If your hospitality industry marketing strategy doesn’t include great photography, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle. From high-end fine dining to greasy spoons and everything in between, when a plate of food hits the table, diners want to be wowed. The same is true when it comes to the online marketing of your restaurant. If you want people to step foot into the business you’ve put all your time and energy into, the best way to do so is to make sure that you’ve got a great portfolio of restaurant photos to show off.
In the age of smartphones and Instagram, displaying stunning images of your food is more important than ever. Great restaurant photos will get people in the door, who in turn often take their own photos, share them online and influence people to check you out. An afternoon spent taking photos of your dishes can pay off again and again, especially if you follow these tips.
Opt for Professional Equipment, Including a DSLR and Digital Photo Editing Software.
Smartphones have come a long way, and while they can be magic in more casual uses, this is not the time to skimp on technology. If you’ve got the budget, hire a professional photographer with experience shooting food, who uses DSLR camera and a lighting kit, as they’ll know how to present your food in the best possible light. Getting great restaurant photos is more than just pointing a camera at a plate, so don’t rush whomever is shooting.
Get Large, High-Quality Images.
You’re going to be using these images in a variety of ways, both in print and online. While you can always shrink photos to make them more user-friendly online, you can’t make them bigger without sacrificing image quality. Make sure the photos you get are at least 4000 pixels wide. While the file sizes will be big, you’ll be glad you have the flexibility when it comes to using the photos on your website, social media posts, brochures and other marketing materials.
Take Photos of Everything on the Menu.
Don’t just get photos of your star dishes. You never know when a journalist or food critic is going to pop in and fall in love with something you’ve created. When they reach out, you want to be able to provide them with photos of the dish that wowed them, otherwise you’re leaving it in their hands to show off your food.
Not sure how to use those great restaurant photos after you’ve had them taken? Design At Work can help you make the most of those photos online and in print. Get in touch today so that more people can start falling in love with your food.