How one question became three shoots
The story of a chance conversation that became a series of shoots capturing the colour, character and cuisine of The Dilli independent Indian restaurant from opening day onwards.
Some of the best commissions don't begin with an email, a brief or an introduction. Sometimes, you simply walk through the door.
One afternoon, while walking through Haslemere, I noticed a new Indian restaurant taking shape on the High Street. The signage had appeared, the finishing touches were being made and, from outside, The Dilli already looked rather different.
So I went in.
I introduced myself, had a look around and asked a very simple question:
“Do you need a photographer?”
As luck would have it, they did.
A restaurant with plenty to photograph
The first shoot was about the restaurant itself. The Dilli has a wonderfully rich interior: deep blues and greens, jewel-coloured seating, ornate details, warm lighting and those extraordinary coloured windows throwing patches of light across the room.
There was no need to manufacture atmosphere. It was already there.
We photographed the dining spaces, details and High Street exterior, building a collection that showed not just what the restaurant looked like, but what arriving there for dinner might actually feel like.
Then came opening day
Not long afterwards, I was invited back for the restaurant's opening celebration.
This time the beautifully arranged empty tables had been replaced by people. Family, friends and members of the local community filled the restaurant while speeches, conversations and the inevitable ribbon-cutting unfolded outside.
It was a completely different kind of photography. Less about controlling a composition and more about watching, anticipating and catching those brief expressions and interactions that disappear almost as quickly as they happen.
The restaurant had gone from being a beautifully designed space to a living, breathing one.
And finally… dessert
Our third shoot couldn't have been more different.
This time there were no crowds, speeches or ribbon to cut. Just five beautifully presented Indian desserts and the rather pleasant task of making each one look every bit as tempting in a photograph as it did on the plate.
Against the darker backgrounds, the colours and intricate presentation really came alive with their delicate garnishes, sauces, textures and tiny finishing details suddenly becoming the whole story.
Three shoots. One restaurant. And three completely different photographic challenges.
Looking back, what I like most about The Dilli story is how uncomplicated its beginning was.
I saw somewhere interesting. I walked in. We had a conversation.
That conversation became an interior shoot, an opening celebration and a food shoot, and gave The Dilli a growing collection of photography they could use across their website, menus and social media.
It's also a useful reminder that opportunities don't always arrive neatly packaged in your inbox.
Sometimes, you just need to ask.
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