Food Photography Brief

---
name: food-photography-brief
description: "Creates food photography shot lists with styling direction, composition notes, and platform-specific dimensions. Use when planning photo shoots for menus, social media, or marketing."
allowed-tools: Read Write Glob
metadata:
  author: matthewhitcham
  version: "1.0"
---

# Food Photography Brief

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:
- Create a shot list for a food photography session
- Provide styling and composition direction for a photographer or DIY shoot
- Plan platform-specific images for menus, social media, websites, and delivery apps
- Brief a photographer or content creator on the visual direction

**DO NOT** use this skill for recipe development, menu copy, or restaurant interior photography. This is for food-specific photography planning.

---

## Core Principle

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY SELLS THE EXPERIENCE, NOT THE INGREDIENTS — EVERY SHOT MUST MAKE THE VIEWER HUNGRY, CURIOUS, OR BOTH. IF IT DOES NOT TRIGGER A CRAVING, RESHOOT IT.

---

## Phase 1: Brief

### Required Inputs

| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|-------|------------|---------|
| **Business and cuisine** | "What is the restaurant or food brand and cuisine type?" | No default — must be provided |
| **Dishes to photograph** | "List every dish that needs to be photographed." | No default — must be provided |
| **Primary use** | "Where will these photos be used? Menu, social, website, delivery apps, all?" | All channels |
| **Visual style** | "What is the mood? Rustic, clean/modern, moody/dark, bright/airy?" | Clean and modern |
| **Budget level** | "Professional photographer, semi-pro, or DIY with phone?" | DIY with smartphone |
| **Existing brand colors** | "What are your brand colors or restaurant decor colors?" | Neutral |

**GATE: Confirm the brief before creating the shot list.**

---

## Phase 2: Plan the Shot List

### Shot Types

| Type | Description | Use Case |
|------|-------------|----------|
| **Hero shot** | Single dish, styled, best angle | Menu, website, featured social |
| **Flat lay** | Overhead, multiple items arranged | Social media, menu covers |
| **Action shot** | Steam rising, cheese pulling, pouring | Reels, Stories, engagement posts |
| **Lifestyle** | Dish on table with hands, drinks, context | Social, website lifestyle section |
| **Detail** | Close-up on texture, garnish, or ingredient | Stories, ads, detail posts |
| **Group** | Multiple dishes together | Catering, family-style, combo deals |

### Shot List Template

For each dish, plan:

```
## [Dish Name]

**Priority:** Hero / Standard
**Shot types needed:** Hero, action, detail
**Angle:** 45°, overhead, or straight-on
**Styling notes:** [Plating, garnish, props, background]
**Action element:** [Steam, pour, cut, pull, drizzle]
**Props:** [Cutlery, napkin, ingredients, drinks alongside]
**Background:** [Wood, marble, dark slate, white, branded surface]
**Platform dimensions:**
- Instagram feed: 1080x1080 or 1080x1350
- Instagram Story/Reel: 1080x1920
- Website: 1200x800
- Menu: 300dpi, custom dimensions
- Delivery app: 1200x800 minimum
```

### Session Plan

```
## Shoot Schedule

**Total dishes:** [X]
**Estimated time:** [X] hours (plan 15-20 min per dish for styled shots)
**Setup time:** 30 minutes for lighting and backgrounds

**Shoot order:**
1. [Dishes that hold well — cold items, desserts]
2. [Dishes that need to be shot immediately — hot items, melting items]
3. [Action shots — steam, pouring, pulling]
4. [Flat lays and group shots]
```

**GATE: Confirm the shot list and session plan before writing styling direction.**

---

## Phase 3: Styling Direction

### Lighting Guidelines

| Style | Lighting | Setup |
|-------|---------|-------|
| **Bright and airy** | Natural window light, white reflector | Shoot near a large window, 10am-2pm |
| **Moody and dark** | Side light, dark background, minimal fill | One light source from the side, dark surfaces |
| **Clean and modern** | Even, diffused light, white background | Softbox or overcast window light |
| **Rustic and warm** | Warm natural light, textured surfaces | Golden hour or warm-toned bulbs |

**DIY lighting tip:** Shoot next to the biggest window in the restaurant during daylight. Use a white napkin or poster board as a reflector on the shadow side.

### Composition Rules

- **Rule of thirds:** Place the dish at an intersection point, not dead center
- **Negative space:** Leave room for text overlay (for social media and marketing)
- **Odd numbers:** Groups of 3 or 5 items look more natural than 2 or 4
- **Leading lines:** Use cutlery, table edges, or ingredients to draw the eye to the dish
- **Color contrast:** Use props and backgrounds that contrast with the food color

### Styling Checklist Per Dish

```
- [ ] Plate is clean (wipe edges with a damp cloth)
- [ ] Garnish is fresh (no wilted herbs, no melted elements)
- [ ] Sauce is freshly drizzled (not dried or congealed)
- [ ] Steam is visible on hot dishes (microwave a wet towel behind the dish)
- [ ] Portions look generous but not sloppy
- [ ] Background is clean and uncluttered
- [ ] Props support the story without competing with the food
- [ ] Multiple angles captured (at least 3 per dish)
```

---

## Phase 4: Polish

### 1. Platform-Specific Delivery

```
## Image Deliverables

| Platform | Dimensions | Format | Notes |
|----------|-----------|--------|-------|
| Instagram feed | 1080x1080 or 1080x1350 | JPG | Leave space for caption overlay |
| Instagram Story/Reel | 1080x1920 | JPG/MP4 | Vertical, action preferred |
| Website hero | 1920x1080 | JPG | Horizontal, high resolution |
| Menu print | 300dpi, varies | TIFF/PNG | No text overlay needed |
| Google Business | 1200x900 | JPG | Clean, well-lit, no filters |
| Delivery apps | 1200x800 minimum | JPG | Centered dish, simple background |
| Facebook | 1200x630 | JPG | Horizontal for link posts |
```

### 2. Post-Production Notes

- **Editing style:** Consistent across all images (same preset or filter)
- **Color accuracy:** Food colors must look accurate (no blue-tinted lighting)
- **Cropping:** Multiple crops from each master shot for different platforms
- **Retouching:** Remove plate chips, fingerprints, and crumbs — do not alter the food itself

### 3. Quality Checklist

```
## Food Photography Brief Checklist

- [ ] Every dish has a planned shot type, angle, and styling notes
- [ ] Hero dishes identified and prioritized
- [ ] Lighting direction matches the brand's visual style
- [ ] Props and backgrounds selected and sourced
- [ ] Shoot order considers hot vs. cold dishes
- [ ] Platform-specific dimensions documented
- [ ] Action shots planned for at least 3 dishes (steam, pour, pull)
- [ ] Styling checklist will be followed per dish
- [ ] Post-production editing style defined for consistency
- [ ] All deliverable formats listed with dimensions
```

---

## Example

**Restaurant:** Italian trattoria, rustic warm style

**Hero shot brief:**
```
## Cacio e Pepe

**Priority:** Hero
**Angle:** 45° from front-left
**Styling:** Twirled pasta on a fork mid-lift, cheese strands visible, cracked black pepper scattered on plate and table
**Background:** Dark wood table, linen napkin, wine glass with red wine slightly out of focus
**Action:** Fork lifting pasta with cheese pull
**Lighting:** Warm side light from left, dark shadow on right
**Deliverables:** Instagram square (1080x1080), website hero (1920x1080), menu (300dpi)
```

---

## Anti-Patterns

- **Flash photography** — direct flash makes food look flat and institutional. Always use natural or diffused light.
- **Overhead everything** — flat lays work for some dishes, but tall dishes (burgers, layered drinks) need a 45° or straight-on angle.
- **Messy backgrounds** — a cluttered background distracts from the food. Keep it simple and intentional.
- **Cold or stale food** — shoot hot dishes immediately. Have backup portions ready. Cold food looks dead.
- **Over-filtering** — heavy filters distort food colors and look fake. Edit for accuracy and consistency, not drama.

---

## Recovery

- **No natural light available:** Use a single LED panel or softbox from one side. Avoid overhead fluorescent lights at all costs.
- **Dishes do not photograph well:** Replate. Add height, fresh garnish, and sauce drizzle. The camera sees differently than the eye.
- **Smartphone only:** Use portrait mode for shallow depth of field. Clean the lens. Shoot in daylight. Edit with Lightroom Mobile (free).
- **Shoot ran out of time:** Prioritize hero dishes and skip detail shots. You can reshoot standard items later.