photo tips for character meals?

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Hi! I booked two character meals (Crystal P and Tusker) for our upcoming trip, hoping to save some time skipping a few M&Gs. But when I look at photos from character meals, they're all pretty messy - plates of half-eaten food, chaos in the background. Does anyone have tips for how to get decent photos from a character meal? I mean, other than Photoshop...
Thanks!

 

[xlxo]

Some tips...

• try to be ready for the pictures when they come. Ideally be ready for the first set of characters BEFORE the food arrives.
• clear the table in front of the kids. I hate those straws and dirty plates in the picture.
• consider NOT have the pictures at the table. Get the kids to stand up and have the pictures taken full body in the aisle next to your table.
• hope you have a flash handy if the pictures are indoors.
• is this a DSLR that allows you to bolt on a prime or f/2.8 lens? These wide aperture lenses allow you to blur out unwanted backgrounds

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Thanks for the tips! Thinking of getting the new Panny lx100 if it comes out before my trip. It has 2.8 but external flash boo. No idea on price yet either.