Food photography for delivery: how to take photos that make people drool and convert

Uber Eats has conducted internal studies showing that restaurant listings with photos on 80% or more of their dishes convert 2.4 times better than those with few or no photos. Deliveroo, on the other hand, indicates that a professional-quality photo can increase clicks on a dish by 30 to 80% compared to no photo or a low-quality photo. Despite these figures, many restaurateurs neglect this aspect or use blurry, hastily taken photos.

Light is the most important parameter in culinary photography. Natural, indirect light (near a window, without direct sunlight) is the best option without equipment. Absolutely avoid photos taken under neon-fluorescent kitchen lighting: they give an unpleasant green or yellow tint. If you photograph in the evening, invest in a photography LED panel (€40-€80) that offers neutral and soft light.

The background and props matter a lot. A black chalkboard, a light-colored wooden board, a white plate or a marble platter are backgrounds that enhance almost all types of dishes. Avoid cluttered backgrounds (loaded with objects) that divert attention from the dish. The rule of thirds applies well to food photography: the main dish occupies two-thirds of the frame, with a contextual element in the remaining third.

For the delivery photo specifically, there’s a crucial detail: photograph the dish as it will be received, not as it’s presented in the dining room. This means photographing it in its packaging or immediately after being removed from it, with an appealing visual even within a container. This consistency between the photo and the received product avoids disappointments and negative reviews like “nothing to do with the photo.” A dish that’s less gorgeous in the photo but faithful to reality is better than a magazine-style dish that disappoints.

Technical specifications for Uber Eats and Deliveroo: JPG or PNG image, minimum 1200x800 pixels, 4:3 aspect ratio preferred, no watermarks or text on the image. Both platforms sometimes offer free photo sessions for their partners (Uber Eats Photography program). Contact your account manager to inquire: it’s a free benefit that many restaurateurs haven’t utilized.

If you don’t want to invest in a professional photographer (expect to pay 200-400 euros for a 10-15 course session), a modern smartphone is perfectly sufficient. A recent iPhone or Samsung with the “portrait” or “pro” mode will give excellent results. Use an app like Snapseed (free) for basic edits: contrast, brightness, saturation. Avoid Instagram filters, which will alter the natural colors of your dishes.