A New Menu
Whether you change your menu with the seasons or when you feel it’s time to switch things up, you should have the new items captured by a professional.
The key thing to remember is that professionalism counts for something in how you market yourself—and high-quality professional photos really make all the difference in how a restaurant is portrayed online. Advertising a new menu on social media will encourage people to visit your website, but posting photos of the new menu will have them lining up outside your door!
Of course, you want your customers to take pictures that are worth sharing when your food arrives at their table, however, you also want to have photos for your website, social media accounts, and review sites that are high-quality and professional.
You Host a Large Event
Hiring a food photographer to capture your Mother’s Day Brunch or Super Bowl party isn’t necessary, but you should seriously consider hiring one for larger events.
Milestones such as anniversaries, grand re-openings, or the retirement of an owner should be celebrated and captured by a professional. These moments are part of a restaurant’s history, and just like a wedding or graduation, you want the memories to last a lifetime.
In addition, the chances are high that there will be some spectacular food at the events. A food photographer will be able to quickly shoot those items amongst the commotion, providing you with some pretty great content for your website and social media.
Advertising Campaigns and Marketing Materials
If you’re going to spend the money on an advertising campaign, whether it is digital or traditional, you should also spend the money on some good photos.
Newspapers, magazines, online publications, and social media are all flooded with ads, so you need eye-catching photography to capture a person’s attention. Once you have it you can relay your message and drive customers to your restaurant.
Food photography for the purpose of advertising has its own challenges as well. There needs to be empty space on the photo for text, the image needs to be a certain size and quality, and the usage license is different. A professional food photographer will know how to handle these situations with ease, allowing you to sit back and focus on other elements of the campaign.
The same principles apply to your restaurant’s marketing materials. Your brochures, business cards, rack cards, and signage should feature high-quality imagery of your food. After all, a restaurant is all about food, and if your marketing materials include blurry, dark photos of a burger or some pasta, potential patrons won’t be too impressed.
The moral of the story, and the one thing I want you to take away from this blog is that professional photos are an investment. They will pay for themselves by ultimately increasing brand awareness and sales at your restaurant. Once you see the difference high-quality photos make, and how good your food looks, you’ll be wanting new photos every month 😉