Café Rodi
Brief
This project was all about capturing the warmth and authenticity of Café Rodi, a beloved, family-run spot in the heart of the community where I live. I was commissioned to photograph a selection of their menu as well as convey the welcoming atmosphere they’ve cultivated over the years. I personally love this place and have a lot of experience of most of their menu items, which always makes things easier!
The aim for the shoot was to create versatile images for use across social media and digital platforms. The brief was simple but broad, showcase dishes, capture the setting, and reflect the café’s approachable charm. I kept in mind the kind of visuals that not only highlight the food, but also tell the story of a place customers return to, whether it’s their first visit or their fiftieth (or, more like fiftieth, for me…).
Approach
For this shoot, I focused on three key things:
The food- fresh, colourful, real.
The space- warm, inviting, and full of character.
The story- a family-run café rooted in its local community.
We started by photographing their beautifully prepared salads, cakes, and classic café fare, making sure the dishes felt as appetising and unfussy as they do in real life. Natural light helped retain a sense of honesty in the shots, no heavy styling, just fresh food made with care and quality speaks for itself.
Atmosphere was equally important. I wanted the images to reflect what it feels like to walk into Café Rodi, that sense of comfort, familiarity and genuine care. I captured a few quiet corners and wider room shots to show off the space and give context to the dishes. These types of images help restaurants stand out visually, especially when customers are browsing online or choosing where to go next.
This shoot was really about showing the soul of a place, as much as effective food photography. The places we love to eat and return to are rarely just about the food, they’re about how you feel when you’re there. That’s not a straightforward thing to capture, but visual storytelling is really what makes this work worthwhile for me, which is why I loved the challenge of this shoot even more.