Shooting a Thai Restaurant Menu with Only Natural Light: Lessons from Mu
A few weeks ago, I had the chance to photograph the menu for Mu Restaurant, a cozy Thai spot with incredible dishes and a ton of character. The challenge? I had to rely entirely on natural light, work solo, and make sure each dish looked as delicious as it tasted.
Here’s a quick behind-the-scenes breakdown of how I approached the shoot and a few things I learned along the way.
Drunken Noodle
📸 Shooting with Natural Light
The restaurant had big windows that let in some beautiful diffused light, but it moved fast and changed throughout the shoot. I had to get creative with positioning rotating plates, bouncing light off nearby surfaces, and even timing shots around when the clouds cooperated.
The biggest tip I can offer when shooting in natural light: embrace the shadows. They can add depth and texture that artificial lighting sometimes flattens out. I leaned into side-lighting to make the curries and noodles feel rich and dimensional, and shot wide open to keep the backgrounds soft and clean.
🧼 Food Styling (and Survival)
Since I was working solo, I had to juggle shooting, styling, and clean-up—all while keeping the food looking fresh. Here’s what helped:
Bring a backdrop: I assumed the restaurant would have a neutral table or surface I could shoot on. They didn’t. Lesson learned: pack a small, portable backdrop just in case.
Wet wipes = lifesaver: Sauces spill. Garnishes fall. Plates smudge. Next time, I’ll keep wipes on deck from the jump.
Shoot fast: Hot dishes cool fast. I made sure to plan my angles and settings before the food hit the table, so I could start firing off shots immediately.
💬 People Matter More Than Gear
One of the most unexpected lessons came from a quiet moment with the restaurant manager. He seemed a little distant at first then opened up halfway through the shoot. Turns out, he was dealing with some heavy personal stuff, and just appreciated someone showing up with a good attitude.
It was a reminder: always lead with kindness. Your energy on set can make or break the shoot for everyone involved.
Final Thoughts
This shoot reminded me that limitations can be powerful. No flash. No team. Just a camera, some sunlight, and a bunch of flavorful dishes. I’m proud of how it came together and more importantly, so was the client.
Whether you’re just starting out or years into food photography, here’s the takeaway: prepare for the unexpected, and stay cool under pressure. Oh, and bring the wet wipes.