Pub Food and Lifestyle Photography for Crafted Pubs

Food and lifestyle photography for Crafted Pubs, Greene King’s collection of premium pubs.

Crafted Pubs needed a premium look and feel that matched the quality of its food, drink and venues. The aim was to create images that made the pubs feel warm, relaxed and inviting while still giving the food the attention it deserved.

The visual direction was developed with design agency Keane, who provided the art direction, brief and models. The brief called for photography that would “excite, tantalise and entice”, capturing everything from the food and ingredients to the atmosphere around the table.

Couple enjoying cocktails and a steak sharing board at Crafted Pubs

Two friends laughing and raising glasses of wine over lunch at Crafted Pubs

Pork chop topped with crispy sage leaves served with a pot of chips

Diner lifting fresh pasta from a bowl at an outdoor Crafted Pubs table

Chef finishing individual baked cauliflower cheese dishes in a pub kitchen

Gravy being poured over roast beef with Yorkshire puddings and roast vegetables

Roast pork sandwich with watercress served with a pint at Crafted Pubs

Gravy being poured over a roast pork dinner with vegetables and Yorkshire puddings

Couple sharing a chocolate dessert with ice cream at a Crafted Pubs pub

Scotch egg, sausage roll, olives and bread served with beer and wine at Crafted Pubs

Older couple enjoying wine and food beside the fire at Crafted Pubs

Crumpet topped with lobster, fresh herbs and capers at Crafted Pubs

Friends sharing desserts and wine in a relaxed Crafted Pubs dining room

Group of friends laughing over food and beer in a cosy Crafted Pubs dining room

Diner cutting glazed chicken skewers served with greens and purée

Crispy-skinned sea bass served with potatoes, chorizo and greens at Crafted Pubs

Woman laughing with a glass of white wine over lunch in a sunny pub garden

Friends enjoying beer and Scotch eggs around an outdoor pub table

Man smiling and raising a glass of red wine across a pub table

Crispy-skinned fish served with potatoes, green beans and roasted onions

Friends laughing together around a table in a bright Crafted Pubs dining room

Lifestyle photography

For the lifestyle images, we wanted the scenes to feel like real moments rather than people performing lunch for the camera. Off-centre compositions, foreground details and glimpses through the space helped create a sense of depth and atmosphere. I’m always a big fan of shooting at eye level with things breaking up the foreground. It makes the viewer feel like they’re in the moment, sitting around the table with the guests.

We shot at various pubs around the UK, making use of their textured interiors and green outdoor spaces. Drinks, dishes and table props helped to build believable settings, while the models brought the pubs to life.

Food photography

The food was photographed according to what made each dish look its best. Sandwiches were shot from lower down to show their layers, while salads and more detailed dishes benefited from a higher angle. Closer crops picked out ingredients, colour and texture, with pours and serving moments adding a bit of movement to catch the eye.

Across the image library, we used soft, natural-looking light, rich but restrained colours and a shallow depth of field. The finished photography brings the food and lifestyle together to create a consistent view of the Crafted Pubs experience: premium and considered, but still natural, comfortable and recognisably a pub.

Together with Keane, I think we created a distinctive look for the Crafted brand that feels very much like them.

Looking for food and lifestyle photography for a pub group or hospitality brand? Get in touch to discuss your project.