Still burning toast, but getting sharper shots

What Cooking Taught Me About Photography

Still burning toast, but getting sharper shots

I’m not a chef. I barely follow recipes. But I’ve noticed something strange over time—every time I get better at cooking, my photography improves too.

Turns out, the kitchen and the camera have a lot more in common than I thought. So, here’s a lighthearted look at how cooking habits have helped me behind the lens.

1. Recipes = Shooting Styles

When you’re starting out in the kitchen, you follow recipes. Photography works the same way. In the beginning, I stuck to certain styles—black & white street shots, natural light portraits, etc. That structure helped me build a rhythm. Then, just like tweaking a recipe, I started adding my own flair.

Photography tip: Don’t be afraid to follow a “recipe” for your camera settings or editing style—especially when learning.

2. Ingredients = Composition

Every dish is built on a few key ingredients. In a photo, it’s the same: light, subject, background, maybe a strong leading line or shadow. A good photo, like a good meal, feels balanced.

Try composing your photo the way you’d plate a dish—intentionally and with care.

3. Plating = Editing

You can cook a delicious meal, but if it’s just dumped on a plate, it loses something. Photography’s final step—editing—is the same. A crop here, a color adjustment there. It’s not about overdoing it. It’s about seasoning.

My rule? Edit the way I plate food: not too fancy, but enough to make it shine.

4. Timing Is Everything

Miss the timer, and your cake’s burnt. Miss the moment, and your photo’s flat. Cooking taught me to be patient and alert. You’ve got to know when to stir, when to wait, when to snap.

Some of my best shots happened when I almost gave up and walked away.

5. Use What You’ve Got

I’ve made great meals with no fancy ingredients—just what was in the fridge. Same with photos. You don’t always need the perfect gear or golden hour lighting. Use what you have and make it work.

Some of my favorite street shots came from cloudy days, weird angles, or the “wrong” lens.

6. Practice = Flavor

Nobody nails a recipe the first time. I’ve taken hundreds of throwaway photos for every one I keep. But the more I do it, the better my instincts get.

Take the same photo in five different ways. Think of it like trying five variations of pasta sauce.

7. Style Is in the Spice

A dash of chili can change a dish. A hint of shadow or grain can change a photo. Once you know the basics, start experimenting. Add your flavor.

If your photos are your dishes, what’s your signature spice?

8. Slow Down and Stir

Cooking has this great way of slowing you down. You stir, you wait, you taste. Photography is better when you slow down too. Look. Breathe. Observe.

Some of my best photos happened after I just stood still for five minutes and let the scene unfold.

9. Photography Is Sharing

We cook for people we care about. Photography’s the same. I shoot because I want to share—stories, places, moods, fleeting weird little moments.

A photo, like a meal, is better when it’s shared.

Final Thoughts

So yeah—next time you’re cooking something simple, think about how it connects to your camera work. Creativity is creativity, whether you’re holding a ladle or a lens.

And if you ever see me out shooting with flour on my shirt… you’ll know I’m just seasoning my style.

Bon appétit—and happy shooting,