TOP FIVE REASONS WHY YOU NEED A PHOTOGRAPHER

One way to make your business shine is by hiring a professional! 

​Where to begin?
Well firstly - Hi. I’m Ally! The creative behind Ally Mcfarlane Photography. I have been a photographer now for a few years and in that time, I have managed to grow a successful business doing what I absolutely love – taking photos of delicious food.
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When it comes to hiring a professional photographer, I won’t be biased but, strong, quality visuals are IMPERATIVE in your business. I cannot shout this from the rooftops enough, it is integral, and I want to say this loud enough for those in the back.
There is a plethora of reason to why you should hire a food photographer, but I have narrowed this down to my top 5.​

​Number 1: This may be the most important of them all and it is of course our technical skill.

​Photographers in general are trained in lighting and composition. In food photography these 2 elements are crucial in creating the perfect mouth-watering shot. They’ve also trained (most probably countless hours) mastering their skill, know what angles are best, and how to keep the lighting interesting for each dish. Overall, lighting is key and having a professional who has a trained eye is incredibly beneficial. There is nothing worse than having a chef creating beautiful dishes and then promoting these dishes through average quick pics.

​Number 2: To stand out from your competition

Here's a number for you - 23,320. That is the number of Hospitality businesses in New Zealand, based on figures in 2020.
Through 2021 this figure has risen, so we are talking about HUGE competition for each eatery, all looking to stand out against the rest. By utilizing professional photography for your business, you’re increasing the odds by pulling in more attention. Great visuals are captivating and tell a story, therefore attract your target audience, but I will expand on this point in Number 3.
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​Number 3: Social media marketing and interactions!

Instagram and Facebook are incredibly powerful marketing tools and now everyone with a smart phone will undoubtedly take a quick snap of their fav breakfast, lunch or dinner to post. It’s amazing, the coverage can be fantastic and it’s great to help promote your business, but adding a mixture of professionally styled images to the mix will guarantee a spark in views. Professional photographers don’t just snap and share. They focus on storytelling, the atmosphere of your establishment and the USP’s of why people would want to dine there, and from this focus on these point to create dominating content.
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​Number 4 : Plating and styling
 
Talented chefs can plate delicious food for the customer, whereas food photographers and stylists take this and create the perfect visual for the camera.  Food photographers and stylists have the knowledge and experience needed to capture the unique essence and allow the dish to tell a story. Each ingredient needs to look beautiful, fresh and glisten but just the right amount to pull in the viewers attention. This can make a huge difference when it comes to striking visuals. 
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​Number 5: Overall, Food photographers know exactly what to capture

It’s all in the detail. When shooting in a restaurant/ café/ bar, the menu is a given but what a photographer will do is capture those little details, the details which your customers will experience when they dine with you.
Photographers capture moments and details which make your establishment unique. All these details also help drive in the customer and create a picture of what the dining experience will be like. When conveyed successfully, this shows a superior level of professionalism due to the fact you are promoting the fact you are willing to spend money to show off how amazing your eatery is.

Creating visuals for your business can be incredibly daunting as the fact is , over 80% of customers will check online first before making a reservation. The world has become digitally focused and consumers want to be served appetising imagery and that’s before they even decide where to dine. With my services, they are designed with your vision in mind. I am passionate about creating images that resonate with your audience.

If you are looking to upgrade your content then please get in touch and lets have a no strings attached chat to see how we can work together.