Dozens of Great Ways to Use Photos & Video to Promote Your Venue
There are so many ways to use photos and videos taken in your restaurant or cafe: share them with customers, use them on social media, and display them around the venue. In such a visual industry (and world), still and moving images keep your customers engaged and strengthen the connection with your audience. Good restaurant photography is an essential part of the marketing mix.
Photograph and Video Opportunities for a Cafe
Casual photo and video sharing to show the life and energy of a cafe throughout the day.
1. Behind the Scenes – Kitchen Prep Videos: Capture short clips of your chefs preparing dishes or drinks. Show the care and attention that goes into each order. – Staff Introductions: Feature each staff member with a short video or photo, sharing their favourite dish or drink from the menu. – Morning Setup: Time-lapse videos of your team setting up the cafe in the morning can give a sneak peek into the effort behind the opening.
2. Customer Experience – Customer Testimonials: Film happy customers sharing what they love about your cafe or use photos with their quotes. – Customer Stories: Share stories of regular customers, showcasing their favourite orders and why they keep coming back. – Events and Gatherings: Capture moments from special events or group gatherings, highlighting the fun atmosphere.
3. Product Highlights – Specialty Drinks: Take close-up shots or videos of your barista creating a beautiful latte art or preparing a signature drink. – Dish of the Day: Post daily videos or photos of your special dish, encouraging customers to try something new. Multiple versions of the same dish can be created: food on the plate, served onto the plate, sauce or garnish poured onto it, someone using a fork or spoon to scoop some up, a smiling person enjoying it, and even the empty plate after it’s been eaten. – Ingredient Features: Highlight key ingredients in your dishes, showing freshness and quality, with videos of them being prepared.
4. Cafe Ambience – Interior Design Shots: To showcase the atmosphere and capture your cafe’s cosy or stylish aspects, from seating areas to décor. – Seasonal Changes: Use videos or photos to show how your cafe decorates for different seasons or holidays. – Quiet Moments: Share photos of peaceful, quiet times in the cafe, perfect for promoting a relaxing visit.
5. Interactive Content – Polls and Questions: Post photos of two different dishes or drinks and ask your followers to vote on their favourite – use Instagram add-ons for this. – Recipe Teasers: Share short video clips or photos of ingredients with hints about upcoming menu items, inviting guesses from your audience. – Customer Challenges: Create a photo challenge where customers share their photos enjoying your food or drinks, with the best one winning a prize.
6. Staff Spotlights – Barista Skills: Film your baristas making coffee with flair, showing off their skills and personality. – Chef’s Tips: Have your chefs share quick cooking tips or tricks in short videos or photos, engaging customers with useful content. – Team Celebrations: Capture moments when your team celebrates achievements, birthdays, or special occasions. – Day in the Life of a Team Member: Short video interview, asking them about their day from first thing to leaving work.
7. Sustainability and Ethics – Eco-friendly Practices: Share photos or videos of your cafe’s efforts in recycling, reducing waste, or using sustainable products. – Local Supplier Features: Highlight your relationships with local suppliers through photos or videos showing the origins of your ingredients.
– Community Involvement: Document your cafe’s involvement in local events or charity work to show your commitment to the community.
Photograph and Video Opportunities for a Restaurant
Sharing and highlighting the experience and exclusivity associated with a restaurant gives your audience a taste of what makes dining with you special.
1. Fine Dining Experience – Plating Process: Capture videos of chefs carefully plating dishes, highlighting the artistry and attention to detail. – Wine Pairing Guides: Share videos or photos of wine being poured alongside a dish, briefly explaining the pairing. – Dining Atmosphere: Show the elegant ambiance of your restaurant during dinner service, focusing on the lighting and table settings.
2. Chef’s Special Creations – Signature Dishes: Feature videos of your head chef introducing and preparing signature dishes, emphasising their unique aspects. – Tasting Menus: Document the preparation and presentation of a tasting menu, showcasing the variety and creativity. – Ingredient Origins: Highlight premium ingredients by showing where they come from, whether a local farm or a specialty supplier.
3. Customer Engagement – Guest Reviews: Film diners sharing their thoughts on their meal, focusing on the sensory experience. – Special Occasions: Capture moments from celebrations such as anniversaries or birthdays, showing your restaurant as a go-to spot for special events. – Food Journey: Create a series of videos or photos that take customers on a journey through a dish’s preparation, from raw ingredients to the finished plate.
4. Exclusive Events – Chef’s Table Experience: Highlight the exclusive chef’s table or private dining experiences with videos or photos that capture the intimacy and personal service. – Live Cooking Demonstrations: Share snippets of live cooking demonstrations in the restaurant or at an event to showcase your culinary expertise. – Wine Tasting Events: Document wine or food pairing events, focusing on the interaction between guests and sommeliers or chefs.
Many Ways to Display Photos and Videos in Your Venue
Incorporate digital content into your venue in various ways, enhancing the customer experience without being intrusive or overwhelming. It’s all about the images, not the frame or the hardware.
1. Digital Photo Frames and Tables – Rotating Displays: Place digital photo frames on counters, near the entrance, or at the bar to showcase a rotating slideshow of your best photos. – Feature Highlights: Include short captions alongside the photos to highlight daily specials, new menu items, or staff spotlights. – Interactive Menus: Place tablets on stands at tables or waiting areas where customers can browse the menu, see photos of dishes, or watch videos of how they’re prepared.
2. Digital Menu Boards – Dynamic Menus: Replace traditional menu boards with digital ones that can feature high-quality images or videos of dishes and the day’s specials. – Seasonal Updates: Easily update the content to reflect seasonal changes, promotional offers, or new additions to the menu.
3. Smart TVs or Monitors – Subtle Video Loops: Install smart TVs or monitors in strategic locations (e.g., near the entrance, bar area, or dining room) to play a loop of videos or photos featuring the ambience, food preparation, and special events. – Background Displays: Use muted, slow-moving videos as background visuals to create a relaxing atmosphere without overwhelming the dining experience.
4. Projection – Ambient Projections: Use small projectors to display images or videos on walls or screens. This could be particularly effective for showcasing seasonal decor, special events, or an ever-changing wall of customer photos. This can work very well in a large venue with entertainment. – Artistic Projections: Create a rotating projection of artistic images or videos (e.g., close-ups of dishes, behind-the-scenes footage) on a blank wall or an area that complements the venue’s decor.
5. QR Code Integration – Scan for More: Place QR codes on tables, menus, or coasters that link to a gallery of photos or videos. Customers can scan the code to see the latest dishes, meet the team, or watch event highlights. – Interactive Displays: Use digital screens with QR codes for specific items, allowing customers to scan and view a short video or more information about the dish or drink.
6. In-Restroom Displays – Small Screens: Install small screens in restrooms that play a loop of content, such as upcoming events, chef’s specials, or behind-the-scenes footage. Keep the volume low or use subtitles to avoid disrupting the space, and make sure that people know their privacy is protected.
7. LED Wall Displays – Subtle Lighting Effects: Use LED wall displays with soft lighting effects that subtly shift colours or showcase simple images or videos, enhancing the venue’s mood without being too flashy. – Event Announcements: Display upcoming events, live music nights, or special promotions in a visually engaging way that blends with the venue’s atmosphere.
8. Digital Signage at Entry Points – Welcome Displays: Use digital signage at the entrance to greet customers, showing welcoming images or videos of happy customers, featured dishes, or special offers. – Interactive Maps: For larger venues, consider a digital map or guide that shows different areas of the restaurant, with videos or images highlighting what to expect in each section.
9. Social Media and Galleries – Live Instagram Feed: Display a live feed of your Instagram photos or stories on a screen, encouraging customers to engage and perhaps even tag the venue in their posts. – Hashtag Display: Create a screen dedicated to displaying customer photos taken at your venue using a specific hashtag. This will build a sense of community and encourage customer participation.
– Gallery Page on Website: With a collection of great photos of interiors, food, happy customers and special events. Particularly important if weddings and events are a focus.
Photography Guide for Restaurant and Cafe Staff
1. Equipment and Setup – Use Quality Devices: Use the best available smartphone or camera. Make sure the lens is clean before shooting. – Natural Lighting: Use natural light to avoid harsh shadows whenever possible. Shoot near windows or in well-lit areas. – Stable Shots: Use a tripod or keep a steady hand to avoid blurry photos – they are inexpensive and a useful part of the marketing kit. If no tripod is available, use a flat surface to stabilise the camera.
2. Framing and Composition – Rule of Thirds: Frame the subject off-centre using the rule of thirds for more dynamic and visually appealing shots. – Close-Up Shots: Get close to capture the details, especially for food, drinks, and plating. Focus on textures and garnishes. – Wide Shots: Use wide shots to capture the ambience, entire tables, or group events. Ensure the setting looks inviting and tidy.
3. Content Focus – Action Shots: Capture staff in action, whether it’s a chef cooking, a barista pouring coffee, or a server presenting a dish. Action shots add energy to the photo. – Candid Moments: Photograph staff and customers interacting naturally, avoiding posed or stiff shots. Aim for genuine expressions and interactions. – Food and Drinks: Focus on the main dishes, drinks, and desserts. Highlight their presentation, colours, and the unique aspects of the dish.
4. Background and Environment – Clean Backgrounds: Ensure the background is clean and uncluttered so the subject stands out. Remove unnecessary items from the frame. – Consistent Style: Pay attention to the background, colour scheme, and props in all photos to maintain a consistent look, which creates a cohesive brand image. – Use of Props: Use props like fresh ingredients, utensils, or flowers to add context to the food or drink, but keep them minimal and relevant.
5. Angles and Perspectives – Variety of Angles: Experiment with different angles: overhead for flat lays, 45-degree for a more natural view, and eye-level for a personal perspective. – Focus on Details: Highlight specific elements, such as the froth on a cappuccino, the char on grilled meat, or the texture of a dessert. – Capture Movement: For action shots, focus on the movement, like pouring, slicing, or mixing. Use burst mode to capture the perfect moment.
6. Editing and Post-Production – Minimal Editing: Encourage minimal editing to keep photos looking natural. Adjust brightness, contrast, and sharpness if needed. – Consistent Filters: If using filters, choose a consistent style that matches the restaurant’s branding. – Avoid Over-Editing: Keep edits subtle. Over-editing can make photos look unnatural and less appealing.
7. Legal and Ethical Considerations – Permission for People Shots: Get verbal consent from customers if they’re in the shot, especially if their faces are visible. Ensure staff are comfortable being photographed. – Respect Privacy: Avoid taking photos of customers or staff in unflattering or overly personal situations. – Safety First: Ensure that taking photos doesn’t interfere with staff duties or customer experience. Do not obstruct walkways or cause disruptions.
8. Planning and Organisation – Plan Ahead: Have a clear idea of what content is needed, whether it’s new menu items, events, or behind-the-scenes shots. This ensures variety and relevance. – Time of Day: Consider the best time of day for different shots. Morning light is best for airy, bright photos, and evening light is best for a warm, cosy ambience. – Review and Feedback: Review them as a team after taking photos. Discuss what works and what can be improved for future shoots.
There are so many ways to use photos and videos taken in your restaurant or cafe: share them with customers, use them on social media, and display them around the venue. In such a visual industry (and world), still and moving images keep your customers engaged and strengthen the connection with your audience. Good restaurant photography is an essential part of the marketing mix.
Photograph and Video Opportunities for a Cafe
Casual photo and video sharing to show the life and energy of a cafe throughout the day.
1. Behind the Scenes
– Kitchen Prep Videos: Capture short clips of your chefs preparing dishes or drinks. Show the care and attention that goes into each order.
– Staff Introductions: Feature each staff member with a short video or photo, sharing their favourite dish or drink from the menu.
– Morning Setup: Time-lapse videos of your team setting up the cafe in the morning can give a sneak peek into the effort behind the opening.
2. Customer Experience
– Customer Testimonials: Film happy customers sharing what they love about your cafe or use photos with their quotes.
– Customer Stories: Share stories of regular customers, showcasing their favourite orders and why they keep coming back.
– Events and Gatherings: Capture moments from special events or group gatherings, highlighting the fun atmosphere.
3. Product Highlights
– Specialty Drinks: Take close-up shots or videos of your barista creating a beautiful latte art or preparing a signature drink.
– Dish of the Day: Post daily videos or photos of your special dish, encouraging customers to try something new. Multiple versions of the same dish can be created: food on the plate, served onto the plate, sauce or garnish poured onto it, someone using a fork or spoon to scoop some up, a smiling person enjoying it, and even the empty plate after it’s been eaten.
– Ingredient Features: Highlight key ingredients in your dishes, showing freshness and quality, with videos of them being prepared.
4. Cafe Ambience
– Interior Design Shots: To showcase the atmosphere and capture your cafe’s cosy or stylish aspects, from seating areas to décor.
– Seasonal Changes: Use videos or photos to show how your cafe decorates for different seasons or holidays.
– Quiet Moments: Share photos of peaceful, quiet times in the cafe, perfect for promoting a relaxing visit.
5. Interactive Content
– Polls and Questions: Post photos of two different dishes or drinks and ask your followers to vote on their favourite – use Instagram add-ons for this.
– Recipe Teasers: Share short video clips or photos of ingredients with hints about upcoming menu items, inviting guesses from your audience.
– Customer Challenges: Create a photo challenge where customers share their photos enjoying your food or drinks, with the best one winning a prize.
6. Staff Spotlights
– Barista Skills: Film your baristas making coffee with flair, showing off their skills and personality.
– Chef’s Tips: Have your chefs share quick cooking tips or tricks in short videos or photos, engaging customers with useful content.
– Team Celebrations: Capture moments when your team celebrates achievements, birthdays, or special occasions.
– Day in the Life of a Team Member: Short video interview, asking them about their day from first thing to leaving work.
7. Sustainability and Ethics
– Eco-friendly Practices: Share photos or videos of your cafe’s efforts in recycling, reducing waste, or using sustainable products.
– Local Supplier Features: Highlight your relationships with local suppliers through photos or videos showing the origins of your ingredients.
– Community Involvement: Document your cafe’s involvement in local events or charity work to show your commitment to the community.
Photograph and Video Opportunities for a Restaurant
Sharing and highlighting the experience and exclusivity associated with a restaurant gives your audience a taste of what makes dining with you special.
1. Fine Dining Experience
– Plating Process: Capture videos of chefs carefully plating dishes, highlighting the artistry and attention to detail.
– Wine Pairing Guides: Share videos or photos of wine being poured alongside a dish, briefly explaining the pairing.
– Dining Atmosphere: Show the elegant ambiance of your restaurant during dinner service, focusing on the lighting and table settings.
2. Chef’s Special Creations
– Signature Dishes: Feature videos of your head chef introducing and preparing signature dishes, emphasising their unique aspects.
– Tasting Menus: Document the preparation and presentation of a tasting menu, showcasing the variety and creativity.
– Ingredient Origins: Highlight premium ingredients by showing where they come from, whether a local farm or a specialty supplier.
3. Customer Engagement
– Guest Reviews: Film diners sharing their thoughts on their meal, focusing on the sensory experience.
– Special Occasions: Capture moments from celebrations such as anniversaries or birthdays, showing your restaurant as a go-to spot for special events.
– Food Journey: Create a series of videos or photos that take customers on a journey through a dish’s preparation, from raw ingredients to the finished plate.
4. Exclusive Events
– Chef’s Table Experience: Highlight the exclusive chef’s table or private dining experiences with videos or photos that capture the intimacy and personal service.
– Live Cooking Demonstrations: Share snippets of live cooking demonstrations in the restaurant or at an event to showcase your culinary expertise.
– Wine Tasting Events: Document wine or food pairing events, focusing on the interaction between guests and sommeliers or chefs.
Many Ways to Display Photos and Videos in Your Venue
Incorporate digital content into your venue in various ways, enhancing the customer experience without being intrusive or overwhelming. It’s all about the images, not the frame or the hardware.
1. Digital Photo Frames and Tables
– Rotating Displays: Place digital photo frames on counters, near the entrance, or at the bar to showcase a rotating slideshow of your best photos.
– Feature Highlights: Include short captions alongside the photos to highlight daily specials, new menu items, or staff spotlights.
– Interactive Menus: Place tablets on stands at tables or waiting areas where customers can browse the menu, see photos of dishes, or watch videos of how they’re prepared.
2. Digital Menu Boards
– Dynamic Menus: Replace traditional menu boards with digital ones that can feature high-quality images or videos of dishes and the day’s specials.
– Seasonal Updates: Easily update the content to reflect seasonal changes, promotional offers, or new additions to the menu.
3. Smart TVs or Monitors
– Subtle Video Loops: Install smart TVs or monitors in strategic locations (e.g., near the entrance, bar area, or dining room) to play a loop of videos or photos featuring the ambience, food preparation, and special events.
– Background Displays: Use muted, slow-moving videos as background visuals to create a relaxing atmosphere without overwhelming the dining experience.
4. Projection
– Ambient Projections: Use small projectors to display images or videos on walls or screens. This could be particularly effective for showcasing seasonal decor, special events, or an ever-changing wall of customer photos. This can work very well in a large venue with entertainment.
– Artistic Projections: Create a rotating projection of artistic images or videos (e.g., close-ups of dishes, behind-the-scenes footage) on a blank wall or an area that complements the venue’s decor.
5. QR Code Integration
– Scan for More: Place QR codes on tables, menus, or coasters that link to a gallery of photos or videos. Customers can scan the code to see the latest dishes, meet the team, or watch event highlights.
– Interactive Displays: Use digital screens with QR codes for specific items, allowing customers to scan and view a short video or more information about the dish or drink.
6. In-Restroom Displays
– Small Screens: Install small screens in restrooms that play a loop of content, such as upcoming events, chef’s specials, or behind-the-scenes footage. Keep the volume low or use subtitles to avoid disrupting the space, and make sure that people know their privacy is protected.
7. LED Wall Displays
– Subtle Lighting Effects: Use LED wall displays with soft lighting effects that subtly shift colours or showcase simple images or videos, enhancing the venue’s mood without being too flashy.
– Event Announcements: Display upcoming events, live music nights, or special promotions in a visually engaging way that blends with the venue’s atmosphere.
8. Digital Signage at Entry Points
– Welcome Displays: Use digital signage at the entrance to greet customers, showing welcoming images or videos of happy customers, featured dishes, or special offers.
– Interactive Maps: For larger venues, consider a digital map or guide that shows different areas of the restaurant, with videos or images highlighting what to expect in each section.
9. Social Media and Galleries
– Live Instagram Feed: Display a live feed of your Instagram photos or stories on a screen, encouraging customers to engage and perhaps even tag the venue in their posts.
– Hashtag Display: Create a screen dedicated to displaying customer photos taken at your venue using a specific hashtag. This will build a sense of community and encourage customer participation.
– Gallery Page on Website: With a collection of great photos of interiors, food, happy customers and special events. Particularly important if weddings and events are a focus.
Photography Guide for Restaurant and Cafe Staff
1. Equipment and Setup
– Use Quality Devices: Use the best available smartphone or camera. Make sure the lens is clean before shooting.
– Natural Lighting: Use natural light to avoid harsh shadows whenever possible. Shoot near windows or in well-lit areas.
– Stable Shots: Use a tripod or keep a steady hand to avoid blurry photos – they are inexpensive and a useful part of the marketing kit. If no tripod is available, use a flat surface to stabilise the camera.
2. Framing and Composition
– Rule of Thirds: Frame the subject off-centre using the rule of thirds for more dynamic and visually appealing shots.
– Close-Up Shots: Get close to capture the details, especially for food, drinks, and plating. Focus on textures and garnishes.
– Wide Shots: Use wide shots to capture the ambience, entire tables, or group events. Ensure the setting looks inviting and tidy.
3. Content Focus
– Action Shots: Capture staff in action, whether it’s a chef cooking, a barista pouring coffee, or a server presenting a dish. Action shots add energy to the photo.
– Candid Moments: Photograph staff and customers interacting naturally, avoiding posed or stiff shots. Aim for genuine expressions and interactions.
– Food and Drinks: Focus on the main dishes, drinks, and desserts. Highlight their presentation, colours, and the unique aspects of the dish.
See also: How to Harness Team Creativity with Social Media Content
4. Background and Environment
– Clean Backgrounds: Ensure the background is clean and uncluttered so the subject stands out. Remove unnecessary items from the frame.
– Consistent Style: Pay attention to the background, colour scheme, and props in all photos to maintain a consistent look, which creates a cohesive brand image.
– Use of Props: Use props like fresh ingredients, utensils, or flowers to add context to the food or drink, but keep them minimal and relevant.
5. Angles and Perspectives
– Variety of Angles: Experiment with different angles: overhead for flat lays, 45-degree for a more natural view, and eye-level for a personal perspective.
– Focus on Details: Highlight specific elements, such as the froth on a cappuccino, the char on grilled meat, or the texture of a dessert.
– Capture Movement: For action shots, focus on the movement, like pouring, slicing, or mixing. Use burst mode to capture the perfect moment.
6. Editing and Post-Production
– Minimal Editing: Encourage minimal editing to keep photos looking natural. Adjust brightness, contrast, and sharpness if needed.
– Consistent Filters: If using filters, choose a consistent style that matches the restaurant’s branding.
– Avoid Over-Editing: Keep edits subtle. Over-editing can make photos look unnatural and less appealing.
7. Legal and Ethical Considerations
– Permission for People Shots: Get verbal consent from customers if they’re in the shot, especially if their faces are visible. Ensure staff are comfortable being photographed.
– Respect Privacy: Avoid taking photos of customers or staff in unflattering or overly personal situations.
– Safety First: Ensure that taking photos doesn’t interfere with staff duties or customer experience. Do not obstruct walkways or cause disruptions.
8. Planning and Organisation
– Plan Ahead: Have a clear idea of what content is needed, whether it’s new menu items, events, or behind-the-scenes shots. This ensures variety and relevance.
– Time of Day: Consider the best time of day for different shots. Morning light is best for airy, bright photos, and evening light is best for a warm, cosy ambience.
– Review and Feedback: Review them as a team after taking photos. Discuss what works and what can be improved for future shoots.
Check the other useful blog posts on the Foodie Coaches website…
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