A good restaurant video shoot is mostly preparation. The camera work takes a few hours; the difference between ten usable reels and twenty is what the kitchen and the front of house have ready when I walk in. Here is the checklist I send clients before every restaurant video shoot in Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego.
1. Agree the shot list before the day
Pick eight to twelve dishes that photograph and film well, and for each one decide the action: a pour, a slice, a cheese pull, a flame, a sprinkle of garnish, a plate landing on the pass. Action is what makes a reel. A beautiful plate sitting still is a photo, not a video.
2. Prep ingredients so dishes can be plated on cue
Have everything portioned, sauces in squeeze bottles and garnishes picked. For video we often plate the same dish two or three times to get the action from different angles, so prep for multiples. Fresh is better than perfect: a burger plated and filmed within sixty seconds beats one that sat under a heat lamp.
3. Choose the time of day
Between lunch and dinner is ideal: the kitchen is staffed, the room is quiet and the light is still good. If you want ambience shots of a full room, we add a short block at the start of dinner service and keep the footprint small.
4. Clear a set and a staging area
One table near a window or a corner of the bar becomes the set. A second surface next to it is where plates land before they go on camera. Clear both of menus, condiments and clutter unless they are part of the shot.
5. Think about the people in the frame
Hands plating, a bartender pouring, a chef at the pass: these are the most-watched moments in restaurant reels. Decide who is on camera, have them in clean uniforms or aprons, and let them know what we will film so they are relaxed. Short on-camera lines from the chef or owner are worth planning if you want an interview clip.
6. Sound matters more than you think
Sizzle, pours, knife work and the room's hum do a lot of work in a reel. Turn off music for the clips we film with natural sound, and keep the dishwasher and blenders quiet during interviews. Trending audio is added later inside the apps.
7. Props, surfaces and the brand
Pull your branded items together: menus, coasters, takeout packaging, glassware with your logo, a sign out front. I bring surfaces, linens and basic props, but the brand pieces have to come from you.
8. Decide where the videos will live
Instagram and TikTok want vertical 9:16; your website hero and digital menu boards want wide 16:9. Tell me both so we frame every action to crop cleanly either way. If you are also refreshing photos, we cover the same dishes for stills in the same visit.
The day itself
About thirty minutes to set up lights, then five to ten minutes per dish for stills and ten to fifteen for video actions. You see the footage as we go. Edits come back in about a week, depending on how much we shoot, with captions and versions with and without music. Photos from the same shoot are delivered within three business days.
Want the photo version of this checklist? Read how to prep your restaurant for a food photography shoot, or get a quote for a photo and video day.
Frequently asked questions
How many dishes should we prepare for a video shoot?
Eight to twelve dishes with a planned action each is the sweet spot for a half-day reels session. Fewer dishes shot well beat a whole menu rushed.
Do we need to close the restaurant for a video shoot?
No. Most shoots happen between lunch and dinner service with a compact lighting setup. Ambience shots of a busy room can be added at the start of service.
Should staff be on camera?
Yes, where they are comfortable. Hands plating, pours and a chef at the pass are the most-watched moments in restaurant reels, and a short line from the owner makes a strong interview clip.
How long does a restaurant video shoot take?
Two to three hours for a focused reels session, four to five for a half day with photos, and a full day for a whole menu plus interviews and a restaurant tour.