10-O'Clock Back-Side Lighting Rule
Never light food from the camera axis; place window or diffused LED light behind and beside the plate so glazes, herbs, and crusts catch crisp surface sheen.
Photography & Lighting
Program #035 · Photography
✓ Free Online Intro Included
Restaurant, Cafe & Culinary Commercial Photography
Shape appetizing back-side light on glazes and beverages, match camera angle to dish height, and eliminate yellow ceiling casts on location.
Front-mounted camera flash and warm overhead restaurant bulbs flatten plated dishes into dull, uninviting snapshots. In this hands-on culinary workshop, you shut off distracting ceiling spill, position diffused side-back light to make fresh textures glisten, and pre-stage stand-in plates so hot dishes are captured while steam and herbs still look alive.
✓ Free Online Introductory Session
Start with a free online intro consultation for this course: we review the syllabus together, clarify how many sessions you need based on your goals and pace, and decide whether continuing Online ($69 CAD/hr) or In-Person ($99 CAD/hr) suits you best.
First Session
Free Online Intro
Session Rates
$69/hr Online · $99/hr In-Person
Course Structure
Tailored to Your Level & Pace
Instructor & Language
Iman Adlkhah · EN & Persian
Need on-location photography for your team, brand, or listing in Toronto & GTA? Explore our Toronto Photography Services, configure a shoot on Book Online, or see recent shoots on @tehranto.plus on Instagram.
Course Learning Pillars
Core Capabilities Developed in This Course
Every learner starts from a different background. These are the core capabilities this course develops, paced to your goals across the sessions we plan together.
Matching Dish Geometry to Camera Angle
Pair tall burgers and layered drinks with low 0–15° hero angles, plated entrees with 45° diner perspective, and flat spreads with level 90° overhead frames.
Stand-In Plate Staging & Freshness Control
Lock framing, focus, and bounce cards on a dummy plate first so the chef's hero dish goes straight under calibrated light without wilting.
Accurate Porcelain Whites & Rich Warm Tones
Calibrate custom grey-card Kelvin and tabletop negative/positive cards so white ceramic stays clean while reds, greens, and golden crusts stay appetizing.
Course Syllabus
Core Concepts & Topics Covered
Below are the main concepts and topics covered in this course. In your Free Online Intro Session, we align the exact depth and number of sessions to your experience and goals.
Topic 01
Back-Side Scrims, Tabletop Cards & Three Core Angles
Light real food and espresso setups using diffused panels alongside compact white bounce and black shadow flags.
- Staging exposure and composition on a stand-in plate before plating
- Controlling porcelain rim glare while preserving appetizing glaze sheen
- Selecting 50mm, 85mm, or 90mm macro focal lengths without bowl distortion
Topic 02
Beverages, Pour Action & Human Presence in Frame
Capture crisp syrup pours, espresso crema, translucent cocktails, and natural chef or diner hands that bring editorial energy to menus.
- Locking tripod framing with high-shutter continuous bursts for clean pours
- Backlighting glassware through a narrow scrim with black edge contours
- Directing relaxed chef garnish and cutlery hands without stiff wrists
Topic 03
Styling Props, Surfaces & Overhead Table Spreads
Build visual hierarchy across matte stone, aged wood, and linen napkins so props support the hero dish instead of cluttering the frame.
- Selecting non-reflective matte cutlery, stoneware, and textured surfaces
- Odd-number prop triangles and clean negative space for menu typography
- Safe overhead boom arm counterweighting and dual-axis sensor leveling
Topic 04
Culinary Color Grading & Delivery Crop Specs
Develop consistent restaurant galleries with clean ceramic whites, natural greens, and exact aspect ratios for print menus, websites, and delivery apps.
- HSL hue/luminance refinement: calming neon greens and muddy yellows
- Fast cleanup of plate rim smudges and stray crumbs in post
- Exporting matched crops for UberEats, DoorDash, print menus, and 4:5 social
Course Reference Overview
Culinary Photography Angle & Lighting Reference
Core practical benchmarks and standards covered as part of this course's curriculum.
| Dish Category | Camera Elevation | Aperture Range | Key & Fill Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza & Mezze Table | 90° Plumb Overhead | f/5.6–f/8.0 | 9:30 wide scrim + opposite bounce |
| Plated Entree & Bowl | 45° Diner Perspective | f/3.5–f/5.0 | 10:30 back-side + soft front fill |
| Tall Burger & Stack | 0°–15° Low Hero | f/2.8–f/4.0 | 11:00 rim glaze + 5:00 white card |
| Translucent Cocktail | 10° Eye-Level Glass | f/4.0–f/5.6 | Rear strip scrim + black side flags |
Start With Your Free Intro Session
Book Program #035: Restaurant, Cafe & Culinary Commercial Photography
Choose a time for your Free Online Intro Session to map out your course path, or book an Online ($69/hr) or In-Person ($99/hr) session directly.
1. Choose Option & Preferred Time (ET)
Program FAQ
Common Questions
What portable lighting kit works inside dim Toronto restaurants with zero window light?
A single 100W–150W bi-color COB LED or compact battery strobe paired with a collapsible 65–90cm softbox and two tabletop foam cards fits into one shoulder bag and recreates clean directional window light anywhere. We review your current gear during the Free Online Intro Session.
How does the Free Online Intro Session work, and how many sessions will I need?
Every course begins with a Free Online Introductory Session where we review the core syllabus together, evaluate your current background and goals, and map out how many sessions you actually need and whether continuing Online ($69 CAD/hr) or In-Person ($99 CAD/hr) suits you best. Session count is never a rigid one-size-fits-all number; it adapts to your own level and pace.
Do I have to commit to a multi-session package upfront?
Never. There is zero upfront package commitment: once your free online intro session maps out your path, any coaching sessions you choose ($69 CAD/hr online or $99 CAD/hr in-person) are scheduled flexibly session-by-session at your own pace.
Are courses taught in English, Persian (Farsi), or bilingual?
Your choice: every session with Iman Adlkhah can be conducted 100% in English, 100% in Persian (Farsi), or naturally bilingual with industry terminology.
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