You’ve decided on a professional photographer for your upcoming shoot — that’s great! The relationship between a photographer and client is both a business arrangement and a creative endeavor. How do you start off this nuanced collaboration to give you the best results?
In this blog, we’ll share 8 dos and don’ts that will help both you and the photographer enjoy your big day.
If you’re still looking for a photographer, check out these related posts:
#1: Don't skip the food stylist.
We see this happen most often with small restaurants. They tell us how amazing their chef is, and how their food always comes out looking great in the restaurant — ignoring our plea for a food stylist.
However, on set they come to realize that the photos never come out looking how they want them to. This is not due to any fault of the chef! It’s simply that a food stylist is best able to prepare the food for photography. Chefs cook and plate food to taste great and be immediately eaten, whereas food stylists cook and plate food to be photographed. They are different priorities requiring a different skill set.
Having an experienced food stylist also allows the photoshoot to move along more quickly and smoothly, possibly allowing for the maximum number of high-quality shots to be captured. Food stylists are always and absolutely worth it!
Why You Need a Food Stylist to Bring Your Images to the Next Level (With Before-and-Afters!)
#2: Do trust the professional you’ve hired.
Before your photoshoot, your photographer will listen to your needs and pain points to consider how to best help you. Sometimes, they will suggest a new angle, lighting set-up, prop arrangement or add-on. Trust them! A professional photographer will want to help you make the most of your shoot, and welcomes collaboration, feedback, and new ideas.
Give your photographer room to try multiple approaches. They will work to find the best way to execute your vision into a gorgeous final product!
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#3: Do plan to attend shoots, either in person or virtually.
Having someone from your team to provide feedback is incredibly helpful for food photoshoots. Whether it’s virtual or on set with the photographer, you’ll be able to communicate any changes you’d like in real time and approve photos once they’ve captured the shot you’re looking for. (If you have an agency or a larger team, make sure that the person on set can speak on behalf of the client when they’re not available.)
We’ve found that when photographing food, instant feedback is crucial because food spoils quickly under hot lights. If we have to email a photo to approve, then wait half an hour for feedback, the food may already be crusted over.
Virtual Photo Shoots: How They Work and Why They Benefit Brands and Agencies
#4: Don’t expect to shoot your entire menu in one day.
Photographers typically shoot five to seven set-ups per day.
At times, we’ve been able to proactively plan shoot add-ons such as a different angle or some B-roll video. However, each shot takes some time to set up. Be sure to factor that in when considering which dishes to start with.
#5: Do be prepared to pay for quality.
This probably goes without saying, but don’t ask for discounts to the photographer’s rates, unless you’re able to offer them a large volume of steady work.
There can be confusion on how photographers bill, as each photographer chooses their structure differently. However, all photographers have to consider their photography fee and assistants’ fees, studio fees, equipment fees, editing fees, and the cost of doing business, on top of all the shoot planning that happens during the pre-production phase.
Most photographers are self-employed business people, and the teams they assemble for your photoshoot have decades of expertise. If you can’t afford a specific photographer’s rates, that’s okay! Find a photographer in your price range, understanding that you will get what you pay for.
5 Tips for Finding a Great Food Photographer
#6: Don’t forget about social media—and all your other visual marketing needs.
While social media feels very casual and seems easy to handle yourself, your professional photographer can give you some extra shots to elevate your social posts a lot. For that matter, consider all of your visual needs for a year: Instagram, Facebook, blog posts, emails, newsletters, and your salespeople’s sell sheets, to name just a few examples.
Your photographer can also help you plan ahead for holidays like Valentine’s Day or 4th of July. We can, for example, capture a hearty bowl of chili, but format it and swap out props to create multiple scenes. You come out with more content for the same price.
Consider any other size and formatting needs for photos, too. If we’re taking a horizontal shot for your website, we can also stop and capture something vertical so you can put it on TikTok.
#7: Do have a brand look and a shot list in mind.
Putting together a pin board, storyboard, or sketches for the photographer helps them better organize and prepare for the shoot ahead. Part of this pinboard creation should include a deep dive into your understanding of your brand’s style. Is your brand contemporary or old fashioned? Rustic or modern?
Answers to these questions help photographers, food stylists, and prop stylists prepare the scene so it’s in alignment with your brand. The best clients know what they want, rather than what they don’t want. If you come in prepared, photographers can make your photo dreams a reality.
What’s Your Brand’s Photography Style? 5 Popular Looks to Choose From (with Examples)
#8: Do bring your flexibility, creativity, and sense of fun.
Our studio has a philosophy: “If it’s not fun, we’re not doing it.” Our entire space has wireless speakers to play music throughout the shoot. As creatives, we do better work if it’s not stressful: Keeping it light and airy helps us be collaborative.
Be aware that some shots take longer than others to set up. In some cases, we might not get one shot done before noon due to the kitchen prep and time required to capture your hero shot. Rest assured, we will get through the shot list we have planned.
What Happens Before a Professional Photo Shoot? (Week by Week Photo Shoot Checklist)
We plan our shoots in detail ahead of time, but we also love seeing what can happen organically on set. With creative collaboration and flexibility from everyone involved, a professional photographer can provide you amazing results.
