Food Photography for Menus & Ads

Professional [STYLE] photograph of [DISH_DESCRIPTION].

Plating style: [PLATING]
Shot type: [SHOT]
Lighting: Soft diffused natural light, [TONE] tones — no harsh shadows on food, no flat lighting
Surface: [SURFACE]
Props: [PROPS]

Quality: Ultra-high resolution, restaurant commercial photography, vibrant and appetizing colors
Color grade: [GRADE]
Style reference: [REFERENCE]

--ar 4:5 --style raw --v 6

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STYLE options: restaurant menu | food advertising | editorial food photography
PLATING options: rustic and abundant | fine dining minimal | home-cooked comfort | casual and fresh
SHOT options: 45-degree hero shot | overhead flat lay | close-up texture detail | environmental with context
TONE options: warm golden | cool and fresh | neutral clean
SURFACE options: dark weathered wood | white marble | matte slate | ceramic tile | linen cloth
PROPS options: fresh herbs scattered | sauce drizzle in motion | steam rising | condensation drops | complementary raw ingredients nearby
GRADE options: warm and inviting | cool and fresh | rich and saturated | clean and minimal
REFERENCE options: Michelin-star restaurant menu | casual bistro | health and wellness brand | comfort food brand

How to use

Food photography is about making food look fresh, vibrant, and genuinely appetizing. The lighting and surface have the biggest impact on perceived quality. Start with a 45-degree hero shot (the most flattering angle for most dishes) and iterate from there.

Variables

• [STYLE] — Context: menu (cleaner, less editorial), advertising (more dramatic), editorial (most creative freedom)
• [DISH_DESCRIPTION] — Be specific: "linguine in white wine clam sauce with fresh parsley and lemon zest" beats "pasta"
• [PLATING] — Match your restaurant's brand identity
• [SHOT] — 45-degree for most dishes; overhead for flat dishes (pizza, salads); close-up for texture (steak, bread)
• [TONE] — Warm tones make food look fresh and comforting; cool tones suit health/wellness brands
• [SURFACE] — Dark surfaces make colorful food pop; light surfaces look clean and modern
• [PROPS] — Add energy and freshness; remove this line for clean product shots
• [GRADE] — Color grading direction for the final look
• [REFERENCE] — Style anchor that tells the model the quality register

Tips

• Add "appetizing, makes you hungry" anywhere in the prompt — it reliably activates food photography training
• Negative prompts (Midjourney): --no artificial colors, plastic-looking, dark shadows on food, gray tones, unappetizing
• Steam requires explicit prompting: "wisps of steam rising from the hot dish surface"
• Condensation: "beads of water condensation on the cold glass surface" for drinks
• Raw produce: add "glistening, vibrant, just-harvested quality" to prevent the washed-out look
• Overhead is best for: pizza, grain bowls, flatbreads, charcuterie boards, coffee top-down
• 45-degree is best for: burgers, sandwiches, pasta, plated mains, drinks with garnish