Jake and Oli have worked in professional kitchens for years. In 2020, during lockdown, they decided to bite the bullet and open their own restaurant. Thus was born Pastore. In early 2021, as restaurants were only allowed takeaway and deliveries, they embarked on a series of fortnightly pop-up menus. I joined them in Hackney to photograph their Indonesian pop-up, in collaboration with Rempapa.
Restaurant photography in Hackney: The Pastore brief
British produce has been at the heart of every iteration of the menu at Pastore. Whether they’re making pizzas, pasta, or rendang curry, they champion British ingredients. This is evident in most of their dishes. As a result, I focused on bright, saturated shots that highlighted how vibrant and fresh the flavours are.
The photography brief consisted of shooting:
- All the dishes in the menu on their own, to be used on the site’s ordering system
- Group shots of different dishes
- A tablescape including the entire menu
- Shots with human elements
The single dish shots
First up, I captured the single dishes. Shooting them one by one, and from different perspectives, I worked my way through the entire pop-up menu.
The group shots
Next up, I photographed the group shots. These included single dishes on a busy table, as well as groupings of different dishes.
The tablescapes
Jake and Oli also wanted photos of a table with all the dishes from their Indonesian pop-up menu. These were shot in both landscape and portrait orientations.
The action shots
Last but not least came the action shots. In fact, if you know anything about my work, you know that shooting people interacting with food is what I love the most. Nothing brings food to life like people serving it, enjoying it, or playing with it. Jake and Oli helped out, and let me photograph them!
The restaurant shoot details
Pastore is located at Hackney Downs Studios, and we shot on location. In order to shoot using natural light and with visual interest, I borrowed a table from the neighbouring bar and moved it close to the window. We used their cutlery and plates, as well as linen napkins that I provided. Jake and Oli took turns assisting with the photography and making sure we kept to our agreed shot list. The shoot lasted half a day.
You can stay in touch with what the guys at Pastore are doing through their Instagram.
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You can also see more of my restaurant photography. Specifically, my shoots for Chuku’s Nigerian Tapas, The Haberdashery and SlowBurn London. If you’re unsure how to pick the right photographer for your business, you can check out my tips.
And if it’s day-to-day content you’re after, have a look at my Instagram and Pinterest.
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