Video for catering companies: how to sell a banquet before serving it

Anyone hiring a caterer is buying something they haven't tried yet. They have a PDF menu, some photos and the word of whoever is offering it. A good video brings that experience forward: the fire, the rhythm of the kitchen, the laid table and the guests' faces. For a caterer, food truck or banquet service, that is where much of the buying decision is made.

The videos that help sell a catering service

• Presentation video: who you are, what you cook and what kind of events you cater for.
• Showcooking and live fire: grills, barbecues and rice dishes cooked in front of the audience.
• Room set-up: from empty space to laid table, ideal as a sped-up video.
• Dishes and the pass: plating in a line shows capacity and order.
• Client testimonials: an organiser explaining how it all went.

Who you are talking to in each video

A bride, a marketing director and a conference organiser aren't looking for the same thing. Someone planning a wedding cares about emotion and flavour. A company cares about punctuality, allergies and service volume. That's why it pays to get different versions from the same shoot and place them on the right page: weddings, corporate or private events.

How to film a catering service without getting in the way

A catering service can't be repeated: if a shot is missed, it doesn't come back. That's why it's worth seeing the running order beforehand and agreeing when the kitchen can be entered. A light kit works without blocking the way. Flames and embers need careful exposure so the fire doesn't burn out in the image; near the fire, the camera must always give way to whoever is cooking.

If recognisable guests appear, their consent and the client's are needed. The simplest option is to focus on the food, the hands and the set-up.

Where to publish it

On your website, on the page for each type of event; on Instagram, where many organisers look for suppliers; on Google Maps; and on LinkedIn if you sell to companies. It also works to send it with your proposal: a link to a 40-second video is remembered more than a PDF.

Same-day event video

If you film during a banquet, you can have clips ready before it ends. The organiser shares them while the event is fresh and your brand travels with them. We explain how it's organised in same-day delivered video.

A day of filming for a catering company

If you'd rather not depend on a real event, a session can be set up with a representative menu. An order that works is this:

1. Raw produce and preparation in the kitchen.
2. Lighting the fire, embers and first cooking.
3. Setting up the room or buffet.
4. Plating in a line and dishes going out.
5. Finished table and, if there are any, diners enjoying themselves.

With that footage you can prepare the general presentation, a corporate piece, a wedding piece and several Reels.

Corporate events, weddings and private celebrations

If you sell to companies, highlight coordination: timing, volume, options for special diets and ease of working in different venues. If you sell weddings, let emotion lead: the table, the toast and the dishes people remember. At private celebrations, what works is warmth and seeing that the host could enjoy the day without worrying about a thing.

Working with venues and organisers

Event venues and organisers recommend suppliers who help them sell. If you give them a video that shows their space well, with your kitchen in action, you both win. Before sharing it, agree who can use the images and how each party is credited.

See our kitchen examples, the video for restaurants and hospitality service or video for event venues, and ask for a quote.

For your next event, meet José Ramón Díaz, event filmmaker.

Frequently asked questions

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