If you run any kind of business nowadays, you know how important an online presence is for your marketing. If you are a restaurant owner, then you are surely aware of how important professional photographs of the food are. Since people almost always take a picture of their plate and post it on social media, that is exactly what you have to do in order to attract new customers and make a name for yourself. In the following text, we are going to tell you why you should opt for photographing the food you offer, how you should do it, and how you can benefit from it.
If you are not a photographer and don’t know your way around all the equipment and techniques, then, you have to hire a professional one. Not only do they have the necessary training, but they can also get the best out of every condition meaning they know how to set the light, from which angle to take a photo to make that dish look delicious. When looking for a professional photographer, you have a couple of options – a friend’s recommendation and online search. You will feel more comfortable hiring someone people close to you have collaborated in the past, but on the other hand, you can google photographers from your area, and you will get dozens of hits like The Photography Co.
Contact the one you have chosen based on their portfolio, experience and other clients’ reviews. Inquire about the style of the photos to ensure they can deliver exactly what you have envisioned, then ask about the price, how long the shoot will take, what you need to prepare for it, and so on.
Now that you have arranged everything it is time to think about the dishes you want to photograph. You have to decide which ones you want to show to the people, how to decorate them to be appealing to the others, etc. You should opt for either currently popular dishes or the signature dishes i.e. the ones that people can only eat at your restaurant. It is crucial to make a list of dishes in advance, and of course, notify the chef when the photoshoot will take place. This way he will have enough time to prepare all the props and ensure that all dishes are ready on time.
Since professional photoshoots come with large and expensive equipment, our advice is to schedule it on your day off or during closing hours. This means that you will not disrupt your customers from enjoying their meal and at the same time, the photographer will have enough time and room to perform his magic. Also, you should make a schedule of the shoot so that the chef can prepare one meal at the time to ensure that they all look fresh and lovely. Also, you should ask him not to over-decorate the plate. Instead, it is a good idea, to leave it the photographer so he can add whatever he thinks looks the best.
To conclude, these are some basic tips on how to prepare for a photoshoot. Lastly, don’t be scared to ask the photographer everything you want and to give your opinion on certain shots. He will take any suggestion into consideration since his job is to make your food look great and ensure that you are happy with the final product. Also, why not tell him some stories about you, the staff or the restaurant? Who knows, maybe he will come up with some additional ideas on how you can make your place more alluring to the customers.
