Top 10 Considerations for a Director of Photography on Food and Beverage Commercials

Shooting food and drink may look simple, but food cinematography is one of the most technical and rewarding challenges for a director of photography. As someone who spends much of my time shooting food and beverage commercials in Los Angeles, here are 10 crucial things I keep in mind every time I step on set.

1. Lighting is Everything:

Food needs to feel natural, crave-worthy, and three-dimensional. I often lean toward soft key lights, bounce fills, and subtle backlight to create a sense of freshness.

2. Lens Selection for Texture:

Close-up macro shots demand lenses that render crisp details. I frequently use tilt-shift or probe lenses for hero shots that show melting cheese, bubbling sauces, or condensation.

3. Motion Control Makes It Pop:

Motion control in food cinematography allows us to repeat dolly moves over and over—ideal for complex multi-layer shots. It’s a must for high-end tabletop production, especially when syncing to slow motion.

4. Collaborating with Food Stylists:

Working with top-tier stylists is essential. They make the food look beautiful; I make it cinematic. The relationship between the DP and stylist is built on trust, timing, and visual taste.

5. Controlling Reflections:

Shiny surfaces like glasses and glazes can easily pick up unwanted reflections. Flags, diffusion frames, and polarizing filters are all key tools in managing highlights and focus.

6. Color Accuracy:

A burger should look juicy and golden brown—not flat or over-saturated. I work with calibrated monitors and often pre-light scenes using stand-ins to perfect the look.

7. Storytelling Through Movement:

Even in a 6-second ad, movement matters. A slow reveal of a taco on a turntable, a whip pan into a table spread—these moves give energy to the product.

8. Planning with Pre-viz:

Pre-visualization is crucial. I often sketch out camera moves or run simulations using motion control software. This makes shoot day more efficient and creative.

9. Shoot with Post in Mind:

I coordinate with the post team to ensure color grading, VFX, and timing align with how we captured footage. This reduces surprises in delivery.

10. Make the Product the Hero:

At the end of the day, the food is the star. I approach each setup with reverence—how can we shoot this burger like it’s a movie star?

Conclusion:

Being a food and beverage cinematographer means thinking like a chef, engineer, and visual poet all at once. Whether I’m shooting fast food, craft beer, or upscale cocktails, the same rules apply: capture emotion, texture, and flavor. From product cinematography to tabletop production, these 10 steps guide my process every time.