In today’s digital-first dining world, your food photography is often the very first impression a potential guest has of your restaurant. A single image can be the difference between someone scrolling past or stopping to make a booking.
As Perth-based food photographers, we’ve seen how the right images can lift a menu, strengthen a brand and increase both bookings and average spend. Here are five practical tips you can apply to your next shoot—whether you’re working with a professional photographer or creating content in-house.
1. Use Soft, Directional Light
Harsh overhead lighting will flatten your dishes and create unflattering shadows. Whenever possible, shoot near a large window with soft, natural light coming from the side or at a 45° angle to the plate. This gives your food depth, texture and that “I want to eat this now” feeling.
If you’re shooting at night, ask your photographer to bring softboxes or diffused continuous lights. The goal is the same: soft, even light that wraps around the food rather than blasting it.
2. Style for the Camera, Not Just the Table
A plate that looks generous in person can look crowded on camera. Leave a little extra negative space on the plate, wipe the rim carefully and keep garnishes intentional. Think of every element as part of the story you’re telling about the dish.
Props matter too: textured linens, real cutlery, glassware and ingredients from the recipe (herbs, citrus, spices) can create context without distracting from the hero—the food itself.
3. Capture Dishes in Their Natural Habitat
For restaurants, the environment is part of what you’re selling. Mix close-up hero shots with wider frames that show the dish in context—on a table with drinks, in the hand of a server, or surrounded by friends sharing plates.
These lifestyle images are perfect for social media and website hero sections because they help people imagine themselves in your venue.
4. Plan a Shot List Around Your Menu Goals
Before shoot day, decide which dishes you most want to promote—your signature plates, high-margin items or new seasonal dishes. Build a simple shot list so nothing important gets missed and you can move efficiently through the session.
Group similar dishes together (pasta, seafood, desserts) so styling, props and lighting setups can be reused. This saves time and keeps your visual story consistent.
5. Think Beyond the Single Image
Rather than aiming for just one “hero” shot per dish, plan for variations: horizontal and vertical crops, close-ups and wider frames, clean menu shots and more atmospheric social media images. This gives your marketing team flexibility across website, delivery platforms, email and socials.
When you work with a photographer, ask for a mix of formats optimised for web, print and social. That way your investment in the shoot keeps paying off long after the plates are cleared.
Ready to Refresh Your Menu Photography?
Beautiful food photography doesn’t just make your menu look good—it makes it perform better. If you’re a Perth restaurant, café or bar and your current images don’t reflect the quality of what you serve, it might be time for an update.
We work closely with venues to plan efficient, stress-free shoots that deliver a full library of images you can use across your menu, website, delivery platforms and social media.
Ready to refresh your menu photography? See our Perth food photography packages
and tell us a bit about your venue – we’ll send through a tailored quote for your next shoot.