There’s something so satisfying about photographing a menu that’s been lived with, loved, and is ready for a refresh. My recent full-day shoot with Milk Bar, a client I’ve worked with for over a decade…was exactly that.
We set out to update their menu imagery, Uber Eats gallery, and social media assets, capturing around 40 dishes over the course of the day. These shoots are always a collaboration: working closely with the chef, refining plates, adjusting textures, and overseeing styling so that every dish feels both beautiful and true.
A question I get all the time: do you get to eat the food?
The honest answer: not really. By the time we’re done, the food has been handled (to put it mildly), and sometimes lightly misted (olive oil or glycerine works like a charm) to bring it back to life on camera. Let’s just say I would rather be crafting an image that does the dish justice, than tasting… That said… that pancake stack was perfect and I thought a bite out of one of those would make the perfect shot… See below ;)
My approach is simple: keep it as natural as possible. I love working with available light and shooting food as you would receive it: honest, inviting, and real. Of course, we play a little. We refine. We elevate. But always with the intention of staying true to the dish and the experience.
If your menu needs a refresh, or your Uber Eats gallery isn’t quite doing your food justice, I’d love to help. I’m based in Johannesburg and travel regularly for the right projects.
Let’s make your food look as good as it tastes. Pop me a mail and I will send you my rates…
Hello Breakfast! Milk Bar, Sandton, Johannesburg
Tell me you aren’t hungry now?!