How To Improve Your Instagram Game When Dining Out.

No Photography Please! Yes there are some restaurants who specifically ask their diners to leave that cell phone in their pocket or purse, so there’s no disturbance to fellow patrons as we go in search of that perfect  Instagram pic. You ever wonder if it’s for the ‘likes’ or to show-off to friends and the world by extension, that drives us to want to capture every possible angle rather than just enjoy the moment. After-all, dinging out is about the experience right?

Here are my tips for taking that incredible Instagram picture and not becoming a annoyance to those around you, who may not share your passion for superiority in the ‘Gram’ game.

1. NO FLASH! There’s nothing more distracting to others than having flashes going off as they try to gaze into the eyes of their date across the table. There are tools built within Instagram to help you adjust lighting, contrast and sharpness. I usually try to get a table where there’s some measure of natural or forced light. There are times when you will have no choice but want to reach for some sort of lighting, so I usually ask one of my daughters (anyone with you) to turn on and shine the light (continuous) from their phone onto the image I’m trying to capture. At least it’s not a flash right? Or simply go to the restaurant during daylight hours.
2. That “click” sound.. remove that off your phone’s setting as well. That sound that tries to mimic a professional photographer using a high end DSLR camera. Be inconspicuous as you can.
3. You’ve seen them (and you’re probably just as guilty).. people climbing on chairs, over people shoulders etc for that overhead shot. That is very disruptive as well and though it may not get you immediately kicked out of the restaurant, it could lead to confrontations with other diners.
4. Keep your phone (or pocket camera) steady! Usually I press against my chest, use two hands or use a chair’s rail to support and keep my hands steady as possible.
5. Apps! As mentioned above in #1, employ the use of Apps to help modify the images after. Photoshop, Light room and Canva comes to mind.
6. Equipment Matters! Only a few months ago did I switch over to the Iphone 6 as the HTC I used before was VERY old and outdated (literally a brick and should have been registered as a weapon) . Samsung and HTC phones are some of my personal favorites as I quite like the photo quality and low light images I get from them. I do own several DSLR cameras with relatively good/expensive lens, but they are bulky and finding room on a table among plates, glasses, centerpieces etc is very difficult. Not to mention that that too can become a distraction to other patrons.
7. Be mindful of your date! If your date does not share the same enthusiasm as you for documenting your meal… let it go.
8. Be respectful of the chef, staff and restaurant and try to get the food in all it’s glory. If there was a ‘dislike’ option on Instagram there would be several people qualifying for my thumbs down. DON’T take a pic of a half eaten steak or bagel with your teeth marks. While the food is jumping off the plate and strikingly attractive – take that pic or don’t take any! Now there are times when I’m taking a pic for a blog post and I may show a cleaned plate – that’s just for that dramatic effect to show my readers how good the dish was.

There will be times when you just can’t get that perfect image, so accept defeat and enjoy the meal and company you’re in. Lighting is never perfect, sometimes the food looks terrible on he plate and there will be times when that overhead shot is the only way to capture the moment.. but without climbing on someone’s back you just cant get it.

Before Instagram was even a thought on some programming nerd’s mind, I owned a website where we would document things people/families could do locally and it saw us invited to many restaurants to review or feature their menus. So 10 years ago my daughters were programmed.. “WAIT!” Dad must take a photo of your plate before we can dig in.. so even today they usually pause when the staff brings them their order to the table anticipating my “WAIT!”