Try scrolling through any social media page without drooling over thousands of delicious food pictures. A mouthwatering dish can encourage diners to hit that "order now" link. But not every photo can evoke such strong emotions.
For novices, navigating the vast world of food photography does not have to be a source of frustration. We have spoken with industry experts and gathered a few easy-to-follow guidelines to help you take tasty pictures of your dishes.
Don’t stress, have a plan.
You have most likely experienced the effect a well-thought-out strategy can have on a smooth dining service versus a night in the weeds. Applying the same forethought to taking food photos will help you capture engaging dish pics with less effort.
Consider six simple guidelines before busting out your smartphone or camera.
1. Background
Your photo should represent the atmosphere of your restaurant or food truck. Take this opportunity to feature spaces unique to your location. Colorful accent walls, marble countertops, wooden tables, or a sunny patio are great places to start.
Casa Azul Taqueria, located in Providence, RI
It may be tempting to take behind-the-scenes photos, but avoid showcasing the messy line or cluttered prep stations.
Be mindful of what could draw attention away from the main subject of your photo. Prepare the area beforehand by keeping unnecessary or unsightly distractions, such as trash cans or restrooms, out of the frame.
Background distracts from the pizza’s potential.
2. Plating
All of Menufy’s creative experts agree that plating is the key to appetizing food photos. Chloe Helling, web optimization specialist and food blogger, explains that “pictures could be improved with just more thoughtful plating.” Consider a few helpful tips while deciding how best to style your food:
Smaller portions than usual, keep your plate tidy.
Choose simple, neutral-colored plates/dishware (white, gray, black).
Clean the plate, being sure to wipe away unnecessary drips.
Don’t forget to use a garnish that complements your dish.
Consider a variety of colors: avoid plating foods that are similar shades.
Blowfish Poke, located in Clarksville, MD, captures the colors of their poke bowls.
Menufy digital marketing specialist Nikki Finley suggests that, above all, it’s most important to “take your time in plating.” Your patience will be rewarded!
3. Lighting
Helling explains that “food pictures using artificial light instead of just natural light” is the number one mistake made in food photography. This common error often causes dishes to look yellow and creates unwanted shadows.
For the best results, turn off the flash function on your camera or smartphone. Instead, Helling suggests, “use soft, diffused, natural light (think the lighting you get on a cloudy day).”
Poor lighting, with reflective flash
Quality natural lighting, J Sushi & Grill, Brea, CA
4. Angle
“Everything has a good side, even food! Capturing the right angle allows your dish to flaunt what it's got,” says Menufy digital marketing and client service lead Marcus Walker.
The shooting angle will depend on what kind of food you are capturing. Overall, Finley recommends, “It's safe to stick to overhead, 45-degree angle, or straight on.”
Overhead/90° Angle
Pizzas
Tablescapes
Soups
Salads
Straight-On/0° Angle
Burgers
Pancakes (stacked foods)
Tall sandwiches
Drinks/cocktails
45° Angle
Dishes in hands
Soups with toppings
Tall glasses
Pasta
Keep in mind that these are just suggestions for capturing mouthwatering pictures. Our recommendation is to express your creativity! Finley advises to “take as many shots as you can from as many angles as possible. This strategy gives you options later if you see something you don't like.”
5. Equipment
Don’t have a fancy DSLR camera? Not to worry. Most smartphone cameras are capable of taking high-quality food pics.
Whether you have an iPhone or Android, following a few simple steps will translate to better photos:
Properly clean your camera lens.
Stabilize your camera with an affordable tripod.
Turn off your camera flash.
Turn off Live Photos or Motion Photos.
Experiment with built-in capture modes.
6. Pick the Purpose
Now that you know the best strategies for capturing pictures, think about the overall purpose of these images. Is it finally time to add images to your online menu? Does your social media need a boost?
You'll want to take a different approach depending on the purpose of your pics. Consider these tips before snapping:
Menu Pictures
Adding food pictures to your print or online ordering menu entices customers and helps them understand what they are ordering.
Your food is the star! Make your dish the primary focus of the photo.
Forego cutlery or unnecessary items, such as people or hands, as these might draw attention away from your dish.
What the customer sees is what they will expect. Keep this in mind when plating your dish, giving particular attention to any accompaniments or garnishes.
3 Ninja Hibachi & Sushi located in Middletown, NY, perfect sushi picture for an online menu.
Social Media
You know your newest menu item is tasty. It’s time to persuade your customers by capturing the perfect picture to post on social media.
Is it cheesy, colorful, juicy, or all of the above? Highlight the most exciting feature of your menu item.
Include real people enjoying your food in the photo to tell a convincing story about your newest delicious dish.
Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen located in Kansas City, MO.
That’s a Wrap
“People eat with their eyes first; an appealing food photo is like a visual feast,” suggests Walker. You don’t need a professional to create content that will entice customers. By making a plan and taking your time, you can produce quality food pics on your own!
Hungry? Order takeout or delivery from over 14,000 restaurants by visiting www.menufy.com or by downloading our mobile app (Android or iOS).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa Dimmitt, Marketing Communications Coordinator
Melissa began her digital marketing career nearly a decade ago at a restaurant group. She worked with restaurant managers and executive chefs while coordinating seasonal menu releases, executing photoshoots, and creating fresh digital content.