At Dishtag, we love celebrating and inspiring passionate foodies! This week we caught up with @foologerhk, a business student in the UK and top user of the Dishtag app, who shares with us insights of her endless discovery of delicious meals around the world and some useful food photography tips.
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself? What do you do besides your passion for food?
I am a business student studying in the UK. I love travelling, photography and doing latte art. I like to record my life and share my adventures with people. It was because of my constant craving for new cuisines that I decided to start a food blog and my foodie journey around the world.
How do you see the role of food photography on your social media accounts? Do you find your followers more inspired by the photos or by the comments?
I started my Instagram account a few years ago and used it as my food diary in my leisure time. However, I started learning food photography and styling last year. I believe it is crucial to create appealing photos and at the same time showcasing the authenticity of the cuisine. I find that my followers are more inspired by my photos. It is always true that they are attracted to eye-catching visuals, then dig into my words and comments. Yet, photos have to work hand-in-hand with detailed and informative reviews as well. I’m still in the journey of constant exploring!
What gear do you use to document your dining experiences?
I mainly use my iPhone 11 pro and sometimes borrow the iPhone 12 from my sister. No fancy edits, no professional cameras, just wholeheartedly sharing honest food reviews.
Can you share your very favourite food shot on your Instagram? What’s the story behind?
This was probably the most random shot I took back in the time I was travelling in Maldives. The natural colours of the dishes and the ocean do not require a lot of fine tunes and edits, that’s the reason why it’s my favourite food shot. I was enjoying the sun and the sound of the waves at a seaside restaurant in one of the islands in Maldives. It was the best Thai cuisine I have ever tasted in my life (plus the restaurant having the best vibe & views!).
In your point of view, what kind of food image is the most engaging content on your blog?
The most engaging content are definitely special cafes and popular restaurants in Hong Kong.
Your photos on the Dishtag app also look great. As a frequent user of the Dishtag app, what do you like most about it?
I really love the user-friendly interface and the pioneering functions. I especially find the dish tag and restaurant tag functions fascinating. It allows foodies to connect with one another and share their reviews. It is very easy to find amazing shots of different cuisines and restaurants on the Dishtag app.
Could you give us a few tips on how to take great food photos even when dining out in non-optimal situations?
Try to make good use to the natural light if possible and take multiple shots in different angles so that you can have more choice. I always use the ‘portrait’ mode of my iPhone so it looks more professional. Practice makes perfect, gradually you can figure out the most suitable style of photo-taking for you and you will nail it!
What is your favourite type of food to shoot?
Coffee and teatime snacks at cafés! As a café hopper myself, I enjoy going to new cafés and taking shots of delicacies there.
Favourite restaurant in HK?
There are many restaurants I like in Hong Kong – the food paradise in Asia. It is hard to choose but I would say APT.coffee or Involtini. There is a guide on my Instagram featuring 10 Hong Kong cafés you should never miss. Interested foodies should definitely check it out!
What advice would you give to new food bloggers?
Focus on your content and food shots. Remember why you started doing this in the first place. Followers and engagement will come after your amazing and inspiring content. Let’s work hard together and share this endless foodie journey!
Discover more ‘behind the lens’ photography tips from fellow foodies:
