Why is Event Photography Crucial in the Food Industry?
In the competitive world of food, presentation is everything. Event photography goes beyond simply documenting an event; it’s about storytelling, creating a visual narrative that captures the atmosphere, the energy, and most importantly, the deliciousness of the food itself.
Here’s why event photography is essential for food businesses:
Marketing and Branding: High-quality photos are vital for marketing materials like websites, social media, and brochures. They showcase the food in its best light, enticing potential customers and building brand awareness
Building Relationships: Event photography can be used to document partnerships and collaborations, strengthening relationships with chefs, restaurants, and other food industry professionals.
Storytelling: Photos tell a story that words alone cannot. They capture the emotions, the interactions, and the overall experience of a food event, creating a lasting impression on viewers
Engagement: Social media thrives on visuals, and captivating event photos can drive engagement, boost follower numbers, and encourage online conversation about your brand.
Do you Ever Really KNow it’s going to be the front Cover?
The simple answer to that is NO….. But you can increase the odds of getting THE cover shot if….
You Shoot Portrait for the shots that are likely to be considered.
You can encapsulate the theme / essence of the Event in just one shot.
So with that in mind I can take you through some of our Event Photography that we were pretty sure would end up on the front cover.
TUCO Conference 2019
We knew this was going to happen and once we’d got the party photos we knew it was time to set up in the exact spot and wait for the Fireworks to commence.
It has copy space above for the Magazine Logo. It has copy space below for the tag line. Yes there are around 5 of these images all with fireworks in various stages of illumination and all could quite easily have ended up on the cover. This is not just a right time and place image, this was a sit and wait for the action to unfold image.
National Pizza Awards 2022
This one is a great example of right place right time great composition. This is the winner of the National Pizza awards 2022. Of course at the time of taking the image we had no idea that he would go on to be crowned the winner but from a story telling viewpoint it has all the elements that make a great cover, Pizza, Action, Pizza oven, logo on jacket. What’s not to like.
National Burger Awards 2019
With all the craziness of the competition going on all around sometimes it is necessary to just take a moment and think, would that make a great shot….?
So here we are, burger in hand looking straight down the barrel of the camera lens, light transitioning from left to right. I knew as soon as the image was taken that it was the cover shot. The tension, the drama and of course the hero of the hour (The Burger) right there front and centre.
TUCO Competitions
This again is an absolutely perfect cover shot.
The concentration of the chef in the heat of competition, getting ready to serve up the most amazing plate of food ready to be judge by some of the finest pallets in the country.
Loads of copy space, the story telling of the image.
StrEAT Food Awards 2022
This one was by no means a define cover shot, yes it was the winning dish, yes it was well exposed and composed, but at the time of capture we still had another 24 dishes to photograph. The point is that you have to take every still life food competition image as if it the cover shot because you never know which on it will be. It could the the prettiest plate or it could be a bit dull to look at.
It’s all random….
That’s absolutely not true. You try to put yourself in the mindset of the editor, the studio magazine creator and you shoot for them. They are the people who will ultimately bring the story to life, you are just there to make it look pretty.
Just a small selection of front covers over the years from Events we’ve covered.
BUt also help the Marketing, Editorial and Socials Teams…..
Here’s how we do that.
Start off by getting to the conference early before registration opens to get the lay of the land both the conference stage and to say hello to the production crew / check lighting. Walk the floor of the exhibition to see who is most likely to get busy soonest (usually a coffee supplier) so we can nail down the busy vender shot for the marketing team and editorial (to show the event was a success ).
Then onto the registration desk to chat to those beautiful people who will be handing over the delegates bags and ensuring they are logo out towards camera. Great branding for the event organiser and Forum leadership.
And then it begins.
Into the Forum
Form here we’re off into the conference hall were we need to speak to the speakers and forum leader to try to get them to remove their lanyards (they don’t always) as they can look a bit messy. This then leads into getting a headshot / three quarter shot of each speaker.
These photos are for magazine and socials.
Then it’s to the back of the room where we get a busy room shot. These serve Marketing (look how busy we are) Editorial (scene setters) and socials (great start to our wonderful event).
Question and Answer.
Forums usually have discussions (If the speaker doesn’t overrun their time allocation). Its important for Editorial to have some of these interactions in images as it tells the story of the day.
Onto the awards
In most Forum Events there is an Awards ceremony where the industry leaders and contributors come together to celebrate the achievements within their sector throughout the previous year. We are expected to get a nice staged photo of the award winners on stage receiving their award. But you only have seconds to get the shot as you don’t want the event organiser pulling you to one side, as you’re the reason the events is running over schedule.
And then we get to the festivities and dancing
Showing then the conference delegates had a great time is a delicate balance between enjoyment and professionalism. Something for the Marketing Team, Editorial and Socials to work with.
ALL READY TO GO…
The images have to ready to go to press and socials ASAP as no one wants the first photo they see from the Event to be a Camera Phone image.
We have to say that the HCA Forum this year was a great Event to be involved in and we loved being asked along to photograph it.
Shooting an event that is going to used in a National Magazine means you have to cover a lot of bases. I’ll walk you through them from this years National Burger Awards.
Now these come in to flavours.
Busy shots of the Event itself so they can sell space to sponsors.
Sponsors products in use and in the production shots.
The Marketing Team….
the Editorial team
These are the people that want that cover shot. The one shot that sums up the Event. The winning burger shot. But also a reference shot of EVERY burger because you only find out whose the winner at the end of the competition…..
National Burger awards 2023
The Money shot…
The Winners on stage with the Awards and the Burger.
And of course the perfect shot of the winning burger…. You only get around 1 minute with each burger before it gets taken away to be sampled by the judges so get it right and fast……
Ready to go to Press?
And before you leave the Event you’ve got to have the photos ready to go to press for the Morning edition / socials…
Having a chat about an exciting project like NHS Chef of the Year is one of those moments where you think…. Yes I can make a difference here, showcase a part of the catering and medical sector that really doesn’t get hardly any recognition.
Emma and Phil from NHS England have really stepped up to the plate (pun intended ) to highlight the importance of the work the catering teams throughout the NHS Trusts do and water to create a platform for them to learn and grow from professionals through the industry. Ultimately leading to those individuals returning their Trusts and passing on the skills they have learnt. Truly inspiring stuff.
Our task was to showcase the Event in a way that wouldn’t be off putting to the competitors whilst demonstrating to the naysayers that this was a fabulous opportunity for the Chefs to Learn and Grow.
The Film was broken up into two parts.
A trailer 2-3mins highlighting the competition as a whole
A 30 min short film bring together the journey of the competitors
The images were to serve as a documentary Piece for both Magazine and Socials.
Here’s what we did….
The First Few days of the Event were a learning platform for the finalist. With talks from famous chefs on sustainable proteins to Natasha’s Laws Parents. Right through to Suppliers such as MKN, Rational, and Hobart showcasing the kitchen equipment that most of the Competitors already y had access to but never really unlocked its full potential.
And the COMPETITION begins
Capturing the beginning of the competition we could see the nerves really kicking in and equally the skills progressing.
And then you come to the Knockouts.
There is no production team on these kinds of jobs so it’s important to guide the organisers in the theatre of the competition, add tension, suspense and ultimately relief / disappointment.
There can only be one winner.
But the progress and the lessons learnt throughout the competition really shone through.
the Films
NHS Chef of the Year 2022 Trailer.
And the Full 30 min piece.
NHS Chef of the Year 2022 Short Film
It’s not just about the Competition….
The Ladies from Stockport NHS have gone on to be the faces of a national food brand helping workers throughout the NHS get access to great food throughout the day whatever the time of day that is
The Ladies from Nottingham NHS secured funding for a new kitchen, moving out of the cupboard they currently occupy to a purpose build kitchen serving staff and public through the 24hr working cycle of their services. They have since thanked us for this film as they have told us that without it they would not have secured the funding, that makes us really proud to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
Event photography is crucial for clients as it captures the atmosphere, aids in marketing efforts, builds an online presence, creates lasting memories for attendees, documents achievements, and enhances professionalism and credibility. By investing in professional event photography, clients ensure that their events are beautifully documented and leave a lasting impression on both themselves and their audience.
Capturing the Atmosphere:
Event photography encapsulates the mood, energy, and emotions of an occasion, allowing clients to relive the experience and showcasing the ambiance of the Event to others.
Marketing and Promotion:
For businesses and organizations, event photography serves as a powerful marketing tool. High-quality images can be used to promote future events, attract sponsors, and generate buzz on social media and marketing materials. Professional event photographers have an eye for capturing compelling shots that showcase the brand, products, or services being promoted, enhancing the overall marketing efforts.
Building an Online Presence
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial. Event photography provides clients with a wealth of visual content that can be shared on their websites, social media platforms, and newsletters. These captivating images not only engage the audience but also provide a glimpse into the client’s event, showcasing their professionalism, expertise, and commitment to creating memorable experiences.
Enhancing Professionalism and Credibility
Hiring a professional event photographer adds an element of professionalism and credibility to any event. Experienced photographers possess the necessary technical skills and equipment to capture stunning images in various lighting conditions and challenging environments. The high-quality photographs delivered by professionals reflect positively on the client and their commitment to excellence.
