© 2026 All Rights Reserved Cayla Zahoran.
Travel Food Photography Tip: Thailand Edition
First and foremost, I must say this: New York City spoils me. Being a food photographer, I get to eat a lot of amazing (and sometimes, but rarely, not so amazing) restaurants. And if I am not photographing a restaurant, I go to just to experience the atmosphere. I enjoy the ambiance of being at a restaurant. The decor, the lighting, the plating, the people – everything about it is why I love what I do. However, no matter where I go on the globe, I also come back to the realization that New York will probably have a restaurant that can compete.
coffee photography in thailand

Coffee culture in Northern Thailand is booming. Some of my favorite lattes!

New York spoils me in that way.
However, I travel to eat the culture. To experience all those ambiances in another place in the world. And while I am there, I might as well photograph the food I get to experience to share with everyone else. Instagram is handy that way. With the growing hobby of food photography and the incredible features of iPhone cameras and Instagram editing software, food porn is more popular than ever. I can’t stop people from trying to do what I do as a career with their iPhones. I can, however, help weed out the use of shooting tungsten lighting overhead of your food that creates unflattering shadows and in turn, help me scroll through a more inspirational Instagram at night.
street food in bangkok

Street food in Bangkok

So here is the first tip and most important tip for shooting travel food photography: USE NATURAL LIGHTING.
Avoid overhead lighting as much as possible. If need be, block it with a napkin and sit close to a window. Here are a couple of my favorite from outdoor and indoor locations.
food photography from Thailand

Fruit Smoothie from Fern Forest Cafe in Chaing Mai, Thailand

street food photography of prawns

Street food of Prawns in Northern Thailand

food photography of Thailand

Seafood dish at Cafe de Nimman in Chaing Mai, Thailand.

New York City Restaurant Photographer visits Pittsburgh!

Ever since I moved to New York City to expand my restaurant photography, my love for Pittsburgh has increased greatly. I find any excuse to throw my Pittsburgh pride into every conversation. When asked where I am from, I proudly say “Pittsburgh!” even if technically that isn’t true.  So anytime I get a call to photograph a restaurant in Pittsburgh, I snatch it up in a heartbeat!

Back in September, I was asked to photograph 2 french restaurants, one is a bakery in Shadyside and the second is a small bistro in East Liberty.  As a restaurant photographer for magazines and cookbooks, I am used to shooting a lot in a day. At Paris 66, I pushed my dish limit to the test with 19 dishes and 7 cocktails in one day! Now I won’t show every last one, because that is a lot of photos for one blog. However, I will show off some of my favorites from the shoot!

 

Restaurant photography of cocktails

New York City restaurant photographer travels to Pittsburgh to photograph Paris 66

Restaurant photography of Pan Seared Scallops

Paris 66 dish of Pan Seared Scallops, tomato Provençal, & Linguini.

 Restaurant photography of Pan Seared Scallops

Photograph of Escargot Bourguinon at Paris 66.

Restaurant photography of Pan Seared Scallops

Dessert at Paris 66

Restaurant photography of Salad

La Jardinière – Field Greens, Zucchini, Squash, Eggplant, Bell Peppers, & House Dressing

Restaurant photography of cocktails

Cocktail at Paris 66

New York City Restaurant Photographer visits Pittsburgh

New York City Restaurant Photographer in Pittsburgh

New York City Restaurant Photographer visits Pittsburgh!

Ever since I moved to New York City to expand my restaurant photography, my love for Pittsburgh has increased greatly. I find any excuse to throw my Pittsburgh pride into every conversation. When asked where I am from, I proudly say “Pittsburgh!” even if technically that isn’t true.  So anytime I get a call to photograph a restaurant in Pittsburgh, I snatch it up in a heartbeat!

Back in September, I was asked to photograph 2 french restaurants, one is a bakery in Shadyside and the second is a small bistro in East Liberty.  As a restaurant photographer for magazines and cookbooks, I am used to shooting a lot in a day. At Paris 66, I pushed my dish limit to the test with 19 dishes and 7 cocktails in one day! Now I won’t show every last one, because that is a lot of photos for one blog. However, I will show off some of my favorites from the shoot!

 

Restaurant photography of cocktails

New York City restaurant photographer travels to Pittsburgh to photograph Paris 66

Restaurant photography of Pan Seared Scallops

Paris 66 dish of Pan Seared Scallops, tomato Provençal, & Linguini.

 Restaurant photography of Pan Seared Scallops

Photograph of Escargot Bourguinon at Paris 66.

Restaurant photography of Pan Seared Scallops

Dessert at Paris 66

Restaurant photography of Salad

La Jardinière – Field Greens, Zucchini, Squash, Eggplant, Bell Peppers, & House Dressing

Restaurant photography of cocktails

Cocktail at Paris 66

Cayla Zahoran

Cayla Zahoran is a New York editorial food photographer. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA. Cayla specializes in magazine and cookbook food photography, as well as, restaurant portraits and interiors.
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