Lighting food video in a busy working restaurant
We’ve recently finished a project showcasing Frankie & Benny’s Spring menu on behalf of photography agency Piccallo. Alongside the master 30s montage edit, we delivered over 20+ video assets to be used across web, display and paid social accounts.
With lighting being a key consideration on our client’s brief, it was vital that we gave each of the 9 dishes that Spring feel. Working in a familiar studio is one thing, but lighting, styling and shooting 9 different dishes in an open restaurant, all with varied ingredients, colours and crockery, can be something of a challenge.
So we wanted to share our experiences, along with some tips and tricks for lighting food content, specifically in less than ideal circumstances.
Before that, take a quick look at the outcome…
Turn off ambient lights.
We typically film foodie video content in a studio or kitchen facility where everything can be controlled. On this occasion, our team (DOP, Creative Director and Stylist) needed to be close to the Group Head Chef who has developed the new Spring menu and therefore were tasked with making it work in a Frankie & Benny’s restaurant.
This meant customers would be coming and going throughout the day; the opportunity to turn off all lights and take over wasn’t an option. Essentially, you want to reduce ‘spill’ from existing lights as much as possible. This makes controlling the colour of the dishes more manageable. If that’s not an possible, then here’s what you do…
2. Take control of what you can
We were given a corner of the restaurant to be our home for the day. We added gaffer tape to all ceiling spotlights that couldn’t be switched off and added tin foil to the windows to black them out (see image above).
The tin foil trick was taught by an old DOP friend about 10 years ago and to this day it still surprises people. The need for black bin bags or big drapes is long gone.
Get a small cup of water. Splash the water on the window and wipe it with your hand. Roll the tin foil over the window and press down. It should stay there for days (we’ve never actually tested the full length of the tin foil’s capabilities before, but it certainly hangs on for the day).
We also put up dividers between the main restaurant and our ‘set’ to reduce any further spill.
3. Side or backlight your subject
With it being a Spring menu, we wanted some low and long shadows to act as our sunlight through the window (we didn’t have the luxury of real sunlight, so it’s time to get creative).
We brought along our Aputure 300D and lantern diffusion. We wanted bright, soft light as much as possible given the space, and this setup has worked on numerous occasions. Set the light off to one side or slightly behind the subject. You can bounce some light back to fill in the shadows a little. This creates a pleasing shape of light on the food, creating texture and depth.
4. Use different textures to spice up the set.
Whilst this isn’t technically a lighting technique, it’s a way to add depth and diversity to an image. We brought along a selection of rolled up vinyl textures to be placed over existing furniture. These were bought online for a very reasonable price and can be rolled up into a card board tube making them incredibly easy to transport.
We also used a selection of snap together wooden floorboards. They’re light weight and easy to setup.
5. A tidy set is a safe set
Public liability insurance is an absolute must for any video production shoot. We’ve had £5 million cover for as long as we’ve been trading and always will have.
That said, the last thing we want is for anyone to get hurt on set, especially unwitting members of the public. When setting up any production you need to ensure all cables are taped to the floor and any areas with excess bags/boxes are cornered off, becoming inaccessible to the public. This will usually be part of any risk assessment, but always worth stressing.
There’s plenty more where that came from, but hopefully that’s given you some food for thought. For support with any video production requirements surrounding Food, Sports or Lifestyle content, drop us a line via contact@deadpixelfilms.com.
And finally, here’s one of the many 1:1 social assets produced from this shoot. Just try and tell us you don’t fancy a nibble on some popcorn shrimp…
