Agora got in touch asking me to photograph their new food and drinks menu. A Hull restaurant, a table full of dishes and plenty of details to get stuck into. A lovely commercial brief.
This shoot was about showing what Agora puts on the table, from the food itself to the drinks and the people behind it. Here’s a look at the photographs, and a bit about what goes into a menu shoot like this.
A new menu at Agora in Hull
Agora is a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar on Princes Avenue in Hull. Their food is built around small plates and sharing, which gives you plenty to work with photographically.
For the shoot, I photographed individual dishes as well as fuller table arrangements. The closer views give each plate its own space, while the overhead photographs bring everything together. You can see the different colours, textures and little details across the menu.
Giving the food its moment
There’s a lot going on in a plate of food. The finish of a sauce, the texture of bread, the colour of a garnish. Those details are a big part of what makes a dish look inviting, so they deserve some attention.
Among the photographs are dishes shot on their own, food being finished at the table and wider spreads with several plates together. I like that mix. It gives you a closer look at what’s being served, then shows how it all sits together.
The warm wood and candlelit background run through the images too, keeping a sense of the restaurant around the food.
Drinks, pouring shots and a bit of movement
The drinks were part of the brief as well. Alongside the finished glasses, the photographs include garnishes, a cocktail being finished and tea being poured from a copper urn.
Those little moments add something different to a set of menu photographs. A pour or a finishing touch gives you movement, while the quieter close-ups let the glass, colour and details do the work.
The people behind the menu
I also photographed members of the Agora team. The chef portrait is a lovely addition to the set: a face to go with the food, photographed in the restaurant itself.
For a hospitality business, a useful collection of photographs can go beyond the plates. The people, the setting and the small details help tell a fuller story about what customers can expect when they visit.
Planning food and drink photography for your business
If you’re bringing out a new menu, it helps to think about where the photographs need to go before the shoot. Your menu, website and social posts may all need different shapes and compositions.
A list of dishes and drinks is a good starting point. From there, we can talk about the views you need, any preparation involved and the details you want people to notice.
Thanks to Agora for asking me to photograph the new menu. You can find out more about the restaurant on the Agora website, or see more of my food, drink and product photography.
A few useful questions
What did Agora ask you to photograph?
Agora got in touch asking me to photograph their new food and drinks menu. The collection includes individual dishes, table spreads, drinks and photographs of the team.
Can you photograph food and drinks at my restaurant?
Yes. If you’re planning a menu shoot in Hull, East Yorkshire or further afield, tell me about your restaurant, the dishes and drinks you need photographed, and where you’d like to use the images. We can work out a brief around that.
What should we prepare before a menu photography shoot?
A list of dishes and drinks is a good starting point. Think about which items matter most and whether you need photographs for menus, your website or social posts. We can discuss preparation, timing and the different compositions before the shoot.
Can we include the people behind the food?
Absolutely. Alongside the menu photographs, we can talk about portraits of your team, preparation and finishing touches. It’s a lovely way to show more of the business behind the plates.
How do I enquire about a restaurant photography shoot?
Use the form below to tell me about your business, location, the photographs you need and any dates you have in mind. I’ll get back to you to chat through the brief.
Planning a food or drinks shoot?
If you’ve got a new menu or a restaurant project in mind, I’d love to hear about it. Tell me a bit about your business and the photographs you need below.
You can also explore my food, drink and product photography.
If you have a new menu or a food project coming up in Hull, East Yorkshire or further afield, tell me what you have in mind. I’d love to hear about it.
