When you plan a special event, you expect that people will take pictures and post them on social media. You may even hire a professional photographer to capture key moments and create lasting memories. But many event hosts don’t think about how the food served at an event will appear on camera, and how the way the food looks plays a huge part in how the event is perceived by people looking at the photos afterward. Luckily, you can work with an experienced caterer to make sure the dishes served are photo-ready and have perfect plating.
Discussing Your Expectations
Before your event, you should meet with your caterer to discuss your expectations for plating. Even better, you should bring your photographer along. Your photographer can explain to your caterer how they plan on photographing the food at the event and what makes for a good (and bad) plating style in digital photos. Keep in mind that the plating of the food at your event not only translates to how it is perceived in photos and how your event looks overall, but also directly contributes to the satisfaction of your party guests and how excited they are to try the food.
Showing Inspiration Photos for Plating
You can prepare for your meeting with your caterer by looking up inspiration photos online for the plating style you like the most. You want to find a balance between plating for the camera and plating for your guests. Explore different plating styles, such as minimalist, garnish-focused, deconstructed, stacked, asymmetrical, color-blocked, and interactive to create a mood board or plating inspiration album to show your caterer.
Making Sure Food is Plated for the Camera
When plating food for photos, you want to think about enhancing the beauty, color, and overall visual appeal of each dish. Your photographer should have a good understanding of how to communicate these needs with your caterer, but general guidelines include:
- Layering food to create depth and visual interest.
- Incorporating colorful and interesting garnishes to make the food look more appealing.
- Using negative space to draw focus to the dish.
- Combining contrasting colors, textures, and shapes to make the dish more appealing.
- Placing the food thoughtfully and artfully on the plate.
- Using props and utensils to add visual interest.
Lighting and Location
Finally, you and your photographer and caterer should discuss the location of the food and the lighting in that area. It’s possible that you will need to create a special area of plated food for your photographer that is separate from the rest of the food that is served to guests. This will give your photographer time to set up and take perfect shots of the food while the guests can start eating and enjoying the party.
If you’re looking for an experienced, friendly catering company in Tucson, AZ who can help you design a menu for an event of any size or occasion, our team at Tucson Creative Catering can help. We specialize in full-service catering and event planning services and have decades of experience. Call today or contact us online to schedule a consultation.