SCHEDULING
DELIVERY
NAMING
PHOTOSHOOT OVERVIEW
EQUIPMENT
LIGHTING
Single dish
Hero shot
Background shot
Tips
Food Photography Guidelines
V 1.1 - 2022.01.24
Uber Eats is an American online food ordering and delivery platform. Users can read menus, order, and pay for food from participating businesses using an application on the iOS or Android platforms, or through a web browser. Businesses photos are seen by thousands of nearby Uber Eats users searching for something to eat!
SCHEDULING
How to schedule a photoshoot This is a photoshoot for Uber Eats. 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.
Assignments are not all the same. Please check on OCUS platform the number of images you need to take and confirm to the business the number of dishes they have to prepare.
DELIVERY
When and how to upload my images
Your priority is to take excellent photos. To ensure consistency across our entire community, OCUS is handling the post-production internally. Please respect the following requirements to make sure that we can deliver the best results to our client.
Don’t edit any of your photos (no crop, no edit).
Don’t remove the metadata from the files.
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).
If something does not allow you to strictly follow these guidelines during the photoshoot, you must let us know with a comment on your dashboard after your upload.
NAMING
To facilitate an accurate file naming, you should look for the link to the business menu visible on Uber Eats that we have in the assignment page. You should open this link during the photoshoot to validate the dish names with the on-site contact (the menu in the Uber Eats app is not the same as the menu available in the business). The names of the items you photograph must be the exact same ones that will be available in the Uber Eats app, otherwise your assignment won't be validated.
Kindly rename your files following this structure:
For single menu items: Dish_Name.jpg
For Hero shots: Hero.jpg
Examples:
Cheeseburger_with_fries.jpg
Hero.jpg
Please make sure you upload your files to the correct category, and then confirm when you've finish the uploading process by clicking on send all media to send the files to OCUS.
⚠️ Send your pictures before midnight on the day of the photoshoot. ⚠️ Keep your RAW files until your assignment is validated.
PHOTOSHOOT OVERVIEW
Your goal is to take enticing photos that make people eager to order food from the Uber Eats platform.
⚠️ Remember to always shoot your photos in RAW format, but only upload JPG files to the OCUS platform. If you need to ask us any question, you can use the link at the bottom of this page to visit our Help Center, and we'll be happy to help you.
EQUIPMENT
Full frame or APS-C
General settings:
ISO 400 (avoid noise)
WB: 5700 K (neutral colors)
35-90mm (full frame)
General settings:
Aperture: f/8 - f/11 (careful with depth of field too)
Accessories
Mandatory accessories:
Tripod
Reflector
Grey card
LIGHTING
Natural (indirect) sunlight is preferred, if you don't have access to a window, we encourage you to use a 5-in-1 reflector to soften the light from the ceiling on the items, or add brightness in shadows.
Try to have your light come from the sides of the table, not behind it, in front of it, or above it.
The use of flash is optional.
The photos should have soft shadows
Please avoid any distracting reflections on your table
Single dish
Single dish pictures are used for individual menu items, and they showcase how these are sold to clients through the app.
It can be a main dish or a drink or both (if they are sold together), sometimes they can include side dishes or a bigger portion for more than one person, please remember to always put the main element in the center of the frame.
Set a 45° angle by default for most dishes
20° for burgers and sandwiches,
60° for soups, bowls, pizzas, etc.
Quantity
Refer to your OCUS Dashboard for the quantity.
Do
Place the main dish in the center of the frame, it has to be entirely visible after OCUS applies the 5:4 crop ratio for single dishes.
Always use your camera in a horizontal format, even with objects like bottles.
The ingredients should be visible, to understand the content of the dish
Don't
Don’t include cutlery or chopsticks in the composition unless the business manager requests it.
Don’t photograph alcohol bottles unless the business manager requests it.
Don't shoot food directly on the table. In case you have no plate, you can use a board or a paper napkin.
Don't let too much empty space around the dishes
Camera settings
Shutter Speed: Depending of on-site conditions
Camera Mode: Manual mode
35-90mm (full frame)
Aperture > f/8 - f/11
ISO 400 max (avoid noise)
WB: Manual, try to get natural tones
Mandatory use of tripod, reflector and grey card
Photo orientation:
Horizontal
Ratio to anticipate (5:4):
Good examples
Hero shot
The Hero shot is the first photo of the business that the users of the app are going to see before when they are looking for something to order.
It's composed of a main dish surrounded by other dishes and decorative props in a small quantity and related to the theme of the restaurant. A minimum of 3 dishes is required for this type of photo.
Quantity
x1
Do
Place a dish in the center, then others around it (check the visual examples below).
Use a 90° angle for all business types, 45° remains an exception for drinks composition and burgers.
Leave little space between the dishes, so the composition looks plentiful.
Remember to compose your photo with enough room, so OCUS can apply a 5:4 crop ratio and keep the other dishes visible.
Background needs to be clean of dust, crumbs.
Don't
Don’t include cutlery or chopsticks in the composition unless the business manager requests it.
Do not show any hands in the frame.
Don't shoot plastic containers nor food directly on the table. In case you have no plate, you can use a board or a paper napkin.
Camera settings
Shutter Speed: No camera shake, sharp photos only
Camera Mode: Manual mode
35-90mm (full frame)
Aperture > f/8 - f/11
ISO 400 max (avoid noise)
WB: Manual, try to get natural tones
Mandatory use of tripod, reflector and grey card
Photo orientation:
Horizontal
Ratio to anticipate (5:4):
How to position dishes for a good composition shot?
Good examples
Background shot
For post-production purposes, please take a picture of the background you will be working on in case OCUS needs to replace, clean or improve the background texture on other pictures.
Quantity
x 1
Do
Wood, stone or marble background only.
No complicated pattern.
Background needs to be clean of dust, crumbs.
Don't
Don't shoot the background with a different lighting.
Do not shoot metal background.
No flashy colors.
Camera settings
Shutter Speed - 1/150
35 - 50mm (full frame)
Aperture > f/8 - f/11
ISO 100 - 400 max.
WB: Manual, try to get natural tones
Tripod, Reflector.
Horizontal/45°
Tips
Team work makes the dream work! You can guide the chef to best display the dishes and make them look as appealing as possible. Pay attention to the food and be detail-oriented: any imperfections will show up and look like the dish is messy or incomplete. Collaboration is the key to a successful assignment.
Some examples:
X
Thank you for your work!
