Photographing food – whether your own creations or eggs Benedict from a favourite brekkie spot – has become somewhat of a ritual among foodie igers (also known as Instagrammers). We round up some of our favourite foodies on the Gram who inspire serious envy with each post.

Alida Ryder

When it comes to Alida Ryder, two words spring to mind: Simply Delicious. This is the apt name of her award-winning blog with posts that will, quite literally, get you drooling. As a photographer and food blogger, Alida loves nothing more than to share her images and receive instant feedback on Instagram, she says. Her favourite restaurants include Ginger and Fig, Five Hundred and Restaurant Mosaic.

Top food-photography tip
Keep it simple. “Top shots are always popular. And if you can get a bit of drizzle action or a drippy egg in the photograph, it’s bound to be popular,” says Alida.

I mean. Crisp, buttery puff pastry topping a delectable filling of chicken, bacon and corn. Now on the blog. #simplydelicious {link in my bio}

A photo posted by Simply Delicious (@alidaryder) on Feb 26, 2014 at 6:46am PST

Dianne Bibby

Former fashion designer Dianne Bibby describes herself as a food enthusiast and avid cook – and her photographs are quite something. She mostly loves how visually stimulating Instagram is, and that it allows you to connect with groups that share a common interest. Bibby loves DW Eleven-13 for artistically clever and thoughtful food, she says, while tashas is her favourite spot for a more casual atmosphere.

Top food-photography and styling tip
“Colours, props and backgrounds should tie in with the theme of the food.”

Tonight’s speedy midweek supper is looking like delicious – Spinach and ricotta ravioli pasta bake with arrabiata napoletana sauce and melting mozzarella. Recipe#ontheblog #f52grams #foodstagram #foodstyling #familyfavourites #pasta #thefeedfeed #foodphotography

A photo posted by Dianne Bibby (@bibbyskitchen) on May 20, 2015 at 10:50am PDT

Sam Linsell

With food styling, food writing and food photography in her arsenal, Sam Linsell is a skilled and popular Instagrammer. Her feed will take you on a culinary journey rich in flavour, colour and texture. She too loves the app for its visual appeal and says it’s a wonderful way to share a story with one image and just a few words. Her favourite spots? Chef’s Warehouse (for tapas) and Foodbarn in Noordhoek.

Top tip: Always keep in mind the composition of the shot when shooting for Instagram. “If you are shooting food and you publish in a square format, make sure your image looks square.”

Ok I’m now in serious trouble with this tray of French doughnuts with a lemony glaze. Going to have to give them away. Stat. #foodphotography

A photo posted by Sam Linsell (@drizzleanddip) on Oct 16, 2014 at 2:19am PDT

Nikki Albertyn

A simple white backdrop is the blank canvas against which Cape Town-based foodie, blogger, photographer and stylist Nikki Albertyn creates her dreamy food feed. Her favourite thing about Instagram is its ability to take you on an instantaneous journey, “from cities you’ve never walked to smells and textures that inspire you to create your own beautiful story.” She admits to being obsessed with the selection of teas and spices on offer at Chefs Warehouse, but it’s ultimately chef Liam Tomlin’s beautiful food and presentation thereof that makes it her favourite restaurant in Cape Town. On a more casual night she can be spotted at Greek restaurant Maria’s on Dunkley Square, tucking into mucver (a Turkish fritter).

Top food-styling tip
“Don’t over-style and use only props that are relevant to your core element,” says Nikki. “Develop a unique style to set yourself apart from the rest, but stick to what is true to you.”

Fig season | going to be so sad when it’s over so I made #fig jam lastnight in hope of preserving some of their goodness for the colder months.

A photo posted by nikkialbertyn (@nikkialbertyn) on Apr 15, 2015 at 10:20pm PDT

Siba Mtongana

Renowned celebrity chef Siba Mtongana is best known for her cooking show, Siba’s Table, on Food Network. She’s an avid Instagrammer who updates her feed regularly – not surprising then that she has a following of nearly 10 000 igers. Like many others, Mtongana loves the visual appeal of the platform, “because a picture is worth a thousand words.” For cheesy indulgence, she loves to tuck into pizzas at Massimo’s in Hout Bay with her family, or head to Loading Bay in De Waterkant for a juicy burger.

Top food-photography and styling tip
“Top food shots are best for dishes such as pizza and salads, but side shots work better for anything with layers, such as burgers or some desserts,” Siba says. “And natural light is best!”

All recipes for all my shows available on www.foodnetwork.co.uk