The restaurant that started the food porn trend in New York City has now taken the next logical step and is banning photography of the food. But the omnipotent blogging community is flooding the market with illegitimate shots.
Ko's boss David Chang says, "It's only food - eat it." Other restaurant bosses have yet to adopt this facist policy as long as the shuttering is kept to a minimum.
Implications - Now, it's understandable why David Chang has instituted this "law" -- the dining experience is being perverted by bloggers and social media obsessives alike who feel the need to share their meals with the rest of the world, but come on, that's how some people enjoy their meals. Who is Chang to prevent paying customers from enjoying their meals the way they'd like?
Banning Food Photography
NYC Chef Bans Food Photography, Bloggers Rebell
Trend Themes
1. Anti-food Photography Movement - Restaurants could adopt an anti-food photography policy, potentially leading to a new trend amongst establishments.
2. Alternative Dining Experience - Restaurant owners could create an alternative dining experience that caters to those who enjoy taking photos of their food while eating.
3. Better Social Media Sharing Integration - Restaurants could create better social media sharing integration to encourage diners to share their food photos in a controlled and comfortable environment.
Industry Implications
1. Food Industry - Restaurants can leverage the food photography trend by creating dishes that are more aesthetically pleasing and Instagrammable.
2. Technology Industry - Developers could create restaurant-specific photo sharing apps that allow diners to share photos of their food without disturbing others or violating a restaurant's anti-photo policy.
3. Social Media Marketing Industry - Social media marketers could adapt to the anti-food photography trend by learning how to market restaurants through user-generated content that doesn't involve food photos.