Social media is here to stay, and your customers are expecting to find photos of your menu offerings. Give them what they're looking for without spending a fortune on a professional photographer by following these simple tips.
Setting: Pick a simple, plain background or tablecloth. Use plates whose color contrasts with or harmonizes with your food, but not ones that are the same color.
Light: The ideal set-up is next to a large window, with a white curtain to diffuse the light. Don’t be tempted to use your flash.
Color balance: Especially in situations where natural light is unavailable, your photos can have a yellow or blue cast that makes food look terrible. Use the white balance setting on your camera, or adjust the color digitally later on.
Don’t move: Hold still. In low-light situations like restaurants and kitchens, long exposures will register any camera movement as blur. Use a tripod whenever possible.
Shoot a lot: Move around the food and see what angle looks best.
Zoom in: Fill the frame with the food, so the viewer can almost taste it.
Preparation: Don’t forget to take pictures of the process. Sometimes making the food (chopping, cooking) can be as interesting as the final product.
Be quick: The faster you take pictures of the food, the fresher it will look.
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