TOP 4 TIPS TO CREATE THE BEST FOOD REELS!

 
Image shows author placing a platter of food in front of two phone cameras on stands

Are you a food content creator who has been sharing Instagram Reels for some time, but just can’t seem to gain traction? Maybe you’ve mastered food photography but feel daunted by the idea of capturing your food in vertical video format and making the transition to videography!

If that’s you, you’re in the right place! I’m here to share my top tips for creating compelling Instagram recipe Reels! These tips will make your filming process easier and the resulting content much more engaging and impactful.

Ready to elevate your recipe Reels and short form videography skills? Then let’s dive in, shall we?

 
 

FILM YOUR FOOD REEL FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES!

Gone are the days when you could film a recipe Reel any which way and have it instantly go viral! Now, with an increased number of food creators, videographers and food photographers sharing content on Instagram, your recipe Reels need to stand out to gain traction.

This means being intentional about which angles you use and incorporating a variety of shots in your Reel to keep things dynamic and engaging. Here are some of my favourite angles to play with when I film my food Reels (or any Reels, for that matter). I hope there are a few options here that resonate with you too!

  1. The classic overhead - This is great to show step-by-step processes

  2. Close ups and macro - These are amazing if you wish to hone in on your dish’s incredible textures or colours

  3. Angled captures - Angled captures work well for action shots like pouring maple syrup over pancakes for example.

  4. Super wide and/or establishing shots - These shots give your Reel context and provides viewers with a behind the scenes glimpse into your life or kitchen.

  5. Wide angle capture - These are great to show off your face and give your reels some personality.

  6. The hero shot - These tend to be higher captures that show off the final recipe best.

Image shows pretty glasses with lemonade, sugared rims and garnishes of lime wedges. An arm is reaching for one glass as dappled sunlight is falling on the scene.
 

LIGHTING YOUR FOOD REELS RIGHT!

It's natural to want to film a recipe Reel in your kitchen—it’s where the cooking happens, so it makes sense, right? However, kitchens are designed for practicality and daily use, not for creating the best social media content. Specifically, the overhead lighting common in many kitchens can be a major obstacle to capturing gorgeous food shots. Additionally, the stove area, where we cook the most, often lacks any natural light and consequently tends to be perpetually dark. As a result, your cooking scenes might look a little lackluster.

To enhance your Reels, consider using professional artificial lighting. While it requires an investment, it’s worth contemplating going the extra mile if natural light isn’t an option in your kitchen. Alternatively, set up your filming space near a large window to make the best use of natural light. It will make all the difference to the quality of your food Reels and is how I capture the vast majority of my food content in my studio for Instagram..

 

GET THE RIGHT CONTENT CREATION GEAR!

You can film incredible food Reels simply by using your phone camera, I promise. However, shaky and unstable footage can instantly detract from the quality of your recipe Reels, making them hard to watch—regardless of whether you're using a professional DSLR camera or your phone.

To avoid this from happening, it’s worth investing in a tripod and/or gimbal which can help you produce stable and crisp film footage that showcases your recipes in all their glory.

You can find my recommendations for best phone stands HERE.

Image shows some eggs on a pretty concrete surface, two are on a small plate and bowl, one is broken in half with the yolk visible inside.
 

Master the Habits of Great Videographers to Create Outstanding Videos.

To become a great content creator, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, learn from the greats that have walked before you, the ones that inspire you and whose content you love the most!

That’s exactly what I did, and I discovered a key strategy: many top creators meticulously script and plan their content. This approach ensures they capture all the necessary angles (as mentioned earlier), have all the ingredients on hand for their recipes, and can record engaging voiceovers or clear, helpful instructions, whichever works best for the audience they’ve built and nurtured over the years.

Scripting and planning your Reels can enhance the quality of your food content, making it more polished and professional. Adopting these habits allows you to provide the most value to your audience, which is essential for creating standout content with impact. Plus, this strategy is a proven formula for growing your Instagram audience! A win-win if you ask me!

 
Image shows a book lying on a pink marble surface and pink linen napkin, some pretty glasses and pinch bowls around it. Title of the book is How to Make Your Food Famous by Kimberly Espinel.

Before you go…

I truly hope this blog post was helpful and, if you’re keen to learn more about creating delicious and impactful food Reels for Instagram and growing a large community there too, why not consider ordering my brand new book, How to Make Your Food Famous….

 
 

WANT MORE FOOD REELS IDEAS AND TIPS?

My brand new book, How to Make Your Food Famous is packed full of practical tips that will help you improve your videography and lots of insights that will ensure you grow a loyal and engaged audience and/or client base on social media!

To find out more about the book please tap HERE! What are you waiting for? Go check it out to discover if it’s right for you!

 
food photography, food styling, Creative business, creativity, instagram tricksK J Espinel