Client Snapshot: La Serre

Welcome to a look behind-the-scenes of a restaurant menu photo shoot in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood!

About Restaurant Photography

I absolutely love restaurant photography. Before the pandemic, I was doing a lot of work shooting restaurant menus and interiors, and I really missed that type of work when I had to pivot to working at home. There’s something special about capturing the essence of a menu on camera, and I absolutely love it. Photography is a huge component of the visual marketing plans for hospitality groups, and they always understand the value of high-end food photography, food styling, and interior photography.

What I Bring to a Restaurant Photo Shoot

As a professional photographer for restaurants and hospitality groups, I try to walk the line between keeping my gear light and being prepared for anything. Ahead of the shoot, I always try to get a gauge on whether or not the restaurant has good lighting, what kind of restaurant branding we’re working with, and what style the team is going for to weigh which lighting set-up to bring. (By the way: you can read more about the different types of light here.) I usually end up keeping it simple with a single light set-up. I also like to bring a tethering set-up and a few backdrops in case the hospitality company wants to get some different photos for use on social.

Menu Photography

The best part of working with well-thought out hospitality concepts and talented chefs is that the food is as beautiful as can be. My job in doing the menu photography is to capture that beauty in its best light and to provide the restaurant with photos that showcase each dish accurately for their menu designs.

Shoot Concept

I loved this shoot because there was a lot of intention—the group had put a ton of work into the menu and done a full storyboard and mood board exercise, too. The idea was to nail a coastal French vibe, and I think we did exactly that. Check out the photos below and let me know what you think!