Case Study: Sanjugo Shoreditch

Brief.

Sanjugo Shoreditch is a lively Japanese izakaya-style restaurant known for its fresh sushi, small plates, and extensive collection of Japanese drinks.

As a returning client, they invited me back for a one-day lifestyle food photography session to build on the menu photography we had created together previously.

The aim of this shoot was to create a versatile set of lifestyle images for their website, social media, digital marketing, press coverage, and their new printed menus; pairing the lifestyle scenes with the menu imagery for a cohesive brand story.

The focus was on group setups of food and drink, detailed shots of individual dishes, and interaction moments. A key part of the brief was highlighting their drinks offer, including foamy draft beer and their own whisky brand, in an authentic, inviting way.

Approach.

I put together a creative session plan to make sure we captured a mix of group table scenes, drinks features, and close-up details. Working closely with the Sanjugo team, we styled the dishes and drinks to feel natural, abundant and shareable - bringing out the social, communal spirit of the restaurant.

Lighting was kept warm and atmospheric to reflect the intimate, cosy feel of the Sanjugo Shoreditch venue while still showing every dish clearly. Interaction was central to the shoot: hands clinking glasses, chopsticks reaching for sushi, whisky being poured - created to help potential diners imagine themselves enjoying the experience.

The result was a full day’s worth of lifestyle food photography and drinks imagery that pairs seamlessly with their menu photography, giving Sanjugo a strong, cohesive visual library ready to use across web, social media, press and their new menus.