Good restaurant photography is not only about attractive dishes. Website photography must also work in wide hero banners, square cards, vertical mobile layouts and fast-loading galleries.
Create a website shot list
Include:
- exterior and entrance
- dining room wide shots
- table details
- signature dishes
- ingredients or preparation
- chef and team
- bar
- terrace or view
- private dining
- guest experience without revealing people without permission.
Shoot for multiple crops
Ask for horizontal, vertical and square variations. Keep important subjects away from the extreme edges so images can adapt to responsive layouts.
Maintain visual consistency
Use consistent lighting, colour treatment, plating and background choices. A website looks fragmented when every image has a different style.
Avoid misleading presentation
Photography should reflect actual portions, presentation and space. Excessive editing can create expectations the venue cannot meet.
Prepare files correctly
Keep original high-resolution files, but create optimised web versions. Use modern formats where supported and meaningful filenames.
Add text alternatives
Write alt text that describes the informative purpose of the image. Decorative images may use empty alt attributes.
Photography and page speed
Use responsive image sizes, lazy loading below the fold and compression. Do not upload full camera-resolution files directly into page layouts.
Rights and permissions
Confirm that the restaurant has permission to use the images across website, advertising and social media. Obtain appropriate permission for identifiable guests and staff.