Do you remember when Instagram first came out? Most likely at any restaurant you could glance over and see someone taking a picture of their food! Food Photographer Brandon Cozza explains why gourmet restaurant food photography is so important to the success of restaurants:
You eat with your eyes first, so making sure that what your eyes see is appealing is key.
In order to tackle the world of gourmet restaurant food photography, I went with a group of photographers to The Lift Jackson Hole. The Lift is an awesome restaurant because it’s got a cool atmosphere, awesome food and is affordable in comparison to other gourmet restaurants in Jackson Hole.
Setting the Scene
Sometimes you need to look up!
The Lift Jackson Hole is located in the SoBro District, which is south of Broadway on Cache. The bar is rarely empty, unless you come before they actually open.
LED lighting changes against the bar wall.
Appetizer Appeal
I love controlling the depth of field when shooting gourmet restaurant food. By using big apertures (low f/stop numbers), you are able to focus and showcase certain items/ingredients of the item. In this case, I wanted to show a lineup of appetizers that The Lift Jackson Hole has on its menu; this one picture not only features the Lobster Mac & Cheese, but you can make out the WY Whiskey BBQ Buffalo Wings!
Lobster Mac & Cheese: Melted American Cheese with Red Onion, Lobster, Jalapenos and Cilantro. Topped with Panko.
Ben enjoying Angela’s Nachos of Love with Homemade Melted Cheese, Olives, Jalapenos, Black Beans, Pico De Gallo, Guacamole & Sour Cream
The Main Dish
LuLu Salad: Field Greens, Sunflower Seeds, Candied Walnuts, Dried Cranberries, Shredded Carrots, Goat Cheese, with a House Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette
Shorty’s Taco Salad: Fried Tortilla Shell Filled with Mexican Rice, Black Beans, Corn, Lettuce, Shredded Cheese, Pico de Gallo, Guacamole and Sour Cream. *Topped with Fajita Style Peppers, Onions, and Steak.
The Rueben
Fat Bastard Burger: Cheddar, Swiss, Pastrami, Sauerkraut, Bacon and Thousand Island
DELICIOUS DESSERTS
I love how the first picture below has the spoons there in the background. It helps add interest and tells a story.
Coffee Ice Cream Oreo Cake with Root Beer Float
Glory Bowl: Warm Chocolate Chip Brownie with a Huckleberry Compote, Vanilla Ice Cream & Whipped Cream
Here are my top tips if you want to give restaurant food photography a try:
- Check Yelp to find a restaurant nearby that might have awesome food to photograph
- Use a large aperture (small f/stop number)
- Try different angles
- Focus on what makes the dish unique!
- Set the scene by making sure you get pictures of the environment and of people enjoying the food
