How to Politely Take Food Photos in Restaurants
Yup, that's me. Photograph from Sifu Renka on Flickr
I'm one of those people who always whips out a camera when I eat out for possible blogging purposes (besides that I'll forget what I've done if I don't take photos—food-related or not). While my friends are pretty used to it—they sit back when the food arrives until they're sure I've taken all my shots—the other people in the restaurant probably aren't. One part of me thinks, "I hope I'm not annoying other people too much," while the other part thinks, "Oh god, I just need one good shot of this burger...no, that was bad, I need another [moves the burger]...and another [moves the burger]..."
Helena Echlin of CHOW's column Table Manners gives some advice on how to politely take photos of food in restaurants, especially upscale restaurants. It may sound obvious, but doesn't hurt to hear again: Don't use flash, don't move around the table too much, and don't take so many photos that the dish's temperature drastically changes by the time you get to eat it. I see the "no flash" rule broken the most when I eat out; use the highest ISO setting on your camera, use some sort of stabilizer, put a candle in front of your food—or perhaps that dish just isn't meant to be photographed since using flash will make it look bad anyway.
Do you know the rules of polite photo taking? How often do you see other people breaking them?
Related
On Banning Photography from Restaurants
Food Photography/SLR Camera [SE Talk, 8/19/08]
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39 Comments:
I was lucky enough to have dinner at Per Se a couple years ago, and while I'm trying to enjoy the best meal of my life, a table in the corner was ridiculously inappropriate and irritating- taking tons of flash photos of themselves and the food, and being really loud and obnoxious.
Then they get up to leave and I notice that it's Leonardo Di Caprio and a bunch of giggling supermodels.
Figures.
DanielJ at 10:06PM on 06/24/09
Turning off the flash is a great suggestion for all photography, not just food photography. You'd be amazed how much better your shots come out using a higher iso and natural light.
Another good one is to use the digital macro, setting which allows you to take very-close closeups and still have them come out sharp. Great for capturing the salt crystals on a basket of fresh french fries, the leaves on the tip of an asparagus spear. or the sheen of fat on the outside of a burger right off the griddle.
mr guy at 10:09PM on 06/24/09
Great topic now with everyone seemingly food blogging or yelping away...including us! We definitely do not use flash. Use the highest ISO setting and use the fastest lense possible F1.2 to 1.8 range and try to limit myself to only 5-6 shots...
ravenouscouple at 10:14PM on 06/24/09
Nice topic as photography is both my passion and my profession. Food is right up there too.
I use the Lumix LX3 for non-studio, non-paying food shots because a) f2.0 lens means I dont need flash usually. b) small size to not be much of a distraction c) 24mm equiv. wide lens lets me stay close and not need to back up to shoot.
Candle is always nice to use for a light. I'll also my iPhone as a flashlight and dial in whatever color light I want. Not so good for a whole plate but great for small dishes/detail shots.
Always get a window table whenever possible and using a napkin as a reflector works like a charm.
chef17 at 10:43PM on 06/24/09
I like to do a quick sketch of the dish in a little book along with notes as to the ingredients, flavors, temperatures etc. It's more discreet and really helps not only to remember the food but also to keep thinking about it.
simon at 10:48PM on 06/24/09
my husband has put his foot down at taking pictures in restaurants. he says having the wait while i take pictures of food at home is painful enough. although i say he should be happy i cook for him! this post may encourage me to start photographing in restaurants again :)
nithya at hungrydesi at 11:16PM on 06/24/09
a friend of mine will use a small piece of torn paper napkin (just one-ply) over the flash if you really need it but want to soften the light some.
mr guy at 11:54PM on 06/24/09
When I take pics, I try my best to be discrete; no flash, try not to move myself or the plates around.
My husband usually tells me to hurry up and take the pics before the food gets cold, but he's my partner in crime. I usually only take one shot per plate because I feel really embarrassed.
Cassaendra at 12:19AM on 06/25/09
I do not agree about using flash. I have a little point and click camera that I slip out of my pocket as the food is being served. I turn it on and keep it below the table while the dish is described. I bring it up, point it at the plate, let it self-focus and snap. There is a quick, small flash and nearby diners don't even turn their heads. Reframing etc is all done later. This is much less annoying than those of you with wide-aperture lenses who are jiggering around for the right settings etc.
mikeridder at 2:51AM on 06/25/09
I think it depends on the restaurant. If it is a casual restaurant, then flash is not an issue. If you are going to a posh restaurant, then I think it really is not a good idea to use flash. At the end of the day, if more and more people are going to be obnoxious with their food photography in restaurants, then we will start seeing restaurants banning photography.
Be discreet - use a small camera with good high ISO performance and a fast lens (Lumix LX3 is probably the best for this right now). You can clean up high ISO images with software like Noise Ninja, or Noiseware (there is a free "community edition" - check it out - it is fantastic).
mrbill1234 at 4:07AM on 06/25/09
The rules of polite restaurant photography? One simple rule: don't. Please.
shoneyjoe at 6:00AM on 06/25/09
My old boss used to take photos. He had a giant binder with reviews of all the restaurants he's ever been to with photos of everything they ate. He always asked and explained that he likes to keep records of everything so he knows what places to come back to and to recommend to others. (He'd photograph is photos and reviews for clients if they were traveling so they'd know where to try). But his rule was to always ask the host and explain before he took out his camera and snapped some photos. I guess the places were pretty agreeable since his binders are pretty full. If he didn't get photos he'd just write down the info anyway. I think he used a small digital camera without flash.
gingercookiewithlime at 8:12AM on 06/25/09
flash is annoying. sometimes dimness is important for the ambiance of a restaurant. If i cant get a good shot without flash, I just live with it. It's not like i need it for my career, its just a hobby.
engmcmuffin at 9:19AM on 06/25/09
Before food blogging became so popular, taking a picture in a restaurant was considered comically gauche. With all the self-absorbed semi-professionals who now have a justification for the activity, it has become a rare meal without someone taking pictures, even in the most sophisticated places.
I'm conflicted. I like to look at pictures of dishes that people have taken in restaurants, but I hate to see them taking the pictures in the restaurant. Obviously, taking the pix without flash is preferable, even, maybe especially, if you think your flash doesn't bother others. If I were in the restaurant, for example, it would bother me, even if I didn't turn around and give you a dirty look.
Lippy at 9:27AM on 06/25/09
@mrguy: So how do you get the napkin piece to stay over the flash? A third hand to hold it?
lemons at 10:13AM on 06/25/09
@mikeridder- Sorry, you're wrong. Your flash DOES bother other diners. But you do have a point about the "jiggerers." That's bothersome, too.
Kerosena at 10:52AM on 06/25/09
Dang. All the hate on flash. It can be awesome sometimes, especially close up macro on greasy food after you've taken a bite. Try it with and without. I think you might be impressed with the flash if you get it just right.
I've debated flash and no flash in certain situations. I can see how dim natural light might make for a better photo, but not always makes the food appetizing ...especially when the colors are more true with the flash vs ugly green pizza under florescent lights.
As far as flash bothering people --I say let people flash their cameras. They're just enjoying themselves. Let people have fun. You can have fun and be loud too.
chinolam at 11:39AM on 06/25/09
...I think the only time someone was really bothered by my flash that was sitting at my table --she didn't seem fun and was very annoying. Just saying.
chinolam at 11:43AM on 06/25/09
Must be where I was raised...in Hawaii, locals love to celebrate and take pictures all the time, including very high end restaurants. Plus, there are tourists from all over the world who take pictures everywhere.
I am a very plain looking person, but I have had people come up to me and take my picture...maybe it's a joke and someone put it in their album with a tagline like - "there ARE ugly people in Hawaii..."
As a result, flash has never really bothered me. I feel that any distraction, e.g., crying, excessive pacing, perfume/cologne/food smells, loud talking, flashes, smoking, clanging of utensils on plates or glasses, farts/burps, hearing people chew, can be annoying if you aren't accustomed to or hate it regardless of the location.
Cassaendra at 12:02PM on 06/25/09
It is NOT acceptable to take pictures of your food. Nobody cares what your dinner looked like. You think your dish is so special, but the restaurant will serve the exact same thing to the next person that orders it six nights a week. You are not a unique little snowflake. Get over yourself.
Next time make sure to take a picture of your poop too. I'm sure we'll all be fascinated by what your dinner looked like AFTER it was digested too!
Truff at 12:48PM on 06/25/09
@lemons- i just have a small point and shoot, so, one hand to press the shutter release button and one hand to hold the piece of paper over the flash on the other side of the camera. I guess if you have a large camera that needs two hands to manipulate or you need to hold the food, you're out of luck.
mr guy at 12:55PM on 06/25/09
I think it depends on the restaurant and situation. Often there are plenty of people in 3-4 star restaurants who are there for a special "once in a lifetime" occasion and they take plenty of flash pictures and get up from their seats, give their camera to waiters, etc... I saw this at Bouley 2 weeks ago. That said, I try to avoid having to use the flash 9 times out of 10. In some darker restaurants unless you have special lens or camera you will not have enough light without one.
DessertBuzz at 1:32PM on 06/25/09
I have a hard time remembering to take photos of food I've made at home that I'm writing about, much less random restaurant food. More than once, the food is eaten and we're sitting back saying how good it was and it will be a great article, and then "Oh crud! I forgot to take pictures! I'll have to make more." Of course, DH has no problem with that, particularly when we're talking about me making another batch of cookies.
Photos in restaurants don't happen much around here (not a lot of photo-worthy food, to be honest) but flash photos can be annoying. If it's a touristy setting and everyone's taking photos anyway, you expect some flash. But if I'm at a nice romantic restaurant and someone's taking flash photos, it does spoil the atmosphere a bit. I'm not going to crane my neck and glare, and I'm not going to confront the person, but that doesn't mean I'm not bothered by it. But I brush it aside so it doesn't interfere any more than it has to.
The fact that "nearby diners don't even turn their heads" doesn't mean that they aren't bothered, it means that they're smart enough not to turn around and possibly look at a flashing bulb. I tend to look away if someone's taking photos, not look at them.
If I do need to take photos of a restaurant, I'll go at an off-time where I can walk around and take photos without bothering anyone. Usually I'll be talking to the staff/owner/chef, too, so that's best done when the place isn't busy.
dbcurrie at 1:58PM on 06/25/09
@Truff: Re: "Nobody cares what your dinner looked like" -- you might be surprised by how many people just like to look at food porn. Or not, considering you're reading Serious Eats, and possibly other food blogs. When I post photos on Flickr without much description, people like to look at those too.
roboppy at 2:45PM on 06/25/09
I don' think there is a polite way to take photos of your food at a restaurant table. Just like it's not polite to talk on your cell phone at the table. Or smoke. Or pick blow your nose....
As someone above suggested, call ahead, ask the staff/owner/chef if it would be ok to take pictures when it's not busy.
CJ McD at 3:26PM on 06/25/09
i've actually found the best way to take photos in restaurants is to do it while smoking and picking your nose. you not only dazzle people with your dexterity and multi tasking genius, but the staff has no idea what to complain about first and are usually stunned into silence.
i'm not sure those 3 things are the equal but i do know hitler totally would've taken food pictures without asking.
seriouspetes at 3:42PM on 06/25/09
what? people take pictures of food? get outta here...
foodinmouth at 3:45PM on 06/25/09
i've definitely been asked to turn off my flash...i just wish certain bars coughPDTcough weren't so dark! oh well. what i really wanted to say, robyn, is that i own the shirt you're wearing in that photo! so cute.
Wayward Daughter at 4:21PM on 06/25/09
I don't thinks it impolite at all so long as you dont use flash and keep it relatively quick, then it doesnt disturb anyone. I also think the fact you want to take pictures of a restaurants food shows admiration and respect for the food the chef produces.
Edwardkimuk at 4:25PM on 06/25/09
I can't help but laugh at all the people complaining about taking pics of food on a FOOD BLOG. Where do you think all these pictures come from?
Taking pictures doesn't bother me in the slightest. What DOES bother me is when people get up from their seats and circle the table to get a better shot. Just rotate the damn plate! Smokers, people who are rude to the waiters, and obnoxious children are far more annoying then a couple flash photos.
KimCherry at 4:28PM on 06/25/09
@Truff- on behalf of the rest of us...please don't take pictures of your poop. Or if you must, please don't post them on the internet.
maxcriden at 6:18PM on 06/25/09
@Wayward Daughter: WE ARE SHIRT TWINS!!! :D
roboppy at 6:31PM on 06/25/09
I'm surprised by the handful of commenters who still insist on using flash for their photography. Especially the person who said it makes it better for greasy food. Wouldn't that just come out worse as a glossy glean of white? Flash is one of my biggest pet peeves about food photography because it just gives the rest of polite food photographers a bad rap.
With my point and shoot, I've alternated between digital macro and auto shots for close and entire plate shots. If anyone is using flash for the reason of getting blurry photos, realize that you're at a table. Glue your elbows, or your forearms to the side of the table for your tripod and get more practice in. Most point and shoots are already equipped for higher ISO sensitivities and (if you dare fiddle) exposure settings and mine is 3 years old!
uninorth at 11:24AM on 06/28/09
Gee Truff. Why so angry? This was a civilized conversation. No need to be so judgemental or preachy.
Jilly at 1:12PM on 06/29/09
Whoa, I had no idea lights bothered so many people. I don't have a food blog, but I love looking at a picture of a meal I've had at a restaurant because it just doesn't happen much! I usually just take a quick one of my own plate, and put the camera away. My son took pictures of his meals when he was in Europe, so when I went to Buenos Aires for a trip of a lifetime, I had to do the same, and it was great fun! Where else can you take a pure 'Dulce de Leche' picture and drool later?
I'll certainly work on that 'non-flash' vs 'flash' aspect, though...
As far as 'getting over myself'? I've never thought of people taking a picture of their meal as singularly arrogant! Maybe if the chef came out and took a picture of one eating said creation....lol
Cindy H
Warm Bread?
sugarbrown at 2:46PM on 06/29/09
I’m guess blogger for a couple of food blogs. What I usually do is have a meeting with the owner of the establishment, be it a restaurant, grocery store or specialty store, to discuss what I am intending to do with the photographs, that I will be taking. I make sure that I get their e-mail address and once the article is published I send them a link (after I post, I get a lot of free stuff that way). Since what I am doing will affect their business I suspect it’s just polite to have a conversation as to how they will be publicly seen. It is their business and they really DON”T know how you intended to use the photos. It’s one thing to take photos of a night out with your friends. It’s quite another to take pictures of a product that is associated with a business and then publish that on the internet. It’s just plan old good manners and after all there is no excuse for bad manners.
kah9932 at 3:02PM on 06/29/09
I would not dare to use a flash in a restaurant. If I get the choice, I try to get a table with decent lighting and do my best to take pictures as quickly as possible.
I rarely take pictures of dishes other than my own at a restaurant, so that I don't hold up diners on my table eating, but still try to get it over with as quickly as possible, as I do feel rude if I'm still snapping away trying to get the perfect pic.
If it isn't working though and I can't get the shot, I just leave it. I hate it when my food goes cold!
I can't believe some people are commenting that food photos shouldn't be taken at all - where do you think the pics are coming from on the food blogs you read?!
hungryjenny at 4:26PM on 06/29/09
Anyone who's so jumpy, he's annoyed by a flash going off should ask his/her doctor for a Xanax or something. Yikes! All this fouforrah about a bit of picture-taking. I doubt people at every table are firing off a flashes simultaneously. How about let's just live and let live.
expat39520 at 5:05PM on 06/29/09
No flash, certainly not. The distraction level is high. I've heard that someone prone to epileptic seizures may be affected by the flash output. Same with migraine sufferers...
For food photography, I think it depends on what you're doing. Casual, "hey look at this" pictures can be done on my iPhone. With the 3GS, it's probably easier.
For more serious stuff, I break out the DSLR. High ISO when needed, and a fast lens. Since I'm so close to the food, I'll use a 50mm. If the restaurant is lit with ambient in the daytime, I'll use a lower ISO. I keep a little pocket tripod with me, so I can attach it to the camera and rest it on the table.
Lastly, modern cameras have lots of megapixels and good low light sensitivity. Scaling down a shot at, say, 1/25 second at ISO 800 with some noise to 400 pixels wide should be suitable for a blog post...
Scott
the active daddy at 4:58PM on 07/08/09