MY TOP 5 RESTAURANT PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS!
Restaurant photography is challenging, but also so much fun! The restaurant’s interiors, the hustle and bustle of a sleek restaurant kitchen, the excitement of the diners and the gorgeously plated dishes are what food photographers’ dreams are made of!
Now, you may be wondering how to take your restaurant photography from amateur iPhone shots for your social media to amazing professional images. Or perhaps you’re used to shooting in the familiar surroundings of your home and now feel ready to venture out and delve deep into professional restaurant photography.
No matter where you're at, I'd love to share my top 5 restaurant photography tips with you; my aim is to empower you to step into your restaurant photo shoot with confidence and nail each and every image you take!
You can find an in depth outline of my top 5 restaurant photography tips below. I hope it’s super helpful!
1 - PREPARE A MOODBOARD!
Like with any other shoot, when photographing food for a restaurant it is vital that you have an in depth chat with your client to ensure you capture photos they will be truly happy with on the day!
Establish if your client wants the food images to feel light and bright or if they are hoping your shots convey a cosier, evening feel. Discuss whether they love colours or prefer a more muted palette. Also, clarify if they are looking for more minimal shots or want you to capture the busy lunch time vibe full of action and movement. Perhaps your client wants it all!
The more you talk through the details of your planned restaurant shoot beforehand, the likelier you are to capture food photos your client will love!
Based on your discussion with your client, prepare and present your moodboard and shot list, so you can iron out any misunderstanding and ensure you nail the brief on the day!
TOP RESTAURANT PHOTOGRAPHY TIP! Study the restaurant menu in advance and identify dishes and drinks that will be particularly photogenic. Also, note down any restaurant food that may be trickier to get right so you can discuss how to work around this with the chef or (where applicable) the food stylist on the shoot!
2 - GOOD RESTAURANT PHOTOGRAPHY REQUIRES GOOD LIGHTING!
Restaurant photography takes us out of the comfort of shooting in our own home (studio) and allows us to expand our knowledge of lighting for food photography by introducing us to a to a brand new location and lighting set up! And herein lies the crux point because getting restaurant photography lighting right is essential to capturing stand out images!
On location shoots mean that you have to look into whether you can work with natural light at the venue and capture the shots your client dreams of. If you can, I recommend visiting the restaurant/cafe a few days before the shoot, to check out if using natural light is indeed possible. Going to the venue prior to the shoot also allows you to ensure there aren't any other lighting issues to be mindful of. These can include window that allow harsh light in when your client specifically asked for shots using diffused light, overhead restaurant lighting that can’t be dimmed or switched off and so on.
If using natural light isn't an option, see if there is sufficient space for your artificial lighting set up! Next think through all the artificial lighting and gear you’ll need to create beautiful food photography shots that will truly capture the essence of the dishes you’re photographing. This can include diffusers, reflectors, soft boxes and so on.
TOP RESTAURANT PHOTOGRAPHY TIP! The client shots you see in this blog post were taken at 39 steps cafe, a good hour away from my home studio. Shot at the tail end of the last lockdown during which travel was tricky, I asked my client to send over some mobile phone video footage instead so I could assess the light in advance. Could this be a possibility for you too?
3 - BACKDROPS & PROPS
As you prepare for your restaurant photography shoot, clarify with your client if you need to bring food photography backdrops and props or if the table tops and restaurant crockery will be the better option.
If the latter, check that the restaurant’s plates, bowls and cups aren't too shiny (and if they are, flag this with the client!). If the client prefers the former, discuss the look and vibe they're after and prop source accordingly.
Next see if the restaurant wants you to use their tables as backdrops or if there’s some creative freedom to use custom food photography backdrops too. For the cafe slash restaurant food shoot I did for 39 steps, we mixed my props and backdrops with those available at the venue; this allowed the shots to be varied and interesting, whilst maintaining the beautiful branded look 39 steps had cultivated over the years.
TOP RESTAURANT PHOTOGRAPHY TIP! Some restaurants have gorgeous feature walls or stunning interiors which can all work as great photography backdrops, especially for straight on shots!
For this food photography shoot for 39 Steps Cafe, we mixed my props with their branded tableware!
4 - FOCUS ON LOGISTICS!
When shooting on location in a restaurant, quite a bit of planning and thought is required to ensure everything runs super smoothly on the day. So when I say ‘focus on logistics’, I mean focus on alllll the stuff we often forget to think about, but when carefully considered, will result in stunning restaurant photography shots as well as a stress free experience for you, the food photographer!
Restaurant photography logics to consider include:
TRAVEL - Clarifying travel time to the venue, will you encounter traffic, is there reliable public transport if you’re not driving etc.
PARKING - Is there sufficient parking availability or are the any restrictions that would stop you from unloading your camera gear safely at the restaurant etc.
SPACE - Will you be given a dedicated and quiet shooting area where you can capture the restaurant food at its best or will you need to navigate the shoot in the presence of diners.
CHEF’S AVAILABILITY - Are you shooting during their lunch service or on a day where the chef(s) are free and available to prepare all the dishes you need to capture.
IMAGE DIMENSIONS -Portrait, square, landscape, which format is needed. Knowing this in advance is vital.
GEAR - What food photography gear is needed on the day? Can you put a gear list together to ensure you don’t forget to bring anything in the heat of the moment.
TOP RESTAURANT PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Put together a checklist for your restaurant photography shoot. If you haven’t got one, be sure to download the PDF at the end of this blog post, which includes a mini checklist as well as a summary of al the key points mentioned in this blog post!
Variety matters in restaurant photography! For my shoot for 39 steps cafe, I mixed minimal shots with busy table scape images.
5 - VARIETY MATTERS
To keep your restaurant food photos interesting and engaging, capture different images from different angles., in lots of different ways!
For example, show close up shots, single dishes (or drinks) as well as large table scapes.
lnclude some shots of staff member’s hands as they serve their most popular dish, the restaurant’s bartender, the cafe’s barista in action and/or a chef's portrait. Maybe even capture the restaurant's exterior, beautiful interior details or diners enjoying a meal.
It's always better to get more shots than too few. That way you offer your client as much choice as possible!
Now wishing you so much success on your next restaurant food photography adventures!
BEFORE YOU GO….
Found this post helpful? Why not download my FREE restaurant photography PDF which includes a summary of all the key points you need to consider as well as a checklist to make your food photography shoot at any cafe or restaurant a total success!
You may also want to check out my FREE downloadable Pricing PDF for Food Photographers HERE and if you’d rather hire a food photographer than take your own restaurant shots, you can find out more about my food photography services HERE.