Food Photography Insights
Practical guidance on hiring a food photographer for restaurants, brands, and packaged goods.
Hiring a food photographer isn’t about finding someone who can make food look “pretty.”
It’s about finding someone who understands usage, restraint, and intent — and can translate food into images that actually work in the real world.
The notes below outline how I approach food photography, what to look for when hiring a photographer, and how restaurants and food brands can think more clearly about imagery that serves a purpose.
What to Look for When Hiring a Commercial Food Photographer
A commercial food photographer should be evaluated less on style trends and more on decision-making. When reviewing photographers, consider the following:
Understanding of usage
Images should be composed differently for menus, packaging, paid ads, and editorial. A strong photographer plans for where the image will live before pressing the shutter.Control of light and restraint
Over-lighting and over-styling flatten food. Intentional food photography prioritizes texture, shadow, and shape.Consistency across a set
Especially important for menus and packaging, where images must live together without visual noise.Collaboration over templates
The strongest work comes from photographers who adapt their approach to the food, the space, and the brand — not from repeating a formula.
Food photography should support the product or dish, not overpower it.
Restaurant Food Photography: Menus, Editorial, and Marketing
Restaurant photography lives in the real world — menus, table tents, websites, social feeds, and press features. The goal isn’t exaggeration; it’s clarity.
I work with restaurants to create images that feel grounded and honest, while still being visually striking. This often means simplifying the frame, respecting how the dish is actually built, and lighting food in a way that holds up across multiple uses — from menu panels to editorial features.
Typical restaurant use cases include:
Menu and tabletop photography
Editorial restaurant features
Web and digital marketing assets
In-restaurant promotional use
Based in the Chicago suburbs, I work with restaurants throughout Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area, and I’m available for regional travel when projects require it.
Food Product Photography for Packaging and Brands
Product photography for food brands requires a different discipline than restaurant work. Packaging, advertising, and e-commerce imagery demand consistency, precision, and restraint.
I photograph food products with an emphasis on structure, repeatability, and shelf awareness. Whether the final image is used on packaging, a website, or a campaign, the goal is the same: create clear, confident visuals that support the product and brand identity without distraction.
Food product photography services commonly include:
Packaging and label imagery
E-commerce product photography
Campaign and advertising visuals
Brand image libraries for ongoing use
This work often involves controlled sets, simplified compositions, and lighting designed to translate cleanly across print and digital formats.
An Intentional Approach to Food Photography
My approach to food photography is built on intention rather than trends. I prioritize presence, restraint, and clarity over excess styling or visual noise.
Rather than forcing food into a predefined aesthetic, I respond to the subject itself — its texture, structure, and natural contrast. This results in bold, graphic imagery that feels tactile and grounded, whether photographed for restaurants, editorial use, or food brands.
The goal is simple: create images that hold attention without asking for it.
Working Together
If you’re evaluating food photography for a restaurant, brand, or packaged product, clarity at the start makes everything smoother downstream.
To discuss a project, timelines, or intended usage, reach out. I respond to all serious inquiries.