To create a selection of photos for their new website that really show off how great the place looks, capture the warm, friendly feeling, and showcase the fantastic food on offer.

First, we reviewed the existing website to understand what it offered so that we could build a shot list. What we noticed was that the photos were snaps or stock footage. Now, there is nothing wrong with using stock footage to get your message across, but when it’s food, it needs to be genuine, as this is what people will base their decision on whether to eat. The snaps are okay for showcasing the room and atmosphere, but they are just that, snaps, the colour might be off, the lighting might be dark in areas, the verticles might be all over the place, and is that really the best angle?

For all the required areas, a shot list was created and a plan for when they would be done, which would take multiple days to make it easier for everyone, as they still had a business to run, whilst I captured the moments that mattered.

This type of shoot is a mixture of lifestyle photography, product photography, interior photography and drone photography (with a little bit of drone videography) to get the desired result.

The product in this case is food. Now I’m not what they call a traditional food photographer, and that is for the simple reason that I don’t create the meals out of PVA glue and cocktail sticks, unrealistic setups (we’ve all had a burger from that famous chain, only to get it and see that it’s half the size and saggy). Now, whilst there is a market for that style of food photography (this isn’t me hating on food photographers), I photograph exactly what the chef has produced so that when you go and order that steak, you get exactly what you thought you were getting, and this builds a reputation for your business and customer loyalty. There is a lot of psychology in photography and marketing, and I will bring that to a shoot to help you get the best ROI on your investment.

Sometimes you need a different perspective, and drone photography can do this. I am a qualified drone pilot, and drone photography is something that I do in addition to complementing what I offer, which gives that extra special touch when you are trying to stand out from the crowd. In this case, having a shot showing the surroundings allows you to see very clearly that there is seating outside where you can enjoy the summer sun (or winter, no judgment on season here) and enjoy the calm, relaxing view of the River Severn and feet away, with the sound of the Severn Valley Railway just up the hill behind you. I just love the sound of a steam train.

When you have a location like this, it’s nice to capture the magic that it has to offer, and a beautiful summer’s day with a steam train rolling in really does set the scene. This type of shot, whilst only a few seconds long, is perfect for the header of a website to engage your audience and really let them know quickly where you are and what you have to offer.

Before and after the website was redone with new photos and videos.

The new website was done by Nettl in Kidderminster and you can see more of their work here.