I have been a professional food photographer for over 20 years and have had the pleasure to photograph the cuisine of Eric Ripert, Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter, Joel Robuchon, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Anthony Bourdain, Alain Ducasse, Lidia Bastianich and many more world-class restaurant chefs.
Most of them are now hugely successful entrepreneurs and celebrities. This elite group has always understood the importance of excellent food photography. Why spend all your time creating gorgeous recipes for your menu only to ruin them with less-than-flattering food photographs?
I remember when the first iPhone was released, and the cell phone photography was so unflattering that some restaurants banned their use! Of course, that has changed now, and thankfully cell phone photographers are getting much better than in the early days. Still, ugly food shots convey the wrong image of your food and are a turn-off to many potential diners.
When I entered the private golf industry, I quickly realized there was a great need for high-quality food photography, whether the golf club, country club, or resort served hamburgers or haute cuisine. Why spend thousands on golf course photography, clubhouse, interiors, and exteriors and skip the kitchen? Food is not and should never be an afterthought.
The website is the first place I visit when I look for a club to feature in my books or Golf Kitchen Magazine. I can tell if the club values the culinary side as they will highlight and compliment their chef, culinary team, and services, often displaying the menus and excellent food imagery. However, the website is one of many places a club needs high-quality food photography; there are many places. Food photography draws attention everywhere, from social media, newsletters, advertising, magazine and news stories, club banners, posters, and more.
Food photography is an art form and challenging to learn; more often, it is an inborn skill. The golf course photographer is likely not a skilled food photographer, and vice versa. I have never been hired to shoot a golf course; while I could take good enough landscapes, I am not a golf course photographer as I do not know the game or what golfers are looking for in a great golf course image. I leave that up to specialized golf photographers like Larry Lambrecht, Jacob Sjöman, and Evan Schiller.
Look for photographers that specialize in food photography and do your homework. Find out if their clients are happy with their services, word of mouth is essential. Local does not always mean better. Hire for talent every time.
Reasons to hire a great food photographer to support your great culinary team.
- Members of upscale private clubs can eat wherever they want. Their palates are advanced. When you produce low-quality food imagery, that can be enough for them to go off-property to eat, or worse, join a club that values the food and beverage department as much as the golf and other facilities.
- Younger golfers demand higher-quality cuisine. This means that you need to hire executive chefs and other culinary team players who match this demand to attract more members to the club, and you will need to support your team by showing off their work with great food photography.
- My first impression as a non-golfer was how clubs attract new members, especially the ones who have never played golf. Golfers already play, so there is no point preaching to the choir; you need other avenues to get them to the club. Food is one of them. If a club has an excellent food and wine program and a great golf program and other facilities, that could be the drawcard that brings the club to their attention, and then they might also take up the game—more reason to hire a skilled food photographer.
- Food is a conversation topic. The last thing you want as a private golf or country club is to have members, guests, and media trashing the club’s choice of cuisine. Poor food photography can show the lack of attention to the food and beverage department, and this is not an excellent way to attract culinarians to work in the industry.
- Hiring a reputable food photographer has many other perks. Savvy food photographers are very good at marketing; you will likely have your club featured in their marketing and online social media campaigns as well as your own at no extra cost.
To contact Diana DeLuca regarding food photography consulting, please email her at diana@golfkitchen.com.
