In photography, bokeh is defined as the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image. Many photographers like bokeh due to its visually enjoyable qualities.

London food photographer, Content Creator, London hospitality photographer, Drink Photographer London, Product photographer London,
London food photographer, Content Creator, London hospitality photographer, Drink Photographer London, Product photographer London,
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London food photographer, Content Creator, London hospitality photographer, Drink Photographer London, Product photographer London,

3 must-haves when capturing a bookeh photo

The right lens


Some people struggle with the bokeh effect because they use the wrong lens. You can achieve the best results with a lens that has an aperture of at least f/2.8. I'm aware that beginners are likely to have a typical kit lens which only goes as low as f/3.5 and sadly, it’s not wide enough to provide a beautiful bokeh effect.


My advice is to invest in a nifty-fifty, which is a universal lens for most of the food photography and beyond. A 50mm lens is relatively cheap, it’s easy to find, and its aperture opens up to f/1.8 or f/1.4. If you don't have it yet and you're thinking about an additional lens, go for a macro lens, which is perfect not only to achieve an amazing bokeh effect in your photography but perfect for close-ups or drinks photography.

 

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Textured background


To achieve beautiful bokeh, don't forget to choose the right background. You can always edit your image in the post-production process; however, it doesn’t guarantee that your image will have good bokeh.


When shooting a Festive scene, remember that a Christmas tree decorated with fairy lights is the absolute best background for Christmas photos. All the lights and baubles reflecting the light automatically create a bokeh effect.

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London food photographer, Content Creator, London hospitality photographer, Drink Photographer London, Product photographer London,

 

Interesting foreground

 

When we think about a photo with a bokeh effect, very often we imagine a photo with a blurry background. Nothing is more wrong; the term applies to the foreground as well.


What I do very often when shooting a Festive scene is use string lights to create foreground bokeh (3rd photo above). Once you adjust the focus on your subject in the middle, everything in front (the string light) and behind it will be blurry. Watch my behind-the-scenes video on how I created it here.

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Create a distance between the subject and the background

To maximise the bokeh effect, you should keep a distance between your subject and the background. Obviously, the further you are from the object you're photographing, the better the bokeh effect you'll achieve.

If you’re using a lens with a short focal length (for example, 50-70mm), it will be better to stay closer to the subject to create a more distinct bokeh. However, if you’re using a macro lens (such as 85mm), stepping away from the object you're photographing usually won't change much; that's the benefit of shooting with the lens’ long focal length.

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Slices of toasted bread topped with melted chocolate spread on white ceramic plates.
London food photographer, Content Creator, London hospitality photographer, Drink Photographer London, Product photographer London,

Just remember that no matter what lens you use, it’s better to keep your subject far from the background.


In fact, you’re already exploring the bokeh effect whenever you start experimenting with your camera’s depth of field. It doesn't matter if you use your kit lens or macro lens; you will see some bokeh when you take photos. Of course, you will achieve a different effect, but it will show you how the principle works.


Achieving bokeh is easier than you think. Don’t worry too much about the technical aspects of this effect. Just grab your camera and, by controlling your DOF, create a beautiful scene with a mesmerising bokeh effect.


I hope all the tips and hints will help you improve not only festive photography but also your day-to-day work. Can't wait to see your creations.