SHOOT IT
ON YOUR
IPHONE.
How to film food content people stop scrolling for, with just the phone in your pocket. Simple tips from the Chadwah Creative team, with real examples from our client work.
SET UP
YOUR CAMERA.
Always film vertically (9:16) and keep the important stuff in the middle of the frame. Captions and buttons cover the top and bottom on Instagram and TikTok.
FIND
THE LIGHT.
Good light does more for your food than any camera. We use a mix of natural light and flash, depending on the venue.
- Natural light, side on. Put the plate beside a window, not in front of it.
- Turn off the overheads. Mixing warm downlights with daylight turns food yellow and muddy.
- Add flash when it is dark. No window? A flash or small light held off to the side makes the food pop.
- Avoid harsh midday sun. If it is too strong, move back from the window or diffuse with a white curtain.
HOOK THEM
IN 2 SECONDS.
People decide in the first second or two whether to keep watching. Open on your best moment, not on the shopfront.
- Lead with the money shot: the scoop, the cheese pull, the pour, the crack of a crust.
- Get close. Fill the frame with the food.
- Save the logo and the street view for the end, if you use them at all.
SHOW THE
PROCESS.
Watching food get made is addictive. A simple before-and-after or step-by-step is one of the easiest reels to shoot.
- Shoot each step as its own short clip: raw ingredients, cooking, plating, the finished dish.
- Keep the camera in the same spot for every step so the cuts feel smooth.
- Hands in frame make it feel real. Your chef is your star.
PICK THE
RIGHT ANGLE.
Different food suits different angles. Choose the one that shows the best side of the dish.
- Overhead (top-down) for flat dishes: pizza, bowls, platters, coffee art.
- 45 degrees for most plates and drinks. It is how people see food at the table.
- Straight on (eye level) for tall food: burgers, stacks, layered cakes, cocktails.
MOVE
SLOWLY.
Smooth, slow movement looks expensive. Shaky, fast movement looks rushed.
- Hold every shot for 3 to 5 seconds. You can always trim it later.
- Slow push in toward the dish, or a slow slide past it. One move per clip.
- Tuck your elbows in and move your whole body, not just your wrists.
- Turn on stabilisation. On newer iPhones, Action mode helps when you are walking.
USE
SLO-MO.
Pours, drizzles, sauces and steam look incredible slowed down.
- Swipe to Slo-mo in the Camera app for pours and drips.
- You need lots of light for slo-mo, so shoot it near the window.
- Use it for one or two moments, not the whole reel.
PUT PEOPLE
ON CAMERA.
People follow people. Your staff and regulars make your venue feel alive.
- Ask a simple question on camera and let them answer naturally.
- Get close for sound. Stand within arm's length, or use a small clip-on mic.
- Film the room: busy tables, cheers, the team working.
KEEP IT
SHORT.
Short reels get watched to the end, and that helps them reach more people.
- Aim for 7 to 20 seconds.
- Cut every 1 to 2 seconds to keep the energy up.
- Add captions, because many people watch with the sound off.
- Edit in the app you post from, or in CapCut, and add sound there.
BEFORE YOU
HIT POST.
- Shot near a window, overhead lights off
- Lens cleaned, focus locked
- Filmed vertically, food in the middle
- Best moment in the first 2 seconds
- Each clip held for 3 to 5 seconds
- One slow move per clip
- Process shots: raw, cooking, plated
- A person or hands in at least one shot
- Reel trimmed to 7–20 seconds
- Captions added
LEARN IT
WITH THE TEAM.
Book a one-on-one, 2-day course at your venue. We teach you and your staff to shoot, edit and post content on your iPhone, using your own menu.
LET US
HANDLE IT.
Chadwah Creative shoots reels, photos and social content for Sydney restaurants, cafés and food brands. See our work or get in touch.