New promo photos for my brother's restaurant (Please C&C)

So I shot these few photos today for my brother's Italian restaurant in Hong Kong (called Doppio Zero). Last time I shot a small handful of dishes against a seamless white background (a lot of you said it looked a bit clinical) so I shot them this time on one of his wooden tables at the restaurant (to give it a little bit more texture and contrast). Here's my photos from last time as reference:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1050356

Here are today's photos to be used for his PR packet to showcase a few of his signature dishes (please kindly C&C):

1) Truffle fried oysters

What are you trying to convey?

Are these product shots for menus or exterior street display?

Or are these going to be used for promotion, like an ad campaign?

S.Horton wrote in post #13825098
What are you trying to convey?

Are these product shots for menus or exterior street display?

Or are these going to be used for promotion, like an ad campaign?

These are mainly product shots for this PR packet of a few of his restaurant's signature dishes.

When you say PR, do you mean something with a description alongside the photo? That would mean the focus is on some quality of the food itself, thus aimed at an audience which could know the difference.

I'm asking because the best promo shots I recall for restaurants involve happy people inside the context of having food in the venue. That may mean absolutely nothing, because food is not my business. I just know what I can remember.

I think the photographs are fine. I can see that the chef is good. If I ever get to HK, maybe I will stop by.

S.Horton wrote in post #13825135
When you say PR, do you mean something with a description alongside the photo?

I'm asking because the best promo shots I recall for restaurants involve happy people inside the context of having food in the venue. That may mean absolutely nothing, because food is not my business. I just know what I can remember.

I think the photographs are fine. I can see that the chef is good. If I ever get to HK, maybe I will stop by.

Usually a PR packet is created for a restaurant to send to press/media notifying them of the business (or update to a business). Besides a 1 pager blurb that will describe/promote the restaurant photos will also be attached (although not the main focus). Photos for a restaurant will usually include a few that showcase the food and also a few that may showcase the interior decor of the restaurant. Photos could potentially involve happy people eating but I would say this usually not the norm.

Thanks S Horton. I tried to style the photos a little bit this time and make the photos a little warmer so they wouldn't be as clinical-looking as last time.

Interesting. I did not know that.

In that business, are you trying to get noticed by critics and peers to get customers?

Sounds very high end.

S.Horton wrote in post #13825333
Interesting. I did not know that.

In that business, are you trying to get noticed by critics and peers to get customers?

Sounds very high end.

Yes, I would say the purpose of a PR kit is trying to get noticed by critics and peers/media.

Not really that high end but Hong Kong is very commercial so very hard to open a restaurant (especially a western restaurant) and go the mum & pop marketing approach. There's just too much competition.

Hong KOng is very high end. I'd like to see more fall off of the light to give it more mood and shading. Seems like there would be 500 watt bulbs over my table.

#2 looks blown out and #4 is weak composition — it doesn't balance. #1 has great texture. Nice set.

#2 has a strange angle. The food looks like it may fall off the plate...I guess the bottle is laying down. The other shots are great!

mcluckie wrote in post #13825803
Hong KOng is very high end. I'd like to see more fall off of the light to give it more mood and shading. Seems like there would be 500 watt bulbs over my table.

#2 looks blown out and #4 is weak composition — it doesn't balance. #1 has great texture. Nice set.

Thanks for the comments. I actually will be uploading a few more shots. At least one of them will be shot a little wider so you see more of the mood.

When you talk about #4 not balancing can you elaborate a little more?

johnb007 wrote in post #13826463
#2 has a strange angle. The food looks like it may fall off the plate...I guess the bottle is laying down. The other shots are great!

Thanks jonb007! Let me see if I can find/upload a more normal angle for the burrata.

What is going on in #2 with the pink areas ?

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #13827351
What is going on in #2 with the pink areas ?

Hmm...not really sure. There wasn't anything pink during the shoot. Guess #2 seems to be the consensus photo to throw out...

no, dont shoot wider. #4 comment was about crop. crop the table bit on the bottom and you'll see how much stronger it is when the plate bleeds. (but then it looks like 3.)

mcluckie wrote in post #13828155
no, dont shoot wider. #4 comment was about crop. crop the table bit on the bottom and you'll see how much stronger it is when the plate bleeds. (but then it looks like 3.)

That's fine if it looks a little like #3. The main thing you are suggesting is I get rid of that negative space below the bowl/plate and crop it a bit tighter. Will give that a go and see how it looks. Thanks!

Some of the food offerings appear not to have sufficient depth of field or missed focus. For example, #1 the DOF is okay since both offerings are the same, and the one in the foreground is sharp enough to show details. The DOF #2 and #6 could be deeper to keep the food in focus. Granted, I'm not a product photographer, but from a food perspective I'd like to clearly see what it is that I may be eating.