What Does Catering for an Ad Shoot Involve?

Advertising shoots can move incredibly quickly. There might be a relatively small crew, or dozens of people spread across different departments, alongside talent, agency teams and clients. Add tight deadlines and a packed shot list into the mix, and lunch isn't always going to happen at exactly 1pm.

That’s why catering for an ad shoot is a little different from catering for a normal event

Being Ready for the Schedule to Change

The first rule of catering on any production is to expect the unexpected.

A shot might take longer than planned, the weather might change or the crew might need to move location. Catering therefore needs to work around the production rather than expecting the production to work around the food.

At Streetfood and More, we're used to adapting service times and working around changing call sheets. It's an important part of specialist shoot catering, particularly when downtime needs to be kept to a minimum.

Feeding More Than Just the Crew

Ad shoots can bring together quite a mixture of people. Alongside the production crew, you might have actors or models, photographers, directors, agency staff, brand representatives and clients on set.

Everyone needs looking after, and everyone may want something slightly different.

That means thinking about dietary requirements and providing enough variety without turning lunch into a complicated operation. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options may all need to sit alongside hearty favourites for crew members who've been working since an early call.

Food That Works on a Busy Set

For us, good production food needs to tick a few boxes. It should be fresh, filling and genuinely enjoyable, but it also needs to be practical.

Nobody wants to spend most of their break queuing for lunch.

Efficient service is therefore just as important as what's on the menu. Depending on the shoot, catering might include an early breakfast, a substantial lunch and food or refreshments to keep everyone going later in the day. Streetfood and More's wider film catering service is built around everything from breakfast through to dinner, including the long and sometimes unpredictable schedules that come with production work.

Location Makes a Difference Too

Of course, commercial shoots don't always happen in nice warm studios with kitchens next door.

You could be working outside, in the countryside or somewhere with very limited facilities. Mobile catering makes it possible to bring fresh food to the production rather than relying on whatever happens to be nearby. Streetfood and More's setups are designed to operate everywhere from studios to challenging outdoor locations.

Ultimately, It's About Making the Day Easier

The best catering for an ad shoot shouldn't create another job for the production team.

It should arrive, get set up and keep everyone fed while adapting quietly to whatever the day throws at the crew.

Because when you've got shots to get, clients to keep happy and a deadline looming, knowing lunch is already taken care of is one less thing to think about.