SCHEDULING
DELIVERY
NAMING
CAPTURE
EQUIPMENT
LIGHTING
🍛 Food
🕯️Ambiance
Dos and Don'ts
foodpanda Dine-in Restaurant Photo Guidelines
V 1.5 - 2023.10.24
foodpanda, a prominent food industry player, has partnered with OCUS to bring you Dine-in photoshoots. Your role will be to capture both the delectable menu items and the restaurant, all aligned with these guidelines. Produce visuals that will make customers order via their online platform and experience not only the food but the entire dine-in atmosphere, drawing them to their partner restaurants.
With the newly launched Dine-in feature, foodpanda presents enticing discounts, such as 1-for-1 dine-in deals, spanning over 300 restaurant partners.
SCHEDULING
This assignment is for foodpanda Dine-in. Please make sure to read the guidelines carefully as the expected delivery is different. You will need to produce both food and restaurant photos.
Please note that if you photograph the same restaurant for multiple clients, the photos must be different for legal reasons.
If you are scheduling for the first time and are not sure of the correct process, please follow the instructions here to ensure that you follow the correct protocol with the business owner.
By accepting this assignment, you will be representing OCUS in the eyes of our client. We count on you to demonstrate a high level of professionalism in your coming interactions. If a photoshoot already has an appointment scheduled, please respect this appointment and only assign yourself to the photoshoot if you are available at this time.
First-time scheduling and not sure? Please follow these instructions to ensure you adhere to the correct protocol:
✔️ DO: Only accept scheduled appointments when you are available. Rescheduling is discouraged.
✔️ DO: Always confirm the location and time with the on-site contact for a smooth experience.
✔️ DO: Provide the on-site contact with the photo package number. If additional photos are requested, contact us at Help center first as OCUS requires client approval.
✔️ DO: Remind the on-site contact that only menu items currently displayed on their food partner's website should be photographed. Menu items not on the client's website will be rejected. The on-site contact must directly discuss menu updates/changes with the client. It is not OCUS’ or your responsibility
✔️ DO: Remind them to tidy up the restaurant: the bar should be clean, the kitchen and the dining area tidy and set up, and the trash taken out.
DELIVERY
When and how to upload my images
OCUS is handling the post-production internally. Editing your media files to avoid post-production problems is a violation. Please respect the following requirements to make sure that we can deliver the best outcome to our client:
Don’t edit any of your pictures (no crop, no edit)
Don’t erase your metadata
Select your best shots and don't send more files than required
Follow the naming convention below (take some notes during the photoshoot to keep all the needed information)
Shoot in RAW format but deliver only JPGs
NAMING
Please rename the photos accordingly:
Food photos: food_1, food_2, food_3, etc
Ambience photos: ambience_1, ambience_2, ambience_3, etc
Please make sure you upload your media in the correct category.
Don’t forget to validate your assignment after uploading your files.
⚠️ Send your pictures the day of the photoshoot, before midnight.
⚠️ Keep your RAW files until your mission is validated.
CAPTURE
Packages
Check your mission dashboard or your OCUS email notifications for package details on your mission.
You are required to capture:
5 x food photos
5 x ambiance photos
Capture additional photos in case of quality issues or a reshoot will be required.
Photo distribution
Important reminders:
Before you start, discuss with the on-site contact to know which items/areas they would like to highlight.
A minimum of 10 photos is required.
Unable to take 5 food photos? Take extra ambiance pictures instead, and vice versa.
Leave a comment on your assignment timeline on any modifications to packages or requests from the on-site contact.
Suggested food photos:
1 x starter,
3 x main dishes
1 x dessert
Suggested ambiance photos - The goal is to photograph areas that would entice people to visit the restaurant:
1 x outdoor dining area
1 x Bar/counter area
2 x indoor dining area
1 x of the open kitchen
EQUIPMENT
Full frame or APS-C
General settings:
ISO 400 max
WB: Manual, as accurate as possible!
16-90mm (full frame)
General settings:
Aperture:
Food: f/5.6 - f/8
35-90mm for horizontal/vertical
Ambiance: f/5.6 - f/11
16-24 mm for horizontal
24-35 mm for vertical
Accessories
Tripod - keep it at around 1.25m, the door handles could be used as a reference
Plain color background
Reflector
Grey card
LIGHTING
Food
Natural (indirect) light to reflect the ambiance of the restaurant lighting from one direction to create depth of field
Try to have your light come from the sides of the table, not behind it, in front of it, or above it
The photos should have soft shadows and contrast to create great depth
Please avoid any distracting reflections on your table
Don’t overlight — avoid blown-out counters
Place a few items around the dish, like napkins, cutlery, side dishes, glasses, or wine bottles, to set the scene
Showcase the ambiance and the unique qualities of each restaurant
Ambiance
Always use natural light. Never use flash, bounce, or strobes
Turn off interior lights (except when the area has no windows)
Open curtains and blinds
🍛 Food
You can shoot single items or arrange them in groups, ensuring the scene looks appealing and includes relevant props or side dishes. Whether one dish or more, always ensure the main dish is at the center of attention. Set up scenes nicely, adding recommended props (below) to each photo.
Feel free to add restaurant elements or people's hands (excluding faces) for a dining experience feel. Capturing props in motion, like mid-air forks, adds dynamism. These extras create an engaging visual story.
Shoot both vertical and horizontal photos.
Photo distribution
1 photo of a starter, 3 photos of main dishes, and 1 photo of dessert.
Angles
Top view: 90° - flat food
Flat view: 0° - layered food
Side view: 45° - most of the food
Quantity
x5
Recommended props
Kitchen towel
Chopping board
Cutleries, coaster
Paper
Table cloth
Raw ingredients (onion, basil, parsley, pepper, salt)
Background
Use a plain-colored background
Distinguish food from the background - avoid similar shades
Maintain consistency with a single background throughout the shoot
Dos
Capture both vertical and horizontal photos.
Focus on the main dish, whether alone or in a group.
Arrange the food appealingly for a delicious look.
Set the camera angle at 0°, 45°, or 90°, depending on the dish.
Use some bokeh effect to blur the background for a nice touch.
Keep space for cropping in mind.
Fill at least 70% of the frame with items, leaving room for retouching.
Use props thoughtfully, avoiding overshadowing the main dish.
Don'ts
Don't put food directly on the table.
Avoid using plastic container- request plateware from the on-site contact.
Don't capture in strong, harsh lights with sharp shadows.
Don't capture in with dark and reflective backdrops.
Avoid shooting backdrops with bent/folded effect.
Refrain from using damaged, rough, or rustic backgrounds.
Don't include branding elements in the photos.
Camera settings
Shutter Speed: depending on on-site conditions
Camera Mode: Manual mode
35-90mm (full frame)
Aperture > f/2.8- f/5.6
ISO 400 max (avoid noise)
WB: Manual, as accurate as possible
Tripod, reflector, grey card.
Photo orientation: Horizontal, Vertical
Ratio to anticipate 50:27 or 27:50
🕯️Ambiance
You will be required to take photos of the restaurant's interior to showcase its atmosphere. The goal is to help customers gain a clearer understanding of the Dine-in experience.
Direct your attention to the decorative features and intricate details that accentuate the distinct personality and ambiance of each restaurant.
You can open the aperture a little bit to create some depth. If the available lighting is not sufficient, try using a longer exposure time. However, be mindful of any potential blurring caused by movement.
Capture both vertical and horizontal shots to provide a comprehensive view of the surroundings.
Photo distribution
1 photo of the outdoor dining area, 1 photo of the bar/counter area, 2 photos of the indoor dining area, 1 photo of the open kitchen, etc. One of the photos should be taken using a very wide-angle lens. Give priority to capturing the main areas.
Angles
Try out different viewpoints and angles: higher angle, lower angle, straight-on, angled from the corner of the room, and more.
For straight-on shots:
Position your subject (object or the back wall) in the center of the frame.
Capture the restaurant from a direct perspective, trying different angles.
For angled shots:
Reveal details about the space's arrangement.
Experiment with vertical shots:
Compact spaces can be best represented using a mix of straight-on, horizontal, and vertical photographs.
Camera Height
Ensure a balanced display of both the floor and ceiling of the restaurant in your photos.
Position the tripod at approximately 1.25 m, using door handles as a helpful guide.
Adapt the camera's height according to the type of space. Always make sure that the upper surfaces of countertops, tables etc. are visible in the frame.
Quantity
x5
Dos
If it fits the theme of the photo to capture people in the frame, ensure their faces are unrecognizable due to legal reasons.
Consider slightly widening the aperture if it fits the situation.
Don'ts
Don't include people who don't want to be photographed.
Avoid taking photos of the interior from outside if the space is too small.
Don't shoot branding elements or logos present in the photos.
Don't frame too closely.
Avoid capturing the scene from a very high (bird's eye view) or very low angle (worm's eye view).
Avoid scheduling the photoshoot during unfavorable weather conditions, such as rain, snow, or fog.
Refrain from showing reflections of camera equipment in glass or mirrors.
Camera settings
Shutter Speed: depending on on-site conditions
Camera Mode: Manual mode
18-24mm (full frame)
Aperture f/5.6 - f/8
ISO 400 max (avoid noise)
WB: Manual, as accurate as possible
Tripod, reflector, grey card.
Photo orientation: Horizontal, Vertical
Ratio to anticipate 50:27 or 27:50
