How to photograph a dining table: top tips for Instagram-worthy snaps

Organising a dinner party and rather proud of your stunning and stylish dining table? Want to show it off on social media? Your Home's deputy art editor Beth Charlton Lucas shares her secrets for how to take the perfect photograph so that everyone – not just your guests – can admire your handiwork.

How to photograph your decorated dining table

Natural light is your best friend

Turn the flash off and turn off any artificial lights and take advantage of the natural light instead. Let as much natural light in as possible so that the colour of your photographs is a as true to life as possible and not affected by artificial lighting. Try and shoot on a bright but overcast day, the clouds will help diffuse the light and will create a soft light with no harsh shadows. If you've got sheer curtains to hand, these also help diffuse the light!

Have fun experimenting

Create your own unique style by experimenting and posting pictures that are different from all the rest. Just like when shooting a portrait, varying your perspective while photographing your dining table will give you a great variety of photos. Shoot from the diner’s perspective, put your camera on the table, shoot across the table and even stand on a chair and shoot down onto the table. This way, you will capture a variety of photographs from angles you wouldn’t normally see or notice.

STYLE TIP Use objects at different height to decorate your table to add dimension to your shots!

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Zoom out, zoom in

Pull back to capture the whole dining table, but also get up close to capture the small details. Adjust the settings on your phone so the up-close details are in focus and the background is out of focus - this will give your photographs a professional look. Also step back and take in the whole scene; the chairs, the dinnerware, and even the food once you've served it up. These photos will show how every piece complements the other and how they become part of a whole composition.

TOP TIP Use a tripod to help steady the camera and to also make it easy for you compose the shot with both hands free!

Make it personal

Instead of a taking one beautiful shot of your dining table, why not try posting a series of photographs before, during and after your lunch or dinner party. This way, you can incorporate friends and family using and enjoying the space and presents a more candid style compared to a staged shot.

Instagram vs reality

To get those ‘Instagram worthy pictures’ you might have to do some clever cropping in post-production - a big white fridge on the edge of the shot is going to throw the composition off balance, however cute your children’s drawings are. Try shooting in different directions to find the best backdrop for your dining table shot with no distracting objects in the background.

Thanks to Dunelm for the products in the shoot