This Restaurant Takes Doing It For the 'Gram to a Whole New Level With "Instagram Butlers"
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At most restaurants, waiters serve your meal, but at Cleo, "Instagram butlers" serve looks. Sound confusing? Well, the Miami eatery offers a new "Instagram butler" service with your meal, and it's basically any social-media-lover's dream. As Cleo puts it, think of your Instagram butler as "your personal social media concierge." In addition to suggesting the most Insta-worthy dishes on the menu, butlers provide guests with an LED ring light, which they're trained on how to set up and use. And during your meal, the butlers are at your service to hold up the light, tell you what you and your hummus's best angles are, and take pictures for you (because if I'm paying $100 for a meal, you're damn right I'm 'gramming it).
If you are not in Miami and don't see any butlers in your near future, you can still get that money shot at your next meal with these #FoodPorn tips from Cleo's Instagram butlers. Keep reading to learn them all now, and happy snapping!
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Lighting Is Key
Cleo's Instagram says, "The best food photos are taken under natural light, but when that isn't possible, the 'selfie' light that Cleo has is the next best thing."
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Shoot the "Subject" From Different Angles
"Try shooting the subject (dish or drink) from a few different angles," Cleo's Instagram butlers suggest. For example, halloumi — an $18 cheese — is best shot from a 45-degree angle. Who knew?!
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Don't Hold the Camera Too Close
Cleo's Instagram butlers warn: "Nothing screams amateur photography like a drink picture that looks more like a funnel than a highball glass because of the lens distortion that results from holding your camera too close and at an unflattering angle."
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Style the Shot
"Some dishes might require a little rearranging too," Cleo's Instagram butlers advise. "For example, the Moroccan fried chicken looks better when you prop one of the pieces up on top of the others and shoot it at a 45-degree angle. But be careful not to make it look too contrived. Also be mindful of the background. Unless you have an amazing eye for table styling, the safest bet is to clear the table of all other objects — including the silverware."