Iphones and Instagram mean photographing your dinner no longer seems strange. Even top chefs, wise to the PR value, no longer mind too much as long as you're considerate to fellow diners.
Some professional food photographers have been equally adept at making new technology work to their advantage.
"It's a great way to make notes if you eat out a lot," says Per-Anders Jorgensen, whose work is synonymous with the chefs who have followed René Redzepi to the top of the world's 50 best list. "There are so many plates, so many details to remember."
Although Jorgensen is adamant that, "it's not the same as professional photography, so don't expect the same results" he has useful tips on how to improve your own snaps.
Choose your app wisely
The right app can even make me look good. There are a couple that I think are essential – Camera+ is great, and 645 is fantastic as it allows you to stretch the limits of the camera. For example, it enables you to use longer exposures than normal. That helps in low light.
Don't try too hard
Shoot from the angle you are looking at the plate. First shoot the whole dish and then a close up. It shouldn't take more than 10 seconds.
But if there's something else exciting going on, like you're watching the chef at Faviken, Magnus Nilsson, sawing a bone in two in his restaurant, just photograph that the best way you can. Capture the experience as well as the dishes themselves.
Phones do more than take photos
If you are serious about your photography it will be better in daylight, so go at lunchtime and choose a restaurant with big windows.
Never use flash. It kills everything. But there's a trick that can help with lighting. If there's two of you and you both have phones, use the light from the screen of one phone to light the food while you take a photo with the other one.
Back up everything. And do it often
A few months ago I lost my iPhone, so someone is walking round with about 14,000 photos of restaurants from around the world. I'd backed up everything apart from the previous six months, so learned a lesson. Make sure you do it frequently.
