Hotel Food Photography. Photoshoot Tips

Hotel Food Photography
PHOTOSHOOT TIPS

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

PUT YOUR BEST FOOD FORWARD

Food and beverage photos are incredibly important for you and your hotel. Since your guests cannot wait for their dining experience to begin, give them a sneak peek of the delights that will soon arrive at their table. Stunning pictures could also attract local guests interested in a great night out. Good photos, however, require careful preparation.

This article presents the ultimate guide for preparing a food-based photoshoot and includes important tips to follow during the session.

Getting ready

Photo sessions usually last for a few hours, but you can make the process smoother and faster by preparing in advance.

First of all, decide what space you are going to use for the photoshoot. Make sure to inform the staff and to also put up a sign telling guests that the room or space will be off-limits for a few hours. Choose a room that best suits your needs and the theme of the shoot: the restaurant, the bar, the kitchen or even a hotel room are all fantastic options. Just make sure the room is big enough for the photographer’s equipment.

Secondly, confirm that the chef will be available for the entire length of the photoshoot and that he or she has time to prepare the dishes. This way, you won’t have to wait for the daily service and the chefs can dedicate more time to careful plating. Give them a list of the dishes they will have to prepare well in advance.

Decide on the theme of the dishes and the occasion they are meant to represent. For example, are you going to photograph fine dining dishes? The lunch menu? Or the room service breakfast options? This will help the photographer to decide what tools and surfaces – like ceramic, wood, marble or steel – to use. Also, have some clean and ironed tablecloths at hand.

ASSIST
…the photographer, especially at the beginning of the photoshoot. Explain the shot list you have in mind and show him all the surfaces he can use. The more he knows about the purpose and the vision for the photoshoot, the better.
CHECK
…that the previews on the photographer’s laptop are the images you had in mind. Provide feedback as you go along to ensure the photos meet expectations.
PROVIDE
…the photographer with all the props or tools he might require, like a second tablecloth, cutlery, fruit or other decorations to embellish the photos. Sometimes all he needs is another pair of hands to assist.

During the photoshoot

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Next to the directions above, there are a few other things that we suggest to do during the shoot. The suggestions presented here focus on assisting, checking and providing the photographer with everything that is needed to ensure the best outcome.

Chefs & Team members at work

BRING THE PHOTOS TO LIFE

You might want to consider including staff members in your F&B photos, in order to add an important human element. Make sure the selected “models” agree to being photographed.

If you want the images to look professional and realistic, then the team members should wear their uniforms, be well-groomed and they should avoid forced and overly staged poses.

Learn more about photoshoots with models in our article on lifestyle photography