“Foodie” App Aims to Enhance Food Photos

Welcome to Foodie Nation. Population: Nearly half of Americans.

According to a recent report from Mintel, 47 percent of Americans who visit restaurants consider themselves to be foodies, including 68 percent of consumers age 25-34. These food enthusiasts are typically on the forefront of trending dishes and cuisines.

Foodies also have a strong desire to share their diverse dining interests with others, especially on social media. According to Mintel, a full 90 percent of foodies use social media, and mentions of “foodie” on social media have grown 23 percent from 2014 to 2015. Additionally, there are more than two million mentions of “food” on social media daily in the U.S., and 24 percent of consumers report that they discover new flavors and ingredients via social media.

That explains why my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds are consistently inundated with status updates and photos of my friends’ latest meals—most of which look very bland and unappealing, if I’m being honest. If we eat with our eyes, then often, I’m not having what my friends are having.

Sometimes a smartphone cannot quite capture the beauty of a restaurant or homemade dish in a photo—no matter how tasty the meal may be. However, a new camera app for iPhone and Android devices aims to enrich food photos. The Foodie app is free and features an auto blurring effect to give images the air of SLR photography, as well as brightness adjustment and flashlight features to increase a user’s shooting options. Suddenly, amateurs can present a professional-looking photo of their food!

The app has 24 different filters that make foods like meats, sushi, cakes and fresh foods pop in the photo. It also uses on-screen color to let the user know when the camera is positioned flat, directly above the food on the table, for easy flat lay photography. Of course, Foodie also offers sharing through social media networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I took the app for a spin, and captured a few before and after photos while I was making blackened chicken with beans and broccoli for dinner this weekend. Using one of the fresh filters, the broccoli appeared greener and fresher in the pan. I also applied one of the fresh filters to the photo I snapped of the final plate, and it made the chicken look more grilled and vibrant. 

I know a few of my friends who could benefit from using the Foodie app, but perhaps, supermarkets retailers could also find a purpose for the app. For example, it could come in handy when a grocer is sampling new products in the store and wants to promote the sampling on social media platforms. In a pinch, it could eliminate the need for a professional food photographer and encourage more shoppers to check out the event.

Or maybe, it will just make your foodie friends’ food photos look more appetizing in your social media feeds. 

Check out a closer look at my before and after Foodie photos: