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A holiday food spread is the ultimate photo-op. In this guide, Madelynne Grace, food photographer and owner of Bites and Bevs Media,shares her top tips to help you turn your festive meal into a true feast for the eyes.

Mix angles to tell the story of your holiday spread. Use overhead shots for full tablescapes, 45-degree angles for cozy depth, head-on for layered dishes, and macro shots to capture texture and detail that makes viewers’ mouths water.

Go for either hard light that emulates the sun or soft, diffused light that mimics daylight, but position it so there are still some shadows. This gives the food a natural, homey glow without making everything feel flat or overexposed.

Think of your tablescape as a movie set. What’s the story you’re telling? Is it warm and cozy or bright and modern, or is it even moody and elegant? Every detail on the table should help tell that story.