What are the Fundamentals for Good Food Photography?
You may be familiar with the saying that goes, “nothing brings people together like good food”. It is quite relatable, right? Just think of all the amazing Instagram snaps and reels of food that make us drool. The reason these are so popular is that foodies are always on the lookout for the next great restaurant experience. Have you ever wondered what sets a magazine-worthy photo apart from a cell phone snapshot? It isn't just a high-tech camera and expensive equipment. It really starts with an understanding of what it takes to capture the nuances of food in a photograph. Remember, good photography is not a fluke--it’s a combination of certain fundamentals that make it happen.
Professional food photography focuses on capturing visually appealing images of food. This type of commercial photography is found in menus, advertisements, cookbooks, packaging, and websites, among other places. All restaurants benefit from recognizing the value of good food photography and incorporating it into their restaurant marketing efforts.
Hype About Food Photography
New restaurants and cafes open almost every day, increasing competition among them. It is not enough to simply write the names of the dishes on the restaurant's website or menu to attract new customers. One must still photograph them in a manner that highlights the quality of the ingredients, the care in preparation and the details of artful presentation. More often than not, the photograph determines whether or not the client wants to try the dish because it conveys the specific mood and influences the emotions. It follows that a quality photograph is critical for most people to make a decision on which restaurant to visit (or order from). This is explained by the fact that 82% of people will buy a meal simply because it looks nice in the picture, even if they hadn’t made up their minds previously.. Restaurants that switched from text-based menus to photo-based menus in online ordering saw a 25% increase in conversion rates.
When we consider the importance of food photography in today's world, the phrase "what you see is what you get" comes to mind. Customers prefer to know what they will receive. Surprises can be enjoyable, but they are rarely pleasant when it comes to food. Professional food photography on your website and menu demonstrates professionalism and builds trust. However, one must be careful not to oversell and overpromise, only to disappoint the customer when the meal arrives. This is why it’s important when doing menu photography to include everything that’s included with an items--and nothing that’s not.
Food Photography and Marketing
Food photography can also help with SEO. For starters, photos make articles more visually appealing and easier to read. Users are more likely to click on an article with a good image. More website clicks equals more traffic, which equals a higher ranking. The second SEO benefit of food photography is that the images can be optimized to gain more visibility. Adding a relevant, keyword-based alternative text to each image will improve its visibility in search engines.
Photos facilitate the customer's decision-making process. It's much more difficult to choose between, say, three dishes if you have no idea how any of them look. This is the reason why menu items with pictures sell almost 35% more than dishes with no images (according to data compiled by UberEats). Needless to say, food photos also help immensely in creating a brand identity as well as marketing.
Hire a Professional Food Photographer
Food has an undeniable visual appeal. The most important aspect of a menu is the inclusion of food photographs. But why hire a food photographer when you can take menu photos with your smartphone? (The picture below was taken with a smartphone camera)
Because only a professional photographer can provide the quality you require to sell more. Photographing food is not as simple as it appears. Professional food photography can be quite complicated when done right. A professional food photographer brings a lot to the table, including expertise, talent, and an artistic eye, the right equipment and experience. (The photo below is that same menu item at the same restaurant, professionally photographed by one of our photographers).
A professional food photographer understands the nuances of working with products that the majority of people are unaware of. These little secrets enable him to create enticing images that capture the beauty of the food. A professional food photographer effortlessly finds the best angle, lighting, and balances elements in the frame. In the examples above, we brought the bamboo cutting board and a variety of food styling tools. We also set up the firewood in the background of the shot and helped the chef literally “build” this sandwich.
It is also essential to understand how to capture fleeting moments. Some dishes must be photographed quickly because they "live" only a few seconds/minutes; for example, cappuccino loses its original appearance very quickly: bubbles appear on the skin. A professional food photographer pays close attention to detail, knows where to put something away or add something, and knows when to turn it over or rotate the plate to make sure that the ingredients show in the most pleasing way. These are all minor changes, but they have a significant impact on the photo's aesthetic.
Professional food photography is a tangible way for a restaurant to present its best side. Low-quality photography – or worse, no photography at all – can cheapen one's brand or give potential customers the wrong impression. Hiring a professional food photographer ensures that the quality of one's photography corresponds to the image one is projecting to the community and the rest of the world. Excellent photography can transform the branding and marketing from ordinary to extraordinary! And that is exactly what we do here in Product Photography DC. All of this and more is available from us.
Our expert food photographers create custom photographs for restaurants based on their specific requirements and vision. We've worked with big brands, small restaurants, and everything in between, so we know how to create stunning images that are drool worthy and result in increased sales. We have a flair for creativity as a result of our years of experience, which allows us to create appetizing images that highlight the beauty of the food. As professional food photographers, we have an eye for detail that determines the best angle, lighting, and focus points to expertly balance elements in the frame. We have created food images that create the kind of photographs that keep your customers coming back for more. Our work for both big brands and small shops has given us a wide range of experience in making the most of the location, type of food, and culinary aesthetic that you require to position your restaurant in the best possible way to maximize the impact of your current and future marketing plans and programs. It won't be an exaggeration to claim ourselves as the providers of best professional food photography services in Herndon, VA and the entire Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.