Some of the folks there were very new to photography, so those of us a little more comfortable around a camera were sure to offer a few tips and tricks to anyone who needed assistance. One gentleman got help with setting the white balance on his new camera, one new member of the group ate his first-ever breakfast taco, and I shared a few tips for shooting food. These are the things I try to keep in mind:

1. Watch your background. Sometimes the background can be just as important and tell just as much of the story as the item that you're shooting, but don't let your background be too cluttered.
2. Natural lighting is best. Of course it is. But if you can't take a full meal into the backyard to take photos, at least open the blinds by the dining table or move what you want to photograph to a better natural lighting source.
3. Utilize props. Do be afraid to style your shots. Add a colorful napkin or a bottle of wine or an edible flower to your food subjects. Doing so can add interest, color and excitement to your photos.
4. Get close, but not too close. Focusing in on a single, beautiful bite of the dripping icing on cinnamon roll or the melty cheese on a burger is perfect, but make sure you stay far enough away that you can actually tell what you took the picture of.
5. Rule of thirds. The four points created by the tic-tac-toe pattern in the rule of thirds are great targets for food pictures. Make one of the four points your main focal point to add interest and draw the eye into your subject.