Gear I Bring to Restaurant Photoshoots 

Why go to college for photography when I can just binge watch Joanie videos.

Thank you for the great info Joanie. Traveling light but having what one needs for a shoot is the balance I strive for. As for camera backpacks, I love my Shimoda bag. I have the 40L and for us girls, they have three different strap configurations for to choose from. As we are not all built the same.

Packing a camera bag... boy does that bring back memories. I started in the industry 38 years ago when I was 12 years old, carrying my dad's camera bag. It was pretty big and stiff leather and had no compartments. He shot medium format, so the equipment was bigger, and not being digital, much heavier as well. Over the years it became my job to pack his bag, and eventually my husband's as well because, of course, I married a photographer. Although he eventually went with a soft side duffel style bag with movable compartments, I still packed it. This video was also helpful to me so I can be thinking of what I want in my own camera bag when I get one. Thank you!

Loved this video!! It motivates me to reach out to some local restaurants and start shooting! 🙌🏻📸

love watching your inspiring and very educational videos, learn so much from it

Wow, I never realized there was so much involved in Food Photography, I do know food stylist have a whole arsenal of tools and tricks to make the food look amazing. I like your KISS approach to doing things which is the way I like to work too, I when first started I had all kinds of camera accessories now I have pared it down to the essentials. I do motorsports and events, my kit is small I have two cameras, four lenses and some accessories. Thanks for the BTS. I do use a camera backpack but I use mine to carry my camera gear, laptop, tripod water bottles and my motorcycle problem kit which has a flat tire kit, first aid, fuses ,etc. My current bags are the Think Tank Photo Airport Essentials mostly used for travel, my "daily bag" is a TUBU 6070 which is sort of a hiking backpack. It also has reflective patches on it which is useful when I riding my motorcycle. I think a roller bag would be more useful in your situation.

This RU-vid clip couldn’t have come at a more opportune time, it untangled my though process so much, so for that alone, I am eternally thankful.

Hey this is a great video, I have most of the things as you had told and will take on somethings for my next shoots as pointed out in this video! Thanks a ton.

So handy💛 I really waited for this one!

Hey Joanie! I really like your show and want to thank you for sharing your expertise. As far as bags, I love my ThinkTank Airport Commuter backpack. I've had it for a few years now and it has served me well, especially while traveling around. I had a LowePro Slingshot, which I liked, but it would get fatiguing carrying it for awhile. I hope this helps! Thanks again.

Love seeing what kinds of equipment are in people's bags... Great video! :)

Awesome video! Thank you for keeping it simple!

i love the list that you made according to a differents buget ranges! amazing!+

Your video came just in time as I was restarting my love for photography after shifting to a new house. I loved the tips in this video.

Great tips. I plan to assemble a styling kit with the items you mentioned for restaurant shoots.

AWESOME! very nice tips! share your experience make me happy.

Great video Joanie! Been thinking about doing something like this soon. Traveling next week so maybe I'll shoot one.

I take a blower(camera cleaning kit) to clean things especially dust stuff for food shoots

Great tips and great photos. Thank you!

Joanie! Can you please do a BTS of you shooting for a restaurant vlog?❤️❤️

Have to re-watch this before I go for a restaurant shoot!

Very helpful!:) Sometimes I get so carried away thinking I need way more than I do for off site shoots. Thanks for reigning it in miss:)!

A white plastic shower curtain and a foil emergency blanket are very useful as a reflector or to block sunlight. Good for sitting on wet grass and many other uses. Gorilla tape too. I tape the shower curtain to a wall and use that to bounce light when there's no room for a lightstand and modifier. Probably not an issue in the USA, but we have a lot of small bars and restaurants in the UK.

So good! Great videos and very professional haha ! 🔥👍🏻😄

The Case Logic SLRC-206 SLR Camera and 15.4-Inch Laptop Backpack, it's got one of the best camera cradles I've seen to date.

I love how relevant this is, your channel had been an absolute lifesaver for me. My question is how do you get around pricing for a ~2 hour shoot? I'm taking all sorts of shoots near-identical to this for my company where I'm already working as a bartender, so I'm working more on the portfolio, but I'd love to know how you go about charging! Once again, love your stuff. Keep killing it

You are a life saver!! THANKYOUU

Brilliantly informative, thank you!

Came here to say that this video saved my life this morning. I had the backup camera! And the only reason I brought it was because I remembered this video from 2018! So thank you very much

Ohhh request (if it makes sense lol) shooting/styling/editing on different colour backgrounds!! Would love to see if there's any difference to your process for more colourful backgrounds (blue, pink etc) like how there is for dark moods vs bright/light

Thanks, i really enjoyed and learn

I love the fact that you keep using the term "rockstar"! It's unique and it makes me wanna use that phrase. "It's a rockstar" I love your channel!

Your videos always inspiring

ThinkTank makes great bags. The StreetWalker Pro is a knapsack that is well padded and comfortable. 3 lenses and a camera plus a lot of other stuff is no problem.

I'm a food photographer out in San Diego, I recommend the think tank hard drive v2. Ton's of space for every possible gear but it's pretty compact given how much you can carry. If you want something little more reasonable in size then my fellow food tog uses the peakdesign backpack, doubles as his traveling camera backpack too and doesn't look like one while still being able to hold key gear like small strobes, 100 macros, 50s, and body

Love your videos! Thanks for the content :)

Hey! I have the Lowepro 450 as a backpack and I've never loved a backpack this much !

Love your videos! I have been helping with some food photography at the hotel where I work and watching your videos has been very helpful!

I seriously find your channel so helpful. I write restaurants reviews for a magazine here in south korea and I have to take my own photos. So most of the time my gear is my canon t5, my 50mm 1.8, and my 18-55mm 3.5-5.6.

Hey Joanie, I enjoy your work. I never thought I'd use a backpack for commercial. But if I was in your environment I'd consider ThinkTankPhoto. Streetwalker model is good protection and enough for your gear. For more gear and 2-wheelering around I'd go for the Pelican cases with dividers. Also, divided cases are good for assistants in that it's clear that everything has a place. SO, If there is an open slot......something has been left where it shouldn't be......

good combo!!!

Love ur work

Awesome video! Could you tell me what diffuser that is in the video?

I'm curious how much you'd charge for a restaurant shoot like this? Obviously with a long running relationship with them it might be different, but for a one-off project of this kind, what is a fair rate? I'm not good with the numbers game.

I always try to remember my X-Rite ColorChecker Passport ! Try to keep every thing consistent / white balance, etc. I enjoy your videos.

Do you ever shoot straight down with the light from Over the food? Or just from the side? I'm trying to learn as much as I can about food photography. . Thank you for your channel as well. It looks great!!!

Endurax ShellX P01 is about $100 on Amazon right now and the have a hard shell for protection and the size is GREAT! I like to carry an assortment of lenses and sometimes even pack a drone. And this backpack gives you ample space to do all that. You don't have to worry about should I take my drone or my 70-200 .. there's plenty of room for both and there's a huge pouch at the top it separate from the lenses for batteries and cables and in a small cleaning kit case you get a smudge on your lens or your sensor.. I look for weeks and came to the conclusion this wouldn't would be nice. And it is super nice!

Another Awesome Thursday Video...YaY

9:27 Laughed at the BTS at 9:27. You need to make a video on how to deal with people that want to stop and talk. Seems like that happens nonstop, every time 😂

Bravissima e anche molto carina!!! 👏🏻😘

Great video

Loved the video, but somewhat misleading. Haha. I just wanted a quick refresher on location Int/Ext. but got a wealth of refresher on food photos on location. Haha. Retitling this one "Essential Gear for On-location Food Photography" in my mind though. haha. This is essentially what I bring, minus some bulk. Love the glyc/water practice! Great job out there!

That was so interesting. Thank you. Annice ( Rory is my other half).

Hi, love your stuff. I have been lucky enough to get a few clients through an agency and they are very strict on angles of +- 45 degrees. I see you shoot mostly hand held, are you not concern about consistent angles throughout all of the photos? Especially when it might be used for a menu? O yes and one thing I wish I invested in is a foldable soft box, I have an 120cm Godox one and hate disassembling it each time :)

How do you mind the Ink and Elm backdrops? I mean, are they thicker than they look so it doesn't seem warped? Or do you have to have those on a very very smooth surface? Thanks :)

your hair color is distractingly amazing :) Any interest or experience with the fuji camera system Joanie?

Thinktank - can't go wrong - Tenba also good.

Do you have a video on pricing this type of work? :)

what size do you recommend us for the backdrops?

I have a question, when i have to use the umbrella and when the softbox?

I use Billingham bags cause they are sturdy and I don't get a heart attack when I drop one ;-)

Joanie, did you ever shoot food in HDR mode? If yes then please share with us. Thanks.

Okay, the inkandelm backdrop.... do you have any issues with the light picking up the texture of it, or reflecting off it to the point you can't even see the backdrop? I'm talking about it being under the subject. Can't do backlight in that scenario. And side light can show the "bumps", even though it is not canvas. So, quick tips on that?

can i still eat the food after i spray the 50-50 water-glycerin mixture?

What size is your inkandelm backdrop?

Peak Design bags are the best. Expensive, but incredible

I am doing the same stuff :) Nice content!

Hot to pitch your photography services to a restaurant. I tried couple of times. Left my informations, but no one has called. Any tips on how to market yourself to restaurants?

I'm always curious - what happens to all the food after restaurant photoshoot? Simple thing but bothers my mind haha. Great video as always!

I'm late to the game here, but if you're still in the market for a backpack, I love my ThinkTank Streetwalker v2.0 series.

Great to see how you work on location for this type of shoot. But how do you price for a shoot like this?

ONA bags... the bowery is my fav... ;-)

what is the difference between 24-70 mm from 24-105mm L 4f?

Hi any tips on how to get started in food photography and build relationships with local restaurants?

I definitely think you’ll enjoy switching to a backpack! Like you, I always bring backups of everything, and it all fits on one big backpack. My main gear is a 5D Mk III with a 1DX Mk II as backup (I also shoot equestrian sports). The 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro is what I use the most, followed by the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II for extra compression, and the 24-70mm f/2.8L II for the wide shots. For lighting, I bring basically the same as you!

TACTICAL FANNY PACKS!

I am only just starting a photography study and my homework is restaurant photography. I only have a basic tripod, Nikon D3400 and 2 lenses. I am freaking out a little because I am going to the local Chinese restaurant tomorrow. It will be mainly the restaurant itself, not really the food. Do you have any tips?

Can I ask a question? I mostly do landscape and portrait photography. Being a restaurant manager for over 20 years prior to my photography career now. I know a lot of people in the restaurant business and they would like photos. So, I wanted to start venturing into that as well for the extra income. I'm currently shooting with the Canon EOS R with the EF 16-35 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 and I use 85mm 1.8 and I also own a 35 mm f1.8 that I never carry or use as well as the 24-105.. Then I have the Canon 80d for my backup. And I've got a few Sigma Art lenses and 5-6 more random Canon lenses. At this point, I really do not want to purchase any more lenses as I've already spent a small fortune, and I'm still paying on them. If anything would you recommend that I sell off my Canon crop sensor lenses? And use that money to buy 100 mm lens. I shoot most of my portrait stuff on the 85mm. Should I just ditch the 85 and get the 100? It would still work great for portraits. I'm sure.

what bag did you end up buying??

I use a previous version of this case. I love it because I can unzip the lid, fold it back and everything is set out in front of me. Plus, I can use my back to carry it instead of my arms. www.tamrac.com/collections/backpacks/products/anvil-27

Peak design cases.

If you are still looking for a backpack, I LOVE my Lo & Sons backpack.

I believe a photo lightbox is a way to go for food photography.

Can I eat the food after the shot with the Glycerine on it? Greetings from Germany, Cologne.

Greetings, I know umbrellas are versatile but you have not considered using a small softbox?

Hi, you forgot to mention an essential accessory that you use all the time given the quality of your photos : your talent! Thks for sharing your experience.

Peter McKinnon bag. IT'S AVAILABLE

I got this one on sale about 6 months ago. Wish I bought it a long time ago. The yellow dividers make it easy to see all the stuff inside and being Pelican it is rock solid. Also is airline carry on sized. www.adorama.com/pl1514ch.html?rfkref=productPage

I bring even less stuff than you. My old Canon 5d with a 28mm f2.8 and a 50mm f1.4. A tripod and plank of wood in case the restaurants table is not nice and beautiful. I use natural light only and shoot by the window. I'll rotate the table/plank to adjust light angle and i'll use their curtains if they have to create beams of light and create natural vignete effects. I'll mostly use low key techniques. Thats it pretty much

As always, great video. Very informative. Thank you! Here are two very useful tricks for you; 1- always try to park as close to the door of the venue as possible. Seems quite evident, not always feasible but it can be arranged with the client. That way, you can bring extra gear and leave it in your car. It's close by and if you need it (if the client has a spur of the moment idea or any other reason) you can address it. 2- The CHECKLIST!!! Make a checklist (and multiple copies of it) of the gear you can't live without for every shoot and any situation (batteries, charger, memory card, camera, lenses, etc.) and then make a second checklist especially for the event you're going to (depending on what was agreed to with the client)... and don't forget to think about backups. You never know when a camera decides to spring an "error" or a piece of gear refuses to work correctly. As for a bag, I use the Think Tank Airport. I have a lot of gear and I LOVE those wheels!! It's very roomy so you can pack a lot of stuff in it. It's expensive but worth it if you have to walk a lot to get to the job and don't want to carry the whole weight of your gear on your shoulders.

Basically you worked for magician that's pretty cool.

Tip: try to not carry all your camera gear in a bag that features a shoulder strap - it stresses your spine. After over 50 years of doing that, my spine is permanently curved and I have pinched nerves that cause pain and numbness in my legs and feet. I can't lift my left foot so must slide it forward. Some days I now need a cane to walk. I can't lift anything more than 20 pounds. Opt for something with wheels instead. I am very serious about this! Terry Thomas... the photographer Atlanta, Georgia USA

I go with a full suv car 🤣

I've used a guitar capo and a folding chair to mount a reflector 😂 if it works, it works.

SOOOOO much talking (non stop... pls take a breath!) and SO little bts :-/

ur male or female??