Food Photography in Dubai – Frequently Asked Questions

My Pinch of Wow is based in Dubai (Dubailand, near Skycourts Towers) and shoots on location anywhere in the city — Downtown, DIFC, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, JLT, Al Quoz, Deira, Jumeirah, Dubai Silicon Oasis and beyond. We regularly travel to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah for restaurant and product shoots; a small travel fee applies outside Dubai. Packaged products from anywhere in the UAE can also be delivered to us for a tabletop shoot.

Both. Most restaurant and café menu shoots happen on location in your own kitchen and dining space — we bring portable studio lighting, backdrops, surfaces and props, so you get a controlled, consistent look without the food travelling. Packaged products, beverages and ingredients can be photographed on location or delivered to us in Dubai for a tabletop shoot, and if your concept calls for a hired studio we can arrange one.

Yes. Shameema is both the photographer and the food stylist, so every dish is plated, garnished and arranged for the camera before it is shot — there is no separate stylist to hire or coordinate. Styling covers surfaces, props and tableware selection, sauce and garnish work, and keeping food looking fresh under the lights. Standalone food styling is also available if you already work with another photographer or a video crew.

As a guide, a full-day restaurant shoot typically covers 25–40 dishes and a half day around 12–18, depending on how much styling each plate needs and how quickly the kitchen can send food out. Drinks, desserts and simple packaged products go faster; hero images with elaborate props take longer. Before the shoot we build a shot list together and agree the priority order, so your most important menu items are always covered.

You’ll normally receive a preview gallery within 2–3 working days of the shoot and the final, fully retouched images within 5–7 working days. Large menus and product catalogues can take a little longer, and rush delivery for a launch or a delivery-app deadline can be arranged when you book. Files are shared through a private online gallery for download.

You receive high-resolution, colour-corrected and retouched images plus web-optimised versions sized for websites, social media and delivery-app listings. Our standard packages include commercial usage rights for your own marketing — menus, website, social media, delivery apps, print and in-store displays — with no recurring licence fees. Usage for third-party advertising campaigns or resale can be added on request and is spelled out in your quote.

Yes — delivery-app menu photography is one of our most requested services in Dubai. Each platform has its own image sizes, cropping and background guidelines, and we shoot with those in mind: clean, bright, appetising overhead and 45-degree shots, consistent lighting across the whole menu, and files exported to the exact specifications so uploads are approved first time. Well-shot listings noticeably improve click-through and order rates on the apps. See restaurant menu photography.

Yes. Alongside stills we produce short-form food videos — Instagram Reels, TikToks, stop-motion clips and behind-the-scenes content — usually shot on the same day as your photos to make the most of the styled dishes. Details are on our social media food content page. Shameema’s own Instagram, @my_pinchofwow – food photographer in Dubai, has more than 160,000 followers, so we know what stops the scroll.

One to two weeks’ notice is ideal — it gives us time to plan the shot list, styling and props with you. We can often accommodate last-minute shoots for menu launches or urgent delivery-app updates, so it is always worth asking. Peak periods such as Ramadan, the festive season and Dubai Food Festival book up early, so reserve your date as soon as you know your launch timeline.

We send a simple checklist once you book. Typically: the final list of dishes or products, chef availability for plating, fresh ingredients and extra garnish, clean plates and glassware in your brand’s style, and a clear table or counter — near a window if possible. If you have brand guidelines or reference images you love, share them in advance. Everything else, from lighting to props, we bring with us. Our process page walks through the whole project step by step.

Yes. Our product photography covers packaged food, snacks, sauces, spices, chocolates, coffee and beverages, kitchen tools and ingredients — clean white-background e-commerce images as well as styled lifestyle shots for packaging, Amazon and Noon listings, catalogues and advertising. We work with FMCG brands, home-grown UAE food start-ups and hospitality suppliers.

We work with everyone from home bakers and cloud kitchens to cafés, hotel restaurants, catering companies and F&B brands across the UAE. Smaller businesses often start with a compact half-day shoot covering their best-selling items and add more as the menu grows. Whatever the size, the aim is the same: images that make people order.

Browse the gallery for restaurant, beverage, dessert and product work photographed in Dubai, read client reviews on our Google Business Profile, and follow @my_pinchofwow on Instagram for the latest shoots. Then get in touch for a quote.