SCHEDULING
DELIVERY
NAMING
CAPTURE
EQUIPMENT
LIGHTING
Single dish
Hero composition
AVOID DURING THE PHOTOSHOOT
Tips
Foodpanda Food Photography Guidelines
V 1.2 - 2023.09.14
Foodpanda, a company in the food sector, provides . By collaborating with OCUS, Foodpanda is now engaging with our food Image Creators in your region!
Although the media follows required image specifications of Foodpanda, this food photoshoot aims to highlight appetising and finely plated food menu items that will make the audience feel hungry to order on Foodpanda’s online website/app.
SCHEDULING
This is an assignment for FoodPanda. Please make sure to read the guidelines carefully as the expected delivery is different.
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.
How to schedule a photoshoot
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
DELIVERY
When and how to upload my images
Your priority is capturing excellent photos. To ensure consistency, OCUS is handling the post-production internally. 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
A list of dishes should be available in the assignment description section, use it to change those names into Product IDs. Singles dish pictures should be named: dish name ID.jpg, (e.g. 12345.jpg) if no ID available dish name.jpg (e.g. burger.jpg). Hero shot should be named: Hero.jpg (e,g. hero.jpg)
If any dishes have non-Roman characters (ex: Chinese, Thai...) in their name, please keep them. Do not use roman characters if so.
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 same day than 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. This tells you the number of dishes you are required to capture.
We recommend that you take a few more pictures than what's mentioned on your mission, in order to secure your work and avoid reshooting (hold on to the additional pictures till your mission is validated 100% successfully). However, DO NOT upload them to your mission.
KEY POINTS
Amount of images:
follow the Menu list/PRODUCT_0 list to determine the items that need to be shot. If you notice that the PRODUCT_0 list has more dishes than what you are required to shoot, simply ask the advertiser to choose the most popular dishes
Respect composition constraints:
background, light, dishes
products appears clearly in focus and in the centre of the photo
photo should not contain additional items (foods) that are not included in the product and will not be delivered to the customer
always prefer rounded plates if possible
don't place the board/plate with direct sharp angle to the consumer’s view to avoid the bad customer experience
don't choose a familiar color between the background and the dish. Keep it contrasted
don't place the plate vertically to avoid the retinal disturbances
don't include props/unnecessary stuff into the photo
make sure to not include patterned plate
no shadow and reflections of people or other objects
no business card with restaurant contact detail
Background recommendations:
no stripes background
dark color background for plastic packaging
plain bright/dark background
solid color (Prefer pastel tone)
wooden background
It is recommended to have lighter background than the dish.
It’s recommended to use a contrasted background colour rather than using a similar tint.
Choose the clean background without any distraction as the line or too dark texture.
Do not change the background and use the same background on all the photos
Always keep in mind future formats for the app (horizontal format only + multiple ratios to anticipate)
Lifestyle photo is recommended: Product should be displayed with appropriate amount of props and garnishes that compliment the main product but do not overshadow the main product and should not give a wrong impression to customers that they will get additional items.
Nodust, dirty spots or fingerprints
According to the situation and the weather, adapt these recommended settings. Use long shutter speed if needed but don’t use too high ISO.
We understand unexpected situations can arise in each shoot, so please use your best judgement.
EQUIPMENT
Full frame or APS-C
General settings:
ISO 400 max
WB: Manual, try to get natural tones
30-65mm (full frame)
General settings:
Aperture: f/2.8 - f/8
Camera Mode: Aperture Priority (1/50 and 1/150)
Accessories
Tripod
Background
Reflector
LIGHTING
Good lighting is key to emphasizing the textures and color balance of your food photograph. Choosing the right lighting for your food involves thinking about what parts of the food you’d want to emphasize. Maybe you want to showcase the juiciness of a freshly cooked cut of beef—or show-off the unique texture of a perfectly sliced piece of cheese.
Here are some things to keep in mind to get the best lighting for your photograph:
Natural-looking, soft light coming from the sides, not frontal to the food.
Avoid hard light or hard shadows on food and drinks.
Avoid light reflections on plate or background.
Natural light is the best option for photographing food. Please use only daylight as the light source.
Single dish
🍛 Single dish pictures are composed of a single main dish. The image will be shown in the app for the customer to select their dishes.
Quantity
Assignment dashboard or OCUS email notifications for package details.
Presentation is arguably more important when it comes to photographing food. With nothing but an image for the user to go by, the plating is the first step to creating the idea that the food being photographed is just as juicy and mouth watering as it appears to be.
Do
- Always shoot in horizontal format
- Place the main dish in the center
- Arrange the food properly, so it looks neat and tasty
- Camera angle should be 0°, 45° or 90° depending on the dishes
- Always check focus point, the whole food should always be in the focus
- Leave room for different crop ratios
- Item should only occupy 50 percent of the frame
- Props can be added, but do not overshadow the main product and should not give a wrong impression to customers that they will get additional items
Don't
- Do not put food directly on the table
- Don't use plastic containers (food must be served on a plate or paper napkin).
- No hard lights or hard shadows on background surface.
- Do not use dark or reflective backgrounds
- No skewed or bent lines in background
- Do not use damaged, rough or rustic-looking backgrounds that would distract from the food
Camera settings
Shutter Speed - 1/150
Camera Mode: Aperture Priority
35-70mm (full frame)
Aperture: f/2.8 - f/8
ISO 100 - 400 max.
Tripod, Reflector.
Horizontal
Consider the negative Space (Safe Area) and how your images would look like on FoodPanda App after editing and frame your images accordingly
Single dish photo: 1553px x 1553px (after editing)
Hero composition
⭐️ Hero composition should have a popular single main dish surrounded by secondary dishes and decorative props. You must take at least 1 hero picture. Please take more pictures for you to choose the best one to send us.
Quantity
x 1
Do
- Place the main dish in the center of the composition, surrounded by the other dishes (5 other dishes minimum unless there is less items provided by the restaurant manager) and props
- Use a 90° angle for most of the dishes 45° remain an exception for drinks, burgers and sand compositions
- Items should only occupy 70 percent of the frame, and they should not be cropped or cut out of the frame
- Arrange the food properly, so it looks neat and tasty
- Always check focus point
- Props usage encouraged but dishes are the main elements in the frames
Don't
- Do not include hands in the photo
- Don not leave too much empty space between dishes
- Don't use plastic containers (food must be served on a plate or paper napkin)
- Don't shoot food directly on the table
- No hard lights or hard shadows on background surface
- Do not use dark or reflective backgrounds
- Do not use damaged, rough or rustic-looking backgrounds that would distract from the food
- Don’t photograph alcohol bottles unless the restaurant manager requests it
Camera settings
35-65mm (full frame)
shutter speed - 1/200
Aperture: f/2.8 - f/8
ISO 100 - 400 max.
Tripod, Reflector, background
Horizontal/90°
Consider the negative Space (Safe Area) and how your images would look like on FoodPanda App after editing and frame your images accordingly
Hero Shoot: 4000px x 1556px (after editing)