Shoot your food: Learn food photography tips, June 16

Learn how to make your food photos -- for restaurant reviews, recipe books, or your own social media -- jump off the screen from National Press Club's Photography Team on Tuesday, June 16, at 11:30 a.m. in the Cosgrove Lounge. The Photo Team meeting is open to all Club members, but RSVPs are required by the Reliable Source reservation system, email, or telephone.
 

Food and cooking are a big deal in today's media. Stories about restaurants and cooking are a staple of lifestyle magazines like Washingtonian, and in many local media, restaurant reviews can make or break a new dining establishment. Plus, food stories and recipes continue to attract audiences for national media. Poynter noted in an August 2025 commentary on the New York Times' finances, "Amid the media doom and gloom, the Gray Lady (or maybe its cooking app) is thriving."

At the Photo Team's meeting, chair Alan Kotok will lead the discussion, with tips about lighting and camera angles to produce compelling images. Participants will then share their experiences and tips about food photography. NPC members who also want to share their best food photos should send the digital files to Kotok at [email protected] by Friday, June 12.

The June 16 meeting begins promptly at 11:30 a.m. in the Cosgrove Lounge, and will be available only in-person. After the meeting, participants are invited to stay for lunch at the Reliable Source, at their own expense, and use the occasion to try out their new skills.