How To Optimize Food Pictures For Delivery Platforms

In the digital marketing era, the food industry leans heavily on food photography to get mouths watering and get people to their restaurants, food trucks, bakeries, and grocery stores. 

Food photos tempt customers, hint at atmosphere, and create expectations. On online delivery platforms, they are the primary visual representation of your product and brand. So those little pictures are a big deal! 

Here are some tips to get your food pictures right.

Create expectations your food can live up to

Thinking through the photos you’re putting on delivery apps is essential. Images should be professional and a realistic representation of your product. The online delivery app is your shop window: your photos should feel like a “sneak peek” inside your restaurant.

Using stock photos portraying a glam, generic version of your food is a major no-no. Customers will inevitably be disappointed when they receive their real-looking food in a cardboard container. 

Regarding delivery app photos, you must stick to the “what you see is what you get” principle. While, images have to show your food in a good light, customers should also get an accurate sense of what they have to look forward to.

Take tasty pics (even without expensive equipment)

Of course, your food has to look attractive and tasty. And don’t worry, you don’t need professional photo equipment to achieve that. You can also take great shots with your smartphone if you pay attention to the following points:

• Presentation: Depending on your restaurant’s look and the type of food, you can get creative with white plates or ethnic tableware, to-go wrappers, or even place the food loose on a textured surface or cutting board. Arrange condiments or toppings artfully and leave enough space to focus on the food.

• Lighting: Experiment with lighting from different angles to highlight your food’s good side. Avoid overexposing or harsh shadows. Soft natural light is best; otherwise, use a bright portable light. Avoid using flash at all costs!

• Composition: Take the shot at eye level or from a bird’s eye view, and play with negative space instead of having your dish take up the entire frame. Don’t be afraid to use props like condiments or beverages, but keep the composition simple and clean.

• Editing: Tweak the color to warm and boost the sharpness and brightness. Touch-ups like color saturation or filters can make your food look even better, but beware of overdoing it: you don’t want your food to look fake.

Make sure to take lots of photos to pick the best shot out of plenty of options. Trust your senses to know if the picture looks good. Does the food stand out and look appealing?

Let your brand personality shine through.

Food photography for delivery isn’t just about taking a pretty picture; it’s also your opportunity to incorporate your branding. The setting you chose, the colors, and the descriptions all create a particular atmosphere or elicit specific emotions. So don’t hesitate to include a glimpse into your restaurant’s surroundings or ambiance.

Like the Belgian casual spaghetti restaurant Bavet, our customers are really good at that. Bavet’s brand promotes simple food with good ingredients “made for friends.”

A look at their delivery app offerings shows garnished spaghetti dishes posed on their grainy industrial table tops, perhaps with a tomato and a chunk of parmesan or a corner of their signature bibs. Their combos have funny names, capturing their irreverent brand persona. 

Think about adding a personality touch to your photos: You could flash some branded napkins or cups, throw in some excellent condiments or raw ingredients, or pose your dishes against a textured table or wall that reflects your restaurant’s aesthetic. 

Don’t forget, the delivery app users looking at your dishes are checking out those of other restaurants simultaneously, so it’s all about finding small ways to stand out.

Ready to scale up your food business by getting into delivery? We can help you get it right. We’ll help you build your online menus and optimize your online sales. Check out oursolutions to get the most out of delivery.