Photographer Guide: Spillover Photoshoot
Shot List:
-Deliverables: ~50 photos
-Mix of food and drink, mostly tablescape/staged dishes.
-Restaurant will be asked to have dishes prepped and ready to shoot at start time and staged by a natural light source, if possible (table by a window!).
Here's our typical shot list:
- ~25-30 photos food and drink (tablescapes, staged plates)
- ~10 photos dynamic food and drink (bartender mixing drink, chef finishing dish, glasses cheers, etc)
- ~10 photos interior, exterior, location/staff*ALL other special requests will need to be approved ahead of time so we can work these into a final shot list for the top ~50 deliverables.
TABLESCAPES, staged plates
- Mix of dishes at various angles. These should be prepped and ready at start time.
*Wide shots are great for website photography!
**We LOVE an overhead flat lay with top-down view of multiple dishes.
***See folder: Photoshoot Inspo for a variety of shot ideas.
DYNAMIC FOOD & DRINK, food action
- Action shots to give more variety! Bartender pouring drinks, pizza cheese pull, syrup over waffles, etc!
*Great to capture staff and service; more spontaneous than the tablescapes.
**Great to capture diners engaging with the food -- consider leaving faces out and just capturing close hands.
LOCATION SHOTS, interior & exterior
- Showcase the vibe and aesthetics of indoor, outdoor, patio dining; consider staff in action, menus, or unique signage.
SPECIAL REQUESTS, additional requirements
- Spillover will review and flag any special photography requests, incorporating them into the final shot list when approved. All special requests must be submitted at least 3 business days before the scheduled photoshoot to allow time for review and approval. If no special requests are provided, the shot list will follow our standard photography guidelines. Examples of special requests may include:
- Merchandise photography (t-shirts, caps, mugs, etc. — may require adding additional photos to your package)
- Staff portraits (individual headshots — would need names and total number of staff in advance so as to incorporate into the ~50 deliverables)
- Special food photography (items requiring specific techniques, such as backdrops or specific lighting)
- Any other unique shots outside the general guidelines
FAQs:
Can I provide more than 50 final photos?
Yes, of course! We know that a lot of these dishes may have repeat photos in various angles, we welcome any "final" photos above and beyond the 50 deliverables.
Am I expected to style dishes and tables?
The photographer should NOT need to do any extreme styling that takes away from shoot time. We ask the restaurant to have dishes PREPPED and READY to shoot, this includes having plates out and on a table close to a natural light source.
Can I bring a friend or assistant?
Of course! It's often helpful to have an extra set of hands (great for the pizza cheese pull!).
How will I get paid?
We will send payment promptly through Upwork after deliverables received and reviewed.
Is flash photography allowed?
Use your best judgement. Natural light is preferred when possible but some establishments lend themselves to different types of lighting and variety is encouraged.
Who will be my main point of contact?
Your Spillover PM will introduce you with the restaurant POC before the shoot, and they will serve as your go-to on shoot day. For any questions in regard to contracts and payments, please consult with the Spillover project manager.
How will I send the final photos?
Your Spillover PM will provide an upload link for the final shots.
What file type would you like final deliverables?
PNG, JPG, or any photo file type is fine. We generally do not need RAW images nor do we plan to do further edits. Your final deliverables should be edited for best light and color balance. Remember, these are mainly used for Web and Digital Marketing, so a normal high-resolution file is fine (~2000 to 4000 pixels).
What if restaurant has special requests on the shoot day?
Use your best judgement. For example:
- If the client says they don't want ANY interior or exterior photos -- a request like that is fine, just focus on the food.
- If the client says they expected professional lighting and crew -- this request should've been flagged before the photoshoot day! Please let your Spillover PM know if there are ANY specific requests that you feel are out of scope. When in doubt, reference the general shot list that was shared with client prior to photoshoot day!
Once the shoot is over, we'd love to hear your feedback. Let us know what went well and/or how we could improve for the future!
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