South African TV audiences are no strangers to food shows. But, in a first for SA digital, food stylist Claire Winstanley has launched her fully digital YouTube food channel called Good Looking and Cooking – and it’s as yummy as it sounds! With new episodes uploaded every Thursday, GLAMOUR had to ask, ‘How do you get your videos to look so amazing?’ Here are Claire’s top tips and tricks.

Location, location, location

YouTube is all about being authentic and real so if you’re filming your cooking and your food, why not do it in your kitchen? It’s the place you feel most at home and will come across the most comfortable. The majority of the videos for Good Looking and Cooking are shot in my own home and kitchen.

Sassy scripting

You only have seconds, not minutes, on YouTube to hook and hold viewers. The ultimate trick to filming food and not simply talking through a long recipe is having a light-hearted and punchy dialogue that keeps it fun and, most importantly, to the point.

Make hay while the sun shines

As dogs are to man, natural lighting is to food… your best friend! So try shooting next to a window. I’m lucky enough to have an incredibly large window right in my kitchen, which lets in beautiful, natural light – it was actually what inspired me to start shooting at home.

Framing frenzy

I am definitely no cameraman and I’m lucky to have a pro working with me, but what I do know is you need to use as many tricks as possible to keep viewers interested and excited about food. Using a variety of different frames for your shots keeps it fresh and gets in every detail of a dish. Plus, food tends to look sensationally mouthwatering when shot up close.

Spice it up with time-lapses

There’s something unbelievably delectable about watching butter melt at twice the speed. Time-lapses are not only great for intensifying delicious shots but also for speeding up lengthy mixing, kneading of bread, stirring and other methods. Whenever I can, I try using a time-lapse – it adds great variety to a regular shot.

Slow mo, baby

Stirring dark chocolate, pouring thick cheese sauce, breaking open fresh steaming bread… when shot in slow motion, these are all truly beautiful. The idea is to entice viewers and get them to want to eat the dish so badly they actually make it themselves.

Spritzer of life

Shooting recipes take a very long time and it can get really hot in the kitchen as all the windows and doors are closed to prevent external noises while shooting dialogue. This means herbs and fresh produce tend to “age” quickly during filming. Herbs end up wilted and floppy, while fresh goods appear dull and lifeless. So whenever I’m shooting for my channel, I keep a little spritzer bottle filled with cold water to keep the herbs, fruit and veg looking cool and fresh.

Double the trouble

What you see is what you get on Good Looking and Cooking– times two! I don’t fake anything but I do try making double of everything (or have double the ingredients) to do retakes of shots. Food spoils quickly, especially hot food, which doesn’t look great after 30-45 minutes of just shooting the final dish.

Your knight in shining armour

The only – and I do mean only– thing I use as a food stylist to “enhance” food is olive oil. It’s your saviour when it comes to keeping food looking “just cooked”. Juiciness, aka shiny food, just looks more delicious than dry food. So brush a little olive oil on dishes that need it and you’re guaranteed to have viewers licking their lips!

Is your mouth watering yet? Ours sure are! Head to our Eat, Drink, Travel section for some yummy recipes you can whip up at home – no cameraman required!