Put the Camera Away

[unkadug]

Are you gonna look over your mechanics shoulder? Or maybe you want to take pictures and video tape everything your doctor does during a visit and see how it flies with him...In general, most patrons and people at that restaurant don't want you taking the picture either...

Yes I might look over the mechanics shoulder. And a doctor should not care at all if he is filmed during a paid visit.

I've never heard of any chef being so ashamed of their creations that they do not want anybody taking pictures of their food.

 

[ShookieJones]

You mean there are food establishments that have "no photos of food" signs posted???
I'd love to see the exchange with restaurant owner and paying customer about not taking pictures of food.
Maybe "we don't want flash photography because it bothers the other diners" but "you can't take pictures!" Really?
What's the "or else"?
I know you enjoyed the look and presentation of our food so much that you wanted to share it with friends, but if you do it again
I'm kicking your a$$ out of my restaurant??

 

[Raven66]

When we ate at CRT, I not only took pictures of the food but I took a picture of my hubby pretending to lick the plate. Of course our daughter was mortified but the people around us thought we were amusing.

I actually took a picture of the fabulous strawberry shortcake I made for dessert tonight.

 

[mousehockey37]

Are you gonna look over your mechanics shoulder? Or maybe you want to take pictures and video tape everything your doctor does during a visit and see how it flies with him...In general, most patrons and people at that restaurant don't want you taking the picture either...

Then let's not tape/photograph teachers in the classroom, concerts, sporting events, debates, ANYTHING in politics, etc... Anything that can be debated or criticized should never be photographed or taped, yeah right.

Unfortunately when you go to tourist destinations (I lived in them now for the last 7 years) people want the perfection on the plate. It's what they pay for. I had the chance to speak with a chef in WDW after his shift in EPCOT. He said it's a lot of making the perfect plate. It basically has to be "picture perfect" to go out the door to you. He basically was like, it's Hell's Kitchen where you have to do everything 100% or you start over.

I'm sure most people have viewed the food threads and at least made some sort of decision as to: is this something I want to spend a credit or 2 credits or $40-60 a plate on?

If any restaurant in WDW should say that you can't take pictures of your food, then I would look at them and say: "What do you have to hide? Are you ashamed of your product? If I'm happy with this meal, I'll share a positive review of how the portions are and any positive assistance I was given."

 

[Foolish Mortal]

Using the flash is a very touchy area. How does a restaurant tell one person no flash for food pictures but not tell the next person who's taking a random family shot ? I don't see this becoming an issue at all, flash or no flash. What's next, no flash use when a parade is going down Main St ?

 

[Ariel484]

Taking picture of your signature meal = tacky and insulting to the chef!

Obviously I'm with @Sweet Melissa on this one since I'm the one that said someone (another diner) gave me a hard time when I took photos of my meal at California Grill...so hey, thanks for calling me tacky and insulting. Apologies for offending your superior taste.

It's Disney. It's a tourist destination, and it's my vacation. I'm pretty sure I didn't harm anyone by taking some pictures. I didn't go into the kitchen and critique every move the chef made as my meal was prepared, so I don't even understand your comparison in later posts to mechanics, doctors, etc. I was looking forward to the meal and wanted to remember and share it with others. I took the camera out, took some pictures (no flash) and that was it. I've had a few instances where I'll post pictures of a meal I had and someone will post back and say "Wow, after seeing that food I HAVE to try that restaurant." So I doubt the chef would be "insulted" by the free advertising. But to each their own.

 

[ShookieJones]

Taking picture of your signature meal = tacky and insulting to the chef!

Ha...you're kidding right? no???
hmm.....Yeah the chef at fine dining restaurant doesn't put any care into the way the food looks...ONLY the taste.
the visual aspect of it is unimportant and your admiration of it's physical appearance is like spitting in the chef's face. indeed!

You sound like my friend the other night. We we went to a local fine dining establishment with our wives for a nice dinner out -
Now I'm not the type of person to whip out my phone and take picture of my food (when not at WDW) every five seconds, nor am I on Facebook posting my every movement, but this dish was just plated unbelievably and I wanted to share it with my daughter who is a foodie and was NOT there.

My friend saw me take out my phone and was 'embarrassed' and said,

"act like you've done this (meaning eating at nice establishment) before."

I replied
"act like you live in 2013"

Listen it's not tacky or embarrassing to take a picture of something beautiful (and equally as delicious) and share it with people you like\love..as long you're not disrupting other folk's experience!
We live in an era where we can do that on the spot with our phone and share with friends and family instantly.

 

[andrew870]

What would Emily Post say?

 

[unkadug]

What would Emily Post say?

The heck with that...what would Heloise say?

 

[George]

Other guests have gotten agitated with me since I like to take pictures of people shoveling delicious vittles into their waiting pie holes. Sometimes I'll just pop into a restaurant to make my rounds and get my action dining pics (adp's).

 

[ShookieJones]

Other guests have gotten agitated with me since I like to take pictures of people shoveling delicious vittles into their waiting pie holes. Sometimes I'll just pop into a restaurant to make my rounds and get my action dining pics (adp's).

First of all...LOL!!!
Second of all - I wish I could tell you this was an original idea, but my wife who is NOT a shutterbug, has taken a few "adp" s of me when in wow...two in particular - beignets at por an BBQ at WC.

Lastly...from later looking at said "action" pics.... What I know is this:
if you want to start a career as an adp photog... Don't use me as a subject in your portfolio ...... Gah!!!!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

I'm completely lost on the idea of a chef being insulted by someone taking photos of their food as well. As the lovely Shookie so saracastically referenced... they put a heck of a lot into making sure a dish looks just as good, if not better, than it tastes. I can't imagine food magazines would have any sort of standing in today's foody society if chefs didn't like photos of their food being out there. I'd have to assume the reason most up and coming chefs are so in awe of the "famous" ones is because they've looked at so many photos of their food in said magazines. I have to doubt that the reality is the chef is sititng back gritting their teeth in horror over the fact that someone took a photo of their dish... again... their dish they put so much work into making beautiful.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

I've taken pictures with and without flash in WDW and out. I agree with other people - how can you police people who are taking pictures of special occasions versus people documenting their food? Sounds a bit much to me...like Shookie said, it's 2013. People document everything in photos, blogs, social media. When you attempt to insulate yourself from the trend, you only look sadly outdated and worse - like you have something to hide.

Random thought - I'm on Weight Watchers, and their app actually encourages you to take pictures of your meal with your phone so you can calculate and track points later. Taking pictures of your food is mainstream

 

[DJMoore2011]

ok I am in Culinary School, I've talked with the Chef instructors there and also also my classmates who are working in fine dining restaurants and they all said the same thing. They consider it a compliment that someone takes the picture. After all, as I was told over and over the first year, you "eat" with your eyes first. It's not like they are standing over the Chef's shoulder and recording how he made the dish. They are admiring the finished product. That would be like telling a Bride she can't have pictures of her wedding cake because it's an insult to the Pastry Chef. We Pastry Chef's WANT our work pictured AND credit given to us for the long hours of work put into the taste and design of a cake.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

ok I am in Culinary School, I've talked with the Chef instructors there and also also my classmates who are working in fine dining restaurants and they all said the same thing. They consider it a compliment that someone takes the picture. After all, as I was told over and over the first year, you "eat" with your eyes first.

I'm so glad you posted this because honestly after the previous post to the contrary I was thinking I must be completely missing something.

 

[DJMoore2011]

I'm so glad you posted this because honestly after the previous post to the contrary I was thinking I must be completely missing something.

I wanted to wait till I had talked to the Chef's at school before I said anything, I was lucky enough that the other day in class we were talking about presentation so I raised my hand and brought up the topic. And it was a very interesting topic for sure, but they all said they same thing it was a compliment.