more food pics than anyone else. Presumably, they have the time and, more important, the money to buy fancy, visually appealing foods that are completely nonessential to any basic diet, like cereal-encrusted/covered donuts, lattes with designs etched into the foam, and, my personal favorite, cinnamon toast bagels with birthday cake flavored cream cheese. Yes, that is a thing, and we have Tompkins Square Bagels in New York City to thank for it. These girls have handles like “eatinginnyc01,” “ilysmfood247,” “betchesluvnycnoms” (I made these up, but you get the picture) and almost anything else incorporating their location, (in this case, NYC) their objective, (food, noms, eats) and their persona (bitches, freshman, foodies). The hashtags used to garner likes for the photos are almost identical (#nycfoods, #foodporn1) and when clicked on, one can find thousands, and, sometimes, tens of thousands of photos.

But Instagram food photography is not limited to these girls. Real food photographers — those who actually photograph food for a living — also find a home on Instagram. Their professional skills and appealing presentation are comforting, especially when juxtaposed against @thisbetchlovesnycfood’s poorly lit grilled cheese. Among these already established photographers, one can also find talented amateurs capitalizing on easy Instagram fame, as well as established and non-established lifestyle and fashion bloggers, snapping photos of their lunches to gain extra likes.

Some other groups whose food photos appear in notable-sized clusters: 30-something male hipsters living in places like Brooklyn and Portland, and teen girls from Eastern Europe and Asia. I’ve come across “nutrition” bloggers from Poland and the Czech Republic, who bombard me with pictures of colorful smoothie bowls speckled with bee pollen and hemp, as well as minimalist Singaporeans, whose sparse plates are laid out to what seem like mathematically calculated proportions.

Instagram foodies may seem overwhelmingly female; in fact, some of the more famous food-centric Instagram accounts, like The Infatuation, which is also a website and foodie’s paradise, are run by men. One of the highest honors a lowly food-gramer can receive is a regram from The Infatuation, by using the hash tag #EEEEEATS, under which there are currently over 240,000 photos. Regraming others’ food photos is another way to gain and establish one’s fame in this strange world; if you’re being regramed, it feels like you’re “making” it, while those who dole out regrams are the ones, presumably, who have made it.

On the flip side, accounts like @cookingforbae and @youdidnoteatthat, with 150k and 142k followers, respectively, have risen in response to the overwhelming outflow of food photos, serving to mock those whose casserole looks more vomit-worthy than mouthwatering and those who appear to subsist on little more than water and lettuce, yet pose with face-sized cheeseburgers.

So what’s the point of all this food Instagraming? Why partake in it, assuming it’s not solely for the purpose of promoting business or any other such practical purpose? My own amateur Food-stagram account was not conceived of as such, yet I found posting pictures of my ice cream cones and lobster rolls combined with a few hashtags garnered many more likes than did pictures of almost anything else I posted. And I liked the likes. Quite simply, getting lots of likes makes me feel good — useful, almost — at a time in my life when feeling good and useful is a rare phenomenon. I’m a recent college grad, looking for employment and studying for graduate school exams. It’s one of the least glamorous and least edifying times in ones life. Anything that lets me feel like I’m contributing to something bigger than myself (I certainly wouldn’t venture to say “to society”) or being recognized, no mater how menial the recognition, is wildly gratifying. So, that, folks, is why I’ll continue posting my PB&J, at least until I move into a more substantive period in my life, which I certainly hope will be soon.

5 Quick Tips for Taking More Powerful Foodstagrams

1. Natural light is your friend

Nothing makes food look unappealing like seeing a photo of it under yellow heat lamps or ultra-bright fluorescent lights. Seek out the best areas with natural light, like a window, to take your photos. Just because your food was prepared in the kitchen doesn’t mean that’s where it has to be photographed!

2. Choosing the right angle

The classic overhead shot is usually a good bet for foodstagrams, but it doesn’t work in every situation. For example, a side shot works best for burgers and sandwiches so you see more than just bread looking down. Do some experimenting to get the best angle for the dish you are photographing. Also keep in mind that closer does not always equal better and capturing the environment of your foodstagram can lend itself to a better composed shot.

3. Play with your food

Instagram should be an extension of your brand’s personality and not simply a re-iteration of your menu. Have fun with your food and bring some of that personality to your images! When your followers feel a connection to your brand, they are more likely to interact with it.

4. Choosing the right app

#NoFilter isn’t something to brag about with foodstagrams. Just like you put the final touches on a dish in the kitchen, a photo should be treated the same with some final edits. My app of choice is VSCO Cam, it offers excellent filters, advanced photo editing tools, and a streamlined interface. I can’t recommend it enough!

5. Include your customers – regram their work!

Sometimes its difficult to find the time to create enough content to keep your instagram active. A great solution is to explore photos you’ve been tagged in or click into your geotag and then “re-gram” (or screen cap and then repost) some of the better photos your customers have taken. Just make sure to give credit with an @ reply to say thanks! Not only does this keep your content fresh, but it also keeps this customers involved and encourages them to take great photos because they know you might regram!

Using social media marketing — more specifically restaurant marketing, to build customer loyalty in your restaurant is a recipe for success you don't want to miss out on! What questions do you have for us on how to enhance you strategy?

Already crushing it on Instagram? Share your handle and share a tip for success with the Upserve community in the comments below.

The 24 Most Instagram-Worthy Desserts in NYC

1. Milkshakes from Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer

Photo courtesy of @chicasennewyork on Instagram

Worth the three-hour wait, since making your own won’t ever be as beautiful as the real deal.

2. Cereal Milk Ice Cream from Momofuku Milk Bar

Photo courtesy of @nordstromrack on Instagram

Get the sprinkles for a guaranteed 100+ likes.

3. “Super Premium” Ice Cream Cones from Emack & Bolio’s

Photo courtesy of @missladyfinger on Instagram

The (c)on(e)ly thing I need to survive my week. A quintessential NYC eats Insta.

4. Birthday Cake Sundae from Quality Eats

Photo courtesy of @new_york_city on Instagram

Eat cake because it’s someone’s birthday somewhere. But if you’re really celebrating, make sure you do it with some free birthday food.

5. Waffle Ice Cream Cone from Wowfulls

Photo courtesy of @wowfulls on Instagram

Can’t wait to get a wowfull of this. Make sure you tag your dank waffle pic with #spoonfeed.

6. S’mores Ice Cream Rolls from 10Below Ice Cream

Photo courtesy of @10belowicecream on Instagram

I need s’more has never been so applicable. Just watching the ice cream be made is an experience in itself, you can imagine how magical the first bite is.

7. Glazed Mini Donuts with Sprinkles from Doughnuttery

Photo by Sara Rukeyser

Just a little donut in a big world. Have no shame in holding up your mini donuts for the ultimate insta.

#SpoonTip: Head up to the Highline right above Chelsea Market for the ultimate @foodintheair insta.

8. Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies from Levain Bakery

Photo courtesy of @rcorrera on Instagram

It’s not a trend if you’re not in on it. Dw, some fellow Spoonies taste tested Levain’s cookies and we all agree that the chocolate chip walnut is hands down #1.