What Food Photo is More Appropriate or Enticing?

[David Lawyer]

Have been having a debate as to what sort of photo on a 'bakery menu' would be more appropriate and/or enticing for customers to view. I would like your opinion as to what you think? Either from personal preference or experience displaying and selling baked goods? Do you prefer a more 'staged' look (pies delicately stacked on a platter) or a more natural and realistic feel (pies on a baking sheet, juices bubbling from the seams) etc.

I would VERY much value everyone's opinion!

 

[halb]

How about some examples?

 

[David Lawyer]

Trying to figure out how to attach some images here....I'll try to figure it out and post some examples...

 

[phatch]

you need to be a memeber for a while to post pics....

 

[David Lawyer]

Ok.
So below - an example of pies on a baking sheet...

..And an image of pies, staged and arranged...

I have seen images of both displayed on bakery websites....which is more enticing to a customer?

 

[Sm_okie]

They look nicer in the second picture imo. I understand that's what sheet trays look like many places, but a customer might mistake the discoloration as being dirty.

 

[David Lawyer]

That was probably a bad example sheet tray..... here's a better one

 

[halb]

It's always best to show your food as you would present it to your customer.

 

[cheflayne]

My vote is for the image of pies, staged and arranged.

 

[Pat Pat]

If you try to sell something retail, they should look done. Like this:



Showing the items still in a pan is better when you're trying to entice someone into making them, so you would use this kind of photo in a cookbook, for example.

 

[drirene]

I prefer the crumby baking photos, but I would stage them to look good. Baking sheet presentation with somewhat imperfect and crumby goodies (to me) implies quality scratch made, whereas the perfectly presented pastries seem factory mass produced / lower quality.

 

[Sm_okie]

If you have a large number of pastries staged on a tray it could look very nice, or have you thought about a buffet type presentation with lots of pastries staged in a nice way?

 

[David Lawyer]

I prefer the crumby baking photos, but I would stage them to look good. Baking sheet presentation with somewhat imperfect and crumby goodies (to me) implies quality scratch made, whereas the perfectly presented pastries seem factory mass produced / lower quality.

This was one of my concerns. Having pastries obviously staged and arranged and looking too commercial or mass manufactured. I don't mind staging them, but for me, the more 'homely' look of pies is part of the allure for me. juices seeping and bubbling out, etc.

 

[fatcook]

I think for the menu - the finished product. If you are shopping, you want to see what it will look like if you buy the item.

For any social media you may do, the in progress pictures are a great way to show you are making the items yourself and not purchasing mass produced.