Building Your Food Photography Skills at Food Markets

If you're an aspiring food photographer looking to sharpen your skills, forget the studio lights for a moment—head to your nearest food market. Places like Old Spitalfields Market in London, near Liverpool Street station, offer a dynamic and visually rich playground for honing your craft.

Markets are brimming with action, color, textures, and—most importantly—stories. In the series of images featured here, we dive into the process of crafting mouthwatering pulled pork sandwiches, captured in real-time as vendors prep, build, and wrap up their creations.

Markets offer more than just photogenic food—they offer moments. The gloved hands of the vendor, the sheen on slow-cooked meat, the warm tones of toasted bread—these elements come alive under natural lighting and tell a genuine story of craftsmanship.

Here are a few tips for capturing that authenticity:

• Observe before you shoot: Take a few minutes to watch how the food is prepared. Anticipate the key moments—drizzling sauce, stacking ingredients, that final press of the bun.

• Use available light: Markets usually have a mix of natural and artificial lighting. Use that to your advantage for contrast and depth.

• Get close, but stay respectful: Focus on the food details, but always ask vendors if they’re okay with being photographed during busy hours.

• Edit with care: Minor adjustments in exposure, contrast, and temperature can help your photos feel polished without losing their raw charm.

Whether you're building a portfolio or just experimenting, street food markets like Spitalfields are a goldmine of sensory experiences and visual storytelling opportunities. So grab your camera, head out, and let the food guide your frame

A big thank you to Dirty Bagel – Pulled Pork Specialist at Old Spitalfields Market.

#Foodphotography #Londonfoodphotographer #dirtybagelpulledporkspecialist