When taking and choosing photos for your menu items, you want to make sure they showcase your food in the best way possible.
Below, you’ll find helpful tips and best practices to make sure you have high quality photos to display your menu items to eaters and show off your cuisine.
Once you have your menu photos ready, you can add them to your menu in the Otter Dashboard and assign them to your menu items. Learn more about that here.
Lighting
If possible, set up the food on a table with indirect, natural sunlight coming from a window. Natural lighting can make food look fresh and appetizing! If natural lighting isn’t possible, just make sure to set up in a brightly lit space.
Example photos:
Avoid Harsh Lighting
Be careful to avoid very bright, direct sunlight or artificial lighting— it can cast harsh shadows.
Framing the Food
Be sure to center the food within the photo frame. Customers should be able to see the whole dish and all ingredients. Consistent positioning of similar items on your menu within the frame will make your menu feel polished and professional.
Example photos:
Avoid Close-ups
Don’t zoom in too close to the dish. Customers want to be able to see the food and the ingredients.
Photo Angles
It’s up to you if you’d like to shoot your dishes top-down or from the side— but here are insights for best practices:
- Top-down angles are better for plates of food or bowls
- Shots from the side are better for burgers, sandwiches, or taller items
Example photos:
Avoid Hiding Ingredients
Make sure the ingredients are visible from the angle you’re taking the photo.
Example: Showing a burger from above could just show the top of the bun and look flat
Displaying Wraps & Sandwiches
For sandwiches, wraps, and burritos, it can be helpful to cut the item and stack the 2 halves so that the customer can see what’s inside.
Example photos:
Add Variety
Avoid using the same photo for multiple menu items to help customers make the right choice. If the ingredients are different— try using a different photo to communicate that.
Example photos:
Avoid Stock Photos
Stock photography is not recommended— You want photos to display your food.
Helpful Tips
Below are some helpful tips on how to make your menu photos look most appealing to eaters:
Use Fresh Ingredients
Food that’s been sitting around can start looking limp and lifeless after just a few minutes. Once food is plated by you or your chef, photograph it as quickly as possible.
Show Scale
You can use utensils, salt and pepper shakers, or other common items to give the viewer a sense of the size of the item. If the dish has a big portion, show it off!
Dish Accuracy
Be sure your photo is a true representation of the dish so eaters know exactly what they are ordering and will be happy with their purchase.
Photo Staging
Your style is part of what makes your restaurant special. Try to capture the essence of your location by using a variety of surfaces, plates, glassware, napkins, and silverware. However, remember that the food should still be the focus.
Exclude Extra Menu Items
If you put beverages or sides in the photo, customers may expect those items to be included with their selection of this dish. Feature only the menu item you’re taking a photo for.
Still need help? Reach out to our team:
| Chat with support by clicking the chat icon in the bottom right corner of the Otter Dashboard. |
+1 (888) 681-8837 Send us a text to the number above for assistance over text message. |
Related to
Updated