Include people?

I’ve been asked to photograph my local pub and they want interior shots of the restaurant as well as drinks and food. Should I include people in these images? When I asked they said to me whatever looks best… but I’m unsure!

Kate Smith

In any area of photography there are no rules – only guidelines you can discard if you disagree. These are our thoughts, which you may or may not agree with…

People provide atmosphere and movement in your images however they can also clutter and distract. When it comes to wide-angle shots of interior and exterior seated spaces such as a restaurant area we recommend you shoot the wide pictures without people. People complicate the scene, plus you also need to ensure you have permission from each sitter so there are more logistical considerations to take into account.

However, as mentioned, people are also important for capturing atmosphere and selling a space and business. To get these types of shots you could try coming in for a closer view, for example capturing a shot of a hand on a glass, or someone holding a burger ready to eat. This means for your photo shoot you only need one or two hand models on the day, which is far easier to organise. In these detailed shots keep the people anonymous (don’t shoot their face) unless your client specifies they want an image of someone in particular, for example a headshot of the manager or the chef.

Wide-angle shots of seated areas in restaurants photograph better without people. Use props like plants to help draw the eye in

© Claire Gillo