What makes for great menu item photos?

Overview:

We know that beautiful food imagery is enticing and compels us to try new dishes and cuisines. Help bring customers into your restaurant by creating a beautiful browsing experience of the amazing food and drink you offer.  In fact, menu images have a big impact on menu-view to order conversion (as high as +9%)! Your photography should provide a clear and accurate representation of your cuisine as well as a typical depiction of item portions and quality.

General Guidelines for Uploading Photos

• You own, or have permission to use any uploaded images. No images will be permitted that infringe on any copyright, trademark, or other legal property.
• Images are appropriate.
• Images accurately represent items, dishes, and cuisines that are being offered.
• There are no logos, trademarks, promotional materials, or any other graphical commercial content in the images.
• Ritual will work with partners to upload proper imagery but reserves the right to reject, or refuse images and photos that do not adequately meet the requirements.
• Technical criteria:
  • Original Source Image (max size) - .bmp, .jpg, or .png format
  • Recommended: 1500x1500px @150dpi (72dpi min)
  • File Size Minimum: 200x200px
  • File Size Maximum: 10 MB
  • File Naming: Item_Restaurant.png

Tips & Tricks for Great Photos

• Background: Take photos on a neutral background, such as a white cloth or wooden table
• Keep it simple: One dish or item at a time
• Framing: Frame your item so that the item or dish takes up 60%-70% of the photo
• Lighting: Choose good light, ideally natural lighting that is bright and warm
• Angles: Choose angles that show the most ingredients
  • Overhead (i.e. top-down) angles are great for pizza, bowls, salads, etc.
  • 45 degree angles are great for taller items such as burgers and smoothies. 
  • Consider cutting items like sandwiches and burgers to show customers more ingredients, if necessary.
• Things to avoid: people, hands, faces, or logos in the photos! 

Examples of Awesome Photos