Food Photography Brief

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Create a shot list for a food photography session
• Provide styling and composition direction for a photographer or DIY shoot
• Plan platform-specific images for menus, social media, websites, and delivery apps
• Brief a photographer or content creator on the visual direction

DO NOT use this skill for recipe development, menu copy, or restaurant interior photography. This is for food-specific photography planning.

Core Principle

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY SELLS THE EXPERIENCE, NOT THE INGREDIENTS — EVERY SHOT MUST MAKE THE VIEWER HUNGRY, CURIOUS, OR BOTH. IF IT DOES NOT TRIGGER A CRAVING, RESHOOT IT.

Phase 1: Brief

Required Inputs

GATE: Confirm the brief before creating the shot list.

Phase 2: Plan the Shot List

Shot Types

Shot List Template

For each dish, plan:

## [Dish Name]

**Priority:** Hero / Standard
**Shot types needed:** Hero, action, detail
**Angle:** 45°, overhead, or straight-on
**Styling notes:** [Plating, garnish, props, background]
**Action element:** [Steam, pour, cut, pull, drizzle]
**Props:** [Cutlery, napkin, ingredients, drinks alongside]
**Background:** [Wood, marble, dark slate, white, branded surface]
**Platform dimensions:**
- Instagram feed: 1080x1080 or 1080x1350
- Instagram Story/Reel: 1080x1920
- Website: 1200x800
- Menu: 300dpi, custom dimensions
- Delivery app: 1200x800 minimum

Session Plan

## Shoot Schedule

**Total dishes:** [X]
**Estimated time:** [X] hours (plan 15-20 min per dish for styled shots)
**Setup time:** 30 minutes for lighting and backgrounds

**Shoot order:**
1. [Dishes that hold well — cold items, desserts]
2. [Dishes that need to be shot immediately — hot items, melting items]
3. [Action shots — steam, pouring, pulling]
4. [Flat lays and group shots]

GATE: Confirm the shot list and session plan before writing styling direction.

Phase 3: Styling Direction

Lighting Guidelines

DIY lighting tip: Shoot next to the biggest window in the restaurant during daylight. Use a white napkin or poster board as a reflector on the shadow side.

Composition Rules

• Rule of thirds: Place the dish at an intersection point, not dead center
• Negative space: Leave room for text overlay (for social media and marketing)
• Odd numbers: Groups of 3 or 5 items look more natural than 2 or 4
• Leading lines: Use cutlery, table edges, or ingredients to draw the eye to the dish
• Color contrast: Use props and backgrounds that contrast with the food color

Styling Checklist Per Dish

- [ ] Plate is clean (wipe edges with a damp cloth)
- [ ] Garnish is fresh (no wilted herbs, no melted elements)
- [ ] Sauce is freshly drizzled (not dried or congealed)
- [ ] Steam is visible on hot dishes (microwave a wet towel behind the dish)
- [ ] Portions look generous but not sloppy
- [ ] Background is clean and uncluttered
- [ ] Props support the story without competing with the food
- [ ] Multiple angles captured (at least 3 per dish)

Phase 4: Polish

1. Platform-Specific Delivery

## Image Deliverables

| Platform | Dimensions | Format | Notes |
|----------|-----------|--------|-------|
| Instagram feed | 1080x1080 or 1080x1350 | JPG | Leave space for caption overlay |
| Instagram Story/Reel | 1080x1920 | JPG/MP4 | Vertical, action preferred |
| Website hero | 1920x1080 | JPG | Horizontal, high resolution |
| Menu print | 300dpi, varies | TIFF/PNG | No text overlay needed |
| Google Business | 1200x900 | JPG | Clean, well-lit, no filters |
| Delivery apps | 1200x800 minimum | JPG | Centered dish, simple background |
| Facebook | 1200x630 | JPG | Horizontal for link posts |

2. Post-Production Notes

• Editing style: Consistent across all images (same preset or filter)
• Color accuracy: Food colors must look accurate (no blue-tinted lighting)
• Cropping: Multiple crops from each master shot for different platforms
• Retouching: Remove plate chips, fingerprints, and crumbs — do not alter the food itself

3. Quality Checklist

## Food Photography Brief Checklist

- [ ] Every dish has a planned shot type, angle, and styling notes
- [ ] Hero dishes identified and prioritized
- [ ] Lighting direction matches the brand's visual style
- [ ] Props and backgrounds selected and sourced
- [ ] Shoot order considers hot vs. cold dishes
- [ ] Platform-specific dimensions documented
- [ ] Action shots planned for at least 3 dishes (steam, pour, pull)
- [ ] Styling checklist will be followed per dish
- [ ] Post-production editing style defined for consistency
- [ ] All deliverable formats listed with dimensions

Example

Restaurant: Italian trattoria, rustic warm style

Hero shot brief:

## Cacio e Pepe

**Priority:** Hero
**Angle:** 45° from front-left
**Styling:** Twirled pasta on a fork mid-lift, cheese strands visible, cracked black pepper scattered on plate and table
**Background:** Dark wood table, linen napkin, wine glass with red wine slightly out of focus
**Action:** Fork lifting pasta with cheese pull
**Lighting:** Warm side light from left, dark shadow on right
**Deliverables:** Instagram square (1080x1080), website hero (1920x1080), menu (300dpi)

Anti-Patterns

• Flash photography — direct flash makes food look flat and institutional. Always use natural or diffused light.
• Overhead everything — flat lays work for some dishes, but tall dishes (burgers, layered drinks) need a 45° or straight-on angle.
• Messy backgrounds — a cluttered background distracts from the food. Keep it simple and intentional.
• Cold or stale food — shoot hot dishes immediately. Have backup portions ready. Cold food looks dead.
• Over-filtering — heavy filters distort food colors and look fake. Edit for accuracy and consistency, not drama.

Recovery

• No natural light available: Use a single LED panel or softbox from one side. Avoid overhead fluorescent lights at all costs.
• Dishes do not photograph well: Replate. Add height, fresh garnish, and sauce drizzle. The camera sees differently than the eye.
• Smartphone only: Use portrait mode for shallow depth of field. Clean the lens. Shoot in daylight. Edit with Lightroom Mobile (free).
• Shoot ran out of time: Prioritize hero dishes and skip detail shots. You can reshoot standard items later.