DoorDash | MealBox Photography Guideline - For OCUS Creators

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This guideline is an addendum for MealBox. It only covers what is different or additional for MealBox.

For equipment, file naming, scheduling, upload process, and all other standard DoorDash photography rules (Single Dish, Hero Shot, lighting, angles), always use the main guideline: DoorDash | Food Photography Guideline - For OCUS Creators

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⚠️ What changes vs. the general guideline

These 3 rules override the general guideline for MealBox sessions only:

Topic	General guideline	MealBox (this guideline)
Packaging	Any clean, appealing packaging is fine (incl. plastic/paper takeout cups and boxes)	No styrofoam, takeout containers, paper plates, or liners. Branded baskets are OK. Prefer white ceramic/glass plating or wooden boards.
Drinks	Soft drinks allowed if part of a set, served in a cup/glass	No drinks in any photo, with no exceptions
Crop ratio	Single Dish is cropped 1:1	All photos are landscape 16:9. Frame with enough space so nothing important gets cut, and the whole dish stays visible (no tight zoom).

Before the session

A MealBox package includes up to 6 single boxes. Check the session brief for the exact number of dishes ordered.
Meals must be fully prepared and ready when the photographer arrives — proteins, sides, and sauces finished and plated, not assembled mid-session.
If the Merchant refuses to prepare the full meal or is missing components, follow the same escalation process as the general guideline: leave a comment on the platform with the full name and phone number of the person who refused.
Extra Merchant-requested photos are fine to shoot in addition, but the MealBox list always takes priority — make sure every item on the list is fully covered before spending time on extra requests.

Composition by meal type

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Reminder: every component of the meal — including sides and sauces — must appear together in the same photo. Only split a meal into two photos if the client's list explicitly asks for it.

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Platters & combos (a main + multiple sides/sauces sold as one meal): aerial or angled view, with every component and side visible in the frame.

Sandwiches & burger combos: angled view showing the layers/filling inside the sandwich or burger, with the sides included in the same shot.

Framing & crop

Landscape crop ratio 16:9 for every photo in the MealBox list.
The whole dish must be visible — do not crop in tight or zoom on one part of the meal.
Leave enough margin around the plate so the 16:9 crop doesn't cut off any component.

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Packaging

Branded baskets are the only exception and are OK to use.