CONTENT GUIDELINES
Dear Locavore,
Thank you for stepping in to document the magic of your Local Food Club. The photos, videos, and stories you capture will help us celebrate local food and build a growing archive of what everyday eating can look like across India. This guide will help you create thoughtful, beautiful content—even if you’ve never done this before.
Please read through these guidelines before your event, and refer back to them as needed. Think of this as a basic checklist, but feel free to get creative!
To know how we plan to use the footage you create, check out this Instagram reel, and this webpage on our website.
Getting Started
You are the eyes and ears of the event. Make sure to keep your weapon of choice handy and ready to go–whether it’s a professional camera or a good smartphone. Here are some basics to keep in mind:
– Turn on the grid on your camera: This shows a 3×3 grid that helps compose your picture and make sure it’s not tilted. Check your device settings for this option.
– Follow the rule of thirds: Place your subject (human or food or object) either in the centre of this grid, along one of the lines on the grid or where they intersect. Here’s an online resource you can refer to for more information.
– Wipe your lens before you start—smudges make a big difference.
– Use natural light wherever possible: If you’re indoors, shoot near a window or where there’s soft daylight. Avoid harsh artificial lighting.
In case you simply cannot avoid indoor lighting, remember:
– Don’t shoot against the light: Make sure your light source is in front of the subject, not behind or directly overhead, causing harsh shadows.
– Never use the flash: It tends to flatten images, blow out colour, and make food look unappetising.
Food Photography: Tips and Tricks
The goal is to showcase the food, the spread, the people, and the spirit of the gathering. Keep it honest, warm, and inviting.
– Get close: Let the textures speak—steam, crumbs, bubbling curry, glossy chutneys.
– Capture variety: Take photos of individual dishes, the full spread, people serving, hands reaching out for food, empty plates at the end.
– Shoot from different angles:
- Top-down works well for spreads and flat dishes.
- A 45-degree angle is great for things with height.
- Eye level makes people and tall stacks of food feel more alive.
– Don’t over-style: Avoid rearranging food too much. Let things stay imperfect.
– Be present and capture candids: The best photos often come from just being part of the gathering.
What to Deliver
We want high-quality photos and videos that help us tell the story of your Local Food Club. Avoid any filters or editing at your end unless absolutely necessary.
Photos
– Aim for 15-20 good photographs, with a good mix of both vertical and horizontal pictures.
– Include dishes, the spread, people interacting, and activities.
– Use the highest resolution. Avoid screenshots or compressed images.
– File format: JPG or PNG.
Videos
– 12-15 short vertical clips (under 30 seconds each).
– Could include plating, people serving or eating, walkthroughs.
How to Submit Your Content
– Please share all your content within 48 hours of the event.
– Upload the images and videos to a Google Drive folder link, which our team will share with you privately.
– Name your folder in this format: YourName_City_Date (e.g. Rhea_Mumbai_29April25).
– Please rename the photographs of dishes so we are able to tell what they are as we caption them for the website.
Ethics and Guidelines
– Ask before you shoot: Get verbal consent, especially for close-ups.
– Don’t intrude: Avoid making people feel uncomfortable or overly conscious. Avoid breaking up conversations and activities for a photo-op. Opt to capture candid moments.
– If someone wants to opt out of having their picture taken, respect their request.
– Don’t waste food: Don’t manipulate food in ways that may be wasteful or make it inedible.
– No staging beyond what’s essential.
– Highlight community, not perfection.
– Avoid any narration, judgement, or comments while you capture your images and videos.
Note: This is a voluntary, unpaid position. The Locavore does not provide any compensation, technical equipment, or logistical support for this role. Your volunteership is limited to the duration of the Local Food Club event and the submission of content thereafter. When in doubt please reach out to your LFC host or co-host or send a message on your WhatsApp group.
Please be mindful of personal boundaries, and obtain consent of those you photograph or interact with. Do not publish or share any sensitive content (including identifiable faces of children, or personal conversations) without prior permission from those involved.
You are free to repost your photos and videos on personal platforms, but please avoid adding filters or branding overlays. Please credit The Locavore and link back to our original platforms, and tag us when you share these online.
We hope you don’t treat this like a job—bring your curiosity, eat well, and enjoy yourself. The most meaningful content often comes from those who are genuinely present and having fun. Thank you for being a part of The Locavore’s nationwide Local Food Club campaign.