Three Helpful Lenses for Restaurant Photography

Using different lenses for restaurant photography is a great way to capture more image variety. This post shares my three favorite lenses that I bring with me on every restaurant photo shoot. The third lens just might surprise you. 😉

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Lenses for Restaurant Photography

There are a lot of lenses available on the market. So, how do you choose which lens to use?

The first thing you’ll need to check is whether or not the lenses you’re considering are compatible with your camera’s make and model. Then, you’ll need to look at the focal length of the lenses and make your selections based on the perspective that you want to capture.

I am going to share my three go-to lenses for restaurant photography for three different types of cameras including:

• Nikon
• FujiFilm
• iPhone

Zoom Lens (Best Lens for Food Photography)

My first recommendation is to make sure you have a really good zoom lens. A zoom lens is really helpful, because it allows you to capture a range of different focal lengths with one lens. Lenses are not cheap, so having one lens that gives you the flexibility for different focal lengths is a great place to start.

A zoom lens means that you manually adjust the lens to different focal lengths without having to physically move the camera closer or further away from the subject. By shooting at different focal lengths, you’ll be able to capture one dish a few different ways quickly.

NIKON

My go-to zoom lens for my Nikon cameras is the Nikon 24-70mm 2.8.

FUJIFILM

My go-to zoom lens for my FujiFilm cameras is the Fuji 18-55mm 2.8 IOS.

iPHONE

If I’m using my iPhone 13 Pro, I don’t have a separate zoom lens. There are three lenses built into this iPhone model, which means I can zoom in and out between the three lenses by touching the screen.

Macro Lens (Best for Close Up Photography)

A macro lens is an amazing lens when shooting food photography for restaurants. This is because you can get super close to the food to capture the delicious, appetizing details, colors and textures. It helps you provide a unique perspective of the food, because you’re able to get so close to it.

NIKON

My go-to macro lens for my Nikon cameras is the Nikon 105mm 2.8.

FUJIFILM

My go-to macro for my FujiFilm cameras is the Fuji 80mm 2.8.

IPHONE

If I’m using my iPhone 13 Pro, there is a macro lens built in, however, I also use a Macro 10x lens by Moment.

Moment lenses are separate lenses that you can get for your smartphone camera. In order to use these lenses with your smartphone, you’ll need one of their smartphone cases. This case allows you to easily twist the lens on and off of the case with ease and it keeps the lens secure while you capture your images.

Wide Angle Lens (Best for Interior Restaurant Photography)

A wide angle lens may come as a surprise in my lenses for restaurant photography lineup. But, I highly recommend having a wide angle lens for restaurant photography. Restaurants love showing off their food, but showing off their space and vibe is just as important.

A wide angle lens will help you capture the interior of the restaurant with ease and beautiful sharpness. Images of food make people think, “I want to eat that!” But, images of the interior are just as effective, because they make people think, “I want to eat there!”

NIKON

My go-to macro lens for my Nikon cameras is the Nikon 14-24mm 2.8.

FUJIFILM

My go-to macro for my FujiFilm cameras is the Fuji 16mm 2.8.

IPHONE

If I’m using my iPhone 13 Pro, there is a wide angle built in, however, I also have a Moment Wide Lens.

Similar to any of the separate Moment lenses, you’ll need the smartphone case to easily attach your lens to your smartphone securely.

READ MORE ABOUT: RESTAURANT PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Using a variety of lenses for restaurant photography can be pretty game-changing. You’ll be able to capture more image variety through different focal lengths. And, providing more image variety means providing more value to your clients. Focus on having a good zoom lens for different focal lengths, a macro lens for up close photography and a wide angle for interior photography. Reach out with questions anytime and be sure to follow me on Instagram! 😉

Happy Creating!

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All images ©Regan Baroni 2024.