DoorDash Menu Photos: The Complete Guide to Images That Sell

DoorDash says items with photos get 30% more orders. Some studies show up to 70% more. Either way, the message is clear: no photo = no sale.

But you don't need expensive equipment or a professional photographer. With just your smartphone and these techniques, you can create mouth-watering photos that convert browsers into buyers.

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The Basics: What Makes Food Photos Sell

Scroll through DoorDash and you'll see thousands of bad food photos. Dark, blurry, poorly composed shots that make delicious food look unappetizing.

Great food photos have three things in common:

1. Good lighting — Natural light, always
2. Clean composition — Food fills the frame, nothing distracting
3. Appetite appeal — The food looks fresh, hot, and ready to eat

Lighting: The #1 Factor

Natural light is your best friend. Shoot near a window during daylight hours. Avoid:

• Overhead fluorescent lights (makes food look green/yellow)
• Direct flash (washes out colors, creates harsh shadows)
• Mixed lighting (half natural, half artificial)

The Best Angles for Food

Different foods photograph better at different angles:

Styling Tips That Make Food Pop

Fill the Frame

The food should take up 70-80% of the image. Customers want to see the food, not the empty plate around it. Get close.

Show Freshness

Fresh food sells. Show it:

• Add a fresh garnish (parsley, sesame seeds, fresh herbs)
• Capture steam rising from hot dishes (works best in cool environments)
• For drinks, show condensation on the glass
• Cut into items to show the inside (burger cross-section, melted cheese)

Keep Backgrounds Simple

A clean background keeps focus on the food. Good options:

• White plate on dark surface (contrast)
• Dark plate on light surface (contrast)
• Simple wood table or cutting board
• Plain white or black background

Avoid: Busy tablecloths, cluttered backgrounds, visible mess

Smartphone Camera Settings

Most smartphones take great food photos with minimal adjustments:

• Clean the lens — Seriously, just wipe it with your shirt
• Tap to focus — Tap on the food so it's sharp, background is slightly blurry
• Adjust exposure — On iPhone, tap and slide up/down to brighten or darken
• Avoid zoom — Move closer physically instead of using digital zoom
• Turn off flash — Always

Quick Editing (30 Seconds Max)

Don't over-edit, but a few quick adjustments help:

1. Brightness — Increase slightly if the image is dark
2. Contrast — Small boost makes food pop
3. Saturation — Tiny increase makes colors more vibrant (don't overdo it)
4. Crop — Remove unnecessary space, center the food

The built-in photo editor on your phone is usually enough. No fancy apps needed.

What to Photograph First

You don't need photos of everything. Prioritize:

1. Your top 10 sellers — These matter most
2. Most expensive items — High-priced items need photos to justify the cost
3. Visually appealing items — Some dishes just photograph better
4. Featured/promoted items — Anything in your featured section
5. Items that need explaining — If the name isn't obvious, show it

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Photographing cold food — Hot food photographs better. Cheese should be melted, not congealed.
• Messy plates — Wipe the edges. No drips or smears.
• Portion distortion — Don't make portions look smaller than they are
• Using stock photos — Customers can tell. Real photos of your actual food perform better.
• Inconsistent style — All your photos should have similar lighting and feel

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The 15-Minute Photo Session

Here's how to photograph 10 items in 15 minutes:

1. Set up near your best window (2 min)
2. Prepare a simple, clean background (2 min)
3. Have items brought out one at a time, freshly made (ongoing)
4. Take 3-5 shots of each item from your chosen angle (1 min each)
5. Quick review and editing on your phone (5 min total)
6. Upload to DoorDash (5 min)

You don't need a whole day. A focused 15-minute session once a week will transform your menu over time.