Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate Guide to Menu Photos for Delivery Apps

📖 12 min read 📅 January 2025 ✍️ Plated Team

In the competitive world of food delivery, your menu photos are often the first and only impression customers get of your food before ordering. Studies show that restaurants with professional-quality photos see up to 30% more orders than those with poor or missing images.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating menu photos that drive orders on platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, and more.

Why Menu Photos Matter More Than Ever

The food delivery market has exploded in recent years, with customers now having hundreds of restaurant options at their fingertips. In this crowded marketplace, your menu photos serve as your storefront window.

The Psychology of Food Photography

When customers scroll through delivery apps, they make split-second decisions based on visual appeal. Professional food photography triggers:

• Appetite appeal: Well-lit, vibrant photos make food look more appetizing and crave-worthy
• Trust signals: Quality photos suggest quality food and a professional operation
• Reduced uncertainty: Clear photos help customers know exactly what they're ordering
• Emotional connection: Great food photos can evoke memories and cravings that drive impulse orders

The Cost of Poor Photos

Restaurants with low-quality, dark, or missing menu photos face significant disadvantages:

• Lower visibility in search results (platforms favor listings with photos)
• Higher scroll-past rates as customers skip unappealing images
• More order cancellations when delivered food doesn't match expectations
• Negative reviews mentioning "food doesn't look like the picture"

Photo Requirements by Platform

Each delivery platform has specific requirements for menu photos. Meeting these specifications ensures your images display correctly and look their best.

Platform	Minimum Size	Recommended	Aspect Ratio
Uber Eats	320 x 320 px	1200 x 800 px	3:2
DoorDash	300 x 300 px	1200 x 900 px	4:3
Grubhub	400 x 400 px	1200 x 800 px	3:2
Postmates	320 x 320 px	1200 x 800 px	3:2

Before & After: The Power of Professional Enhancement

Even a good photo taken with a smartphone can be dramatically improved with professional enhancement. Here's an example of what's possible:

Notice the differences: improved lighting brings out the colors of the ingredients, enhanced contrast makes the dish pop, and professional color grading gives it that menu-worthy look.

DIY vs. Professional Photography

The DIY Approach

Taking your own photos can work if you follow these best practices:

• Natural lighting: Shoot near a window during daylight hours
• Clean backgrounds: Use simple, uncluttered backgrounds
• Proper angles: 45-degree overhead angle works for most dishes
• Fresh preparation: Photograph food immediately after plating
• Steady shots: Use a tripod or rest your phone on something stable

Professional Photography

Hiring a professional food photographer provides the best results but comes with significant costs:

• Average cost: $500-2,000 per session
• May require closing the restaurant during the shoot
• Limited to the photos taken during the session
• Updates for menu changes require additional sessions

The Best of Both Worlds: AI-Powered Enhancement

Modern AI technology offers a middle ground: you take photos with your smartphone, and AI transforms them into professional-quality images. This approach combines the convenience of DIY with near-professional results.

How to Enhance Your Menu Photos with Plated

Plated makes it easy to transform your smartphone food photos into professional menu images. Here's how it works:

1. Take a photo
   Use your iPhone to capture the dish. Natural lighting works best, but the app can enhance photos taken in any condition.
2. Choose your style
   Select "Menu" style for clean, professional images perfect for delivery apps, or "Editorial" for more dramatic, social media-ready shots.
3. Let AI work its magic
   In about 10-30 seconds, Plated's AI enhances lighting, adjusts colors, and gives your photo that professional touch.
4. Download and upload
   Save your enhanced photo and upload it directly to your delivery platform accounts.

Common Menu Photo Mistakes to Avoid

1. Poor lighting: Dim, yellow, or fluorescent lighting makes food look unappetizing
2. Cluttered backgrounds: Distracting elements take focus away from the food
3. Wrong angles: Shooting straight-on often hides the dish's best features
4. Cold food: Steam and freshness matter—photograph immediately
5. Over-editing: Too much saturation or filtering looks fake and misleading
6. Inconsistent styling: Your menu should have a cohesive visual identity
7. Low resolution: Blurry or pixelated images scream unprofessional
8. No photos at all: This is the biggest mistake—always have photos for every menu item

Tips for Specific Food Types

Hot Dishes & Soups

Capture steam by photographing immediately after plating. The warmth signals freshness and makes the dish more appealing.

Burgers & Sandwiches

Use toothpicks to keep layers in place. Shoot from a slight angle to show the filling without everything sliding out.

Desserts

Desserts often look best from directly above or at a 45-degree angle. Add context with a fork or napkin, but keep it minimal.

Beverages

Show condensation on cold drinks by misting with water. For hot beverages, capture steam rising from the cup.

Updating Your Photos: Best Practices

• Update seasonal items with appropriate styling
• Refresh photos quarterly to maintain freshness
• A/B test different photos to see which drives more orders
• Re-photograph items that receive complaints about appearance
• Keep your best-performing photos consistent

Conclusion

Professional menu photos are no longer optional in the food delivery business—they're essential for success. Whether you hire a professional photographer, master DIY techniques, or use AI-powered enhancement tools like Plated, the investment in quality food photography pays for itself many times over in increased orders.

The key is consistency: every item on your menu should have an appetizing, professional photo that accurately represents what customers will receive. Start with your top-selling items and work your way through the entire menu.