What do you think of women who take photos of their food? Sometimes, when the dishes arrive, I ask, “Would it be okay if I took one photo?” and quickly snap a picture. The food is often special, so I can’t help wanting to capture the moment. I try to take it as quickly as possible, but do men generally dislike it?

I’m Saito, a columnist♪ Personally, I find it a little questionable when people take photos at sushi counters. That said, quite a few women take photos for Instagram. Among the women around me, though, they only take one photo. After that, they eat right away, so the chef often ends up liking them. These days, people from overseas show up at Michelin-starred restaurants with DSLRs hanging around their necks. lol More and more people are taking photos of every single piece, so rather than wondering whether it’s good manners, I feel like the chefs have simply gotten used to it.

Maezawa from the Corporate Planning Office here as well. I think it depends on the person, but most people probably assume you’re taking a photo because you’re happy with it. As long as you ask first, I don’t see any problem with it from a courtesy standpoint.

I’m Date◎Yume, a male member. Food isn’t just about taste—it also involves presentation, tableware, colors, and so on. I imagine she takes photos out of genuine interest while learning along the way. Once you’re managing a household, it becomes part of your everyday routine. And since it’s not something you can master overnight, I think it’s perfectly fine.

I’m Paper Airplane, a male member. Men are happy too when their date reacts enthusiastically—taking photos and showing how pleased she is. If both people are reacting that positively, there are probably times when they’ll take photos of each other. Reactions also help keep the conversation lively. Rather than worrying about taking the photo quickly, I think it leaves a better impression when she takes her time and expresses how moved she is that she wants to capture the moment—having several photos taken over a bit of time shows just how much she enjoyed it. In situations like that, I might actually feel a little lonely if there were no reaction at all. I usually go to fairly casual, everyday restaurants, so there’s rarely enough excitement to make us want to take photos. Still, it makes me happy when my date reacts positively even without taking pictures. I usually ask what she feels like eating that day after we meet and then choose a restaurant. But when we went to a teppanyaki restaurant, the staff member in front of us joined in the fun and even asked if we wanted them to take a photo of the two of us. P.S. I think the type of restaurant naturally determines whether people take photos or not. Even at the same counter-style restaurant, I can’t remember ever taking photos at a sushi place, while at an eel or ramen restaurant, I’d probably take a photo together too.

I’m Seattle, a male member. Actually, I like people who take photos. I’m happy when someone is interested in cooking. At a high-end restaurant, I’d consider the atmosphere—especially if it’s quiet—before taking photos of everything. Even then, I think it’s probably fine as long as you ask beforehand. That said, I’m not really comfortable with those quiet, upscale restaurants, so I don’t tend to go to them. I’d also appreciate any candid opinions from people who regularly dine at proper restaurants.