A foodie's life on the 'gram

What does it take to become an Insta-influencer with an affinity for gorgeous food photography? Hours on the app? Putting yourself at risk to capture the perfect shot? We find out

Recently, a friend joined Instagram - better late than never ever, right? - and asked me for help in figuring out the app. "What's with all these buttons? How do I get followers? What's this pink circle? Who should I follow? What do you mean algorithm?!" And then - boom! - this: "I want to become a food reviewer on Instagram. Sounds like fun - go eat, take photos, gush about the place. how can I do this? I don't think there are enough food bloggers reviewing restaurants."
I had to interrupt and burst that bubble. Bad news: There are food reviewers, 'grammers, a dime a dozen. But good news: there's nothing stopping you from joining the ranks too.
If you're already on 'the gram' (a phrase I've been littering conversations with), what do you think when you're going through your feed, especially if you follow a bunch of food photographers and reviewers? Do you wonder whether they tire of clicking food day in and day out? No, really, what are some non-glam sides to what bloggers in Dubai do? What and how do they like to shoot? Which dishes do they think photograph spectacularly? We thought we'd have a chat with a bunch of Dubai folks on IG (Instagram), and see what's on their minds - and what images make the cut to their pages.
@wheremyfoodat
Followers: 62.6K
On IG: 4 years
App time per day: 5 hours (at least!)
"We are super grateful for the positivity our followers bestow upon us."
Kimberly Dsouza and Denver Britto have lived in Dubai all their lives. He works with Emirates Airlines; she worked at a bank for three years. "When we noticed that WhereMyFoodAt had the potential of becoming a full-fledged business, we decided that I would quit banking to pursue this as a full-time career, since being an engineer has always been Den's dream," says Kim. "During the day, we review restaurants and try to keep up with the food scene in the city. We reserve evenings to reply to emails, write blog posts and schedule reviews for the following week."
Do you feel the need to project yourselves on Instagram as always having a great time?
Not necessarily. There have been instances when we weren't happy with the dining experience. At times, the service may be too slow or the food not cooked right (yes, it happens to food bloggers too), for which we give honest feedback and constructive criticism.
Which dishes do you think photograph the best?
Our followers prefer street food to fine dining. It's affordable, it's trendy, it's 'grammable - and delicious too!
What foods aren't easy to make look good?
We usually struggle with Indian food. It's ridiculously hard to make a bowl of chicken curry look good for the 'gram, no matter how delicious it might be. In such situations, we resort to flatlays - a top shot of a bunch of dishes to make it look like a desi feast! We've learnt that it's not just about the food, it's about the surroundings too. You need to make sure the background is right, that the picture doesn't look too empty or boring, and that there's some sort of symmetry when taking top shots.
Does photography and Instagram get repetitive? How do you counter feeling jaded, if ever?
They really do, which is why we always make sure to strike a balance between reviewing street food outlets, casual restaurants, fine dining and then, of course, there are our travel pictures. We carefully space out our content to make sure that our posts don't seem too repetitive or monotonous. For example, we recently went to Turkey and Greece on a holiday but didn't post back-to-back travel pictures during the entire trip; instead, we threw in a bit of Dubai's food scene as well. This not only helps balance out your feed, but it also helps you save these travel pictures to post later when you run out of travel content.
Have you had to deal with negativity online? How much does it affect you?
It used to affect us initially, but once we realised it's part and parcel of being a food blogger, we learnt to make our peace with it. We are super grateful for the positivity our followers bestow upon us, but random negative comments do get thrown in - in which case, we've learnt that ignorance is truly bliss.
An aspect of IG you wish was different?
The new algorithm. We just want chronological order back!
Do you use a professional camera or your phone?
We use a basic Nikon DSLR.
If you saw a mediocre food pic by someone who is a 'good contact', would you still 'heart' it and write a feel-good comment?
Of course, we would, regardless of being a good contact or not. We're all about supporting and encouraging the people we know.
What is the larger goal? What do you hope to get out of IG?
We want to make WhereMyFoodAt go international. We aspire to explore different cuisines and cultures from around the globe and share them with our followers. Social media is everything right now and Instagram is what helped people notice WhereMyFoodAt and appreciate what we do. It's been one of our biggest blessings.
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@shesaidshesaid_dxb
Followers: 23.4K
On IG: 3.5 years
App time per day: 2 hours (when work isn't too busy!)
"Our combo is like cheese on pizza - perfect!"
Duo Namrata Kamath (right) and Nancy D'Souza were both born and raised in Dubai. Namrata is assistant dean at Hult International Business School, while Nancy D'Souza does Corporate Communications for the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Which dishes photograph the best?
Pizza. You look at a photo of pizza and you'll immediately want one. Guaranteed. Burgers photograph well too. Most "junk" food photographs well, although we don't think it should be called junk food. It's "soul" food - and the soul needs to stay healthy too!
Your take on monster shakes?
They look great in photographs but there is no way anyone can - or should - finish one. We've seen them being brought out to tables around us and we look at each other terrified.
Your favourite fruits to photograph?
Mangoes, citrus fruits, coconuts.
What foods/ dishes aren't easy to make appealing to the eye?
Curries are hard to photograph, given the textures and predominantly brown tones. We play around with the shots; for example: do you leave the spoon in the bowl or add some garnish on top? The possibilities are endless. When all else fails, styling comes in handy. Throw in some hands and banana leaves - the image is instantly Insta-friendly.
A food trend that gets on your nerves?
Foam doesn't taste of anything. It may make a plate look pretty, but it doesn't add to the dish. No one should photograph a plate just for the foam.
Does shooting food get repetitive? How do you counter feeling jaded?
Photographing food does get repetitive and it's also hard to remain creative constantly. Camera phones are so advanced these days that they make the job easier. But whenever we feel like it's not working out, we know it's time to take a break.
Are your pictures shot with a professional camera or with your phone?
Ninety-five per cent of our photos are taken on our iPhones. I also own an Olympus camera, but I'm still learning the ropes.
If you saw a mediocre food pic by someone who is a 'good contact', would you still 'heart' it and write a feel-good comment?
We appreciate how difficult it is to get the perfect shot in real time - you can't always control the lighting, the styling of a plate, the "props" that are available at the restaurant... People have to make do with what they have. Knowing all of this, we're more than happy to give the photo some love.
Is the time you spend on your page ever an obligation to followers or do you still honestly enjoy it as much as you did when you started out?
I (Namrata) am a bit of an introvert and having conversations online can be a tad difficult for me, to be honest. I feel like my humour is too specific and I may actually offend someone who doesn't get my jokes! Nancy, on the other hand, loves the interaction, working on our Insta profile, and generally spending time on the app. That's why our combo is like cheese on pizza - perfect!
The last time you ate a meal without first photographing it?
Just the other week, I caught up with Nancy at a restaurant in Karama. Because it was late and we hadn't seen each other in a while, we decided to put our phones away and talk. What a glorious idea that was. We should do it more often!
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@foodsheikh
Followers: 6,835
On IG: Just over a year
App time per day: 1-2 hours
"We want people to connect with food on a deeper level again."
He insists on anonymity. "That's the one thing that allows me to give honest, unbiased reviews," he notes. "What I can say is that I've worked in the F&B industry in Dubai for the past 15 years and know my way around a restaurant!"
Which dishes do you think photograph exceptionally well?
Ooo, this is an interesting question. You can make any dish look good provided you understand the principles of lighting, composition, and framing.
Three fruits or desserts you absolutely love to photograph?
Dragon fruit always photographs well. So does watermelon. I think it's the vibrancy of the colours. I also love a good oozy brownie or a food that shows off someone's technical ability - like a beautifully decorated cake or patisserie. People eat with their eyes first, after all.
And three veggies?
When photographing food, it's important to consider texture. Broccoli always looks interesting. Beetroot and aubergine too.
What foods or dishes aren't easy to make appealing to the eye?
If your photo is taken from the wrong angle, it somehow always ends up looking like a dog's breakfast. Foul Mudammas - no one can make that dish look good. Mexican Mole too - basically, anything brown.
What is a food trend that gets on your nerves?
Freakshakes. And avocado everything. F&B content has grown stale. Too many slow-mo shots of food without purpose. Too many sponsored posts by influencers. Not enough authenticity, honesty and story-telling. We want people to connect with food on a deeper level again.

Do you shoot with a professional camera or on your phone?
Both. The iPhone portrait feature is amazing. Good lighting (sunset is best), and knowledge of composition is key. When it's a more professional requirement, I bring the Canon along.
The last time you had a meal and didn't photograph it?
Recently. Life is about experiences and my Food Sheikh page is about much more than just taking pretty photos of food that I eat.
If you saw a mediocre food pic by someone who is a 'good contact', would you still 'heart' it and write a feel-good comment?
What a juicy question! It's almost like you're asking if I would say hi to my frenemy on the street just to keep him/her as a contact... I would say no. We try to engage on a deeper level than by just doling out likes and "feel-good" comments. If the post is interesting, controversial or looks plain delicious, then yes, I would love to have a conversation about that piece of content.
What would you change about Instagram?
The algorithm. I'm sure all influencers will agree. It's getting increasingly difficult for our followers to see our content.
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@findingflavors
Followers: 6,602
On IG: 4 years
App time per day: 3 hours
"I love to analyse trends and reactions of the digital audience."
Rahul Karam is a digital specialist - a chunk of his professional life revolves around social media for businesses, and he shuffles between a personal profile, an influencer profile and multiple business accounts. Pallavi Sangtani enjoys her triple patty burgers on yearly trips to the US and is a marketing professional.
Why are you on Instagram? Is it a platform for entertainment or expression?
Rahul: For Pallavi, it is about showcasing her adventures with daily outings related to food, experiences and travel. For me, it is a social experiment. I love to analyse trends and the reactions of a digital audience.
Of late, you've gone off captions. Why is that?
I'm simply delighted you brought this question up; they've gone highly unnoticed. The answer to this would be quite technical, but - have you ever heard of A/B Testing? It is basically experimenting between two display ads; in this case, our experiment is to see if taking off the captions actually affects our engagement. It's more like an answer to the question: do people really read captions?
Which dishes do you think look the best in photographs on IG?
It's impossible to go wrong with a gigantic juicy burger or an oozing chocolate dessert.
Your pick of three favourite fruits and veggies to photograph?
Strawberries, blueberries and dragon fruit; vegetables are more difficult than fruits, but mushrooms, corn, and anything with leaves tend to work.
Which dishes aren't easy to make look good?
Anything plain white is difficult to photograph as there is no texture or real appeal... Middle Eastern cuisine can get challenging as restaurants like to maintain the ethnicity of their dishes - at times with little or no presentation, as in the case of shish tawook or hummus. They're just 'non-grammable'.
What are the challenges involved in getting a shot right?
Dining with a social circle that is patient enough to give you those five minutes to get your perfect angle. But even we tend to rush our photos in order to eat those scrumptious dishes as soon as they arrive.
So how much time does it usually take to get the picture right?
Different foods require different angles and lights. Over the years, we have mastered our technique. It usually takes about two minutes per shot at best.
An aspect of food photography that you wish was different?
The food gets cold! Unfortunately, every minute you spend trying to get that perfect angle feels like ten.
If you saw a mediocre food pic by someone who is a 'good contact', would you still 'heart' it and write a feel-good comment?
That's an interesting one. Well, we're saved by Instagram's new algorithm - a lot of popular profile updates may or may not end up on our feed, especially business profiles. Regardless, if it's an aspiring newbie, we're always supportive. Already established ones won't realise we've skipped.
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@brusk50
Followers: 4,829
On IG: 1.5 years
App time per day: 4-5 hours
"We are proud Pathans who are obsessed with food."
A regular day for university students Braishna Saleem Khan and Rumisal Saleem Khan involves having a nice breakfast ("currently, we are obsessed with yoghurt and berries"), attending events, and looking for great shoot locations. "But if the food tasting is in some place like Marina, then we have to go through the whole debacle of finding a parking, before we can eat!"
Which dishes do you think look the best on IG?
Oh! That is a nice one. We would say pizza, burgers. anything that has cheese in it, because you can stretch it and improvise! But our favourite food is definitely macaroons (not sure if they qualify as a dish).
What lengths would you go to for a shot?
Recently, we had a tasting at Blaze Burgers and we practically risked our necks to take that shot. Standing on a chair with a base made out of thin steel net is totally unsafe - but you gotta do what you've gotta do.
Your pick of three favourite fruits and veggies to photograph.
Strawberries, grapes (because they remind us of The Tudors - so royal!) and apples; as for veggies: chillies, asparagus and carrots.
Which foods/ dishes aren't easy to make appealing to the eye?
Eggs! We have been struggling to capture some good shots of eggs. Soups are also difficult to photograph at a restaurant because you have limited prop options; stuffed chicken breast too. We mostly take flatlays, and that is a technique by which you cannot show the intricate details of the filling or stuffing without butchering the shot.
A food trend that gets on your nerves.
'Getting on our nerves' is not something we would use to describe this trend, but we're also not the biggest fans of the whole "pouring a warm liquid on your dessert and watching it melt away" fad.
Does photography and Instagram ever make you feel jaded?
Yes! There are definitely days when there is an idea in your mind but the end result is not quite what you expected it to be, which can get frustrating. Our solution for that is to look around. Get inspired. The littlest things can give you the biggest ideas.
Have you had to deal with negativity online?
To be honest, we have not experienced anything yet, touch wood. Although, at times we do receive some, er, "poetic messages".
Which filters do you like to stick to and why?
It took us some time to have a consistent IG "theme". If you scroll down on our page, you can see how we go through different phases. We love it when different Instagram accounts follow a theme - whether all white, pastel or vintage. Currently, we are obsessed with the HB2 filter in VSCO.
How important is feedback?
Naturally, it always feels nice to be appreciated or praised for all your efforts. IG is not easy. I mean, we rarely have food while it's still hot! So what makes our day are the DMs (direct messages) we receive.
Do you use a professional camera or your phone to take your pictures?
We go back and forth between our Samsung S8 and our Nikon DSLR.
If you saw a mediocre food pic by someone who is a 'good contact', would you still 'heart' it and write a feel-good comment?
I cannot even explain to you the number of times we have done that, just because you do not want to come off as being rude. What we might not like can be someone else's love, however. We know the amount of effort and work that goes into putting up a post. To write a mingy comment on such a post, therefore, is just not right.
nivriti@khaleejtimes.com

• Food and Dining