Choose a photo that shows what you sell
Pick one dish, drink or bake to start. Look for a sharp image where the product is easy to recognise, the lighting shows its texture and the serving matches what a customer would receive today.
A close-up can show detail, but it gives an editor less room to reframe. If you have both a wider view and a detail shot, send both. Keep the original alongside any crop you have already posted.
Check these before choosing
- Focus: open the image at full size. The food should be sharp where you want the viewer to look.
- Framing: avoid cutting off the part that identifies the item, such as a decorated cake top or the rim of a drink.
- Overlays: send a clean photo without stickers, captions or social-app controls. Supply the wording separately.
- Accuracy: replace a photo if the portion, ingredients, packaging or decoration has changed.
A quick phone-photo checklist
You do not need to photograph the whole menu. Choose the item for the first ad and give yourself a few alternatives.
- Wipe the lens and put the actual serving on a clear surface.
- Use steady, even light. Check for strong reflections on cups, plates or packaging.
- Step back enough to include the edges. Take one wider shot and one closer detail.
- Tap the product to focus, hold still and check the result before clearing the table.
- Keep the original files. Avoid sending a screenshot of a photo or repeatedly saving it through a messaging app.
These are suggestions, not a required number of photos. If you already have a usable image, start there. We can tell you what else would help after looking at it.
The photo needs a few facts beside it
A picture cannot tell us the current price or whether an ingredient is part of the recipe. Send a link to your own menu or the relevant menu material with the brief.
- Item
- The exact name customers see on your menu.
- Message
- What you want this ad to say, such as introducing a dish or showing an existing breakfast order.
- Price and availability
- The current price if it should appear, plus dates or times for a limited offer.
- Ingredients
- The menu wording for any ingredients we will name. Do not infer dietary or allergen claims from a photo.
- Brand
- Your logo if available, preferred wording and anything you want us to avoid.
If you are unsure about the concept, the ad ideas guide shows which information each style needs.
How to send photos to Frontreel
For a free sample, use the sample request form to share your business website or public profile. We review the request and reply about the sample and timing. There is no file upload on that form.
After joining the monthly plan, sign in and open your private brief. Add your website or upload photos, then describe what you want to feature. A website is optional when you supply photos.
The paid brief accepts up to ten JPG, PNG or WebP images per submission, with a maximum of 10 MB per image and 50 MB in total. Export HEIC photos as JPG before uploading, or email us for help. Keep written menu details in the brief rather than relying on text inside an image.
Only supply photos and logos you have permission to use. Finding an image on a review site or another business’s social account does not establish that permission.
A few common questions
Can you use photos already on my website?
Yes, if you have permission to use them. Share the page and tell us which item to feature. The original file may give us more detail than the web-sized copy.
Do I need a professional shoot?
For an ad built around an existing product photo, a suitable phone image can be enough. If you want to show a chef cooking, a busy dining room or a real interaction, you may need someone to capture that footage. Those are different production jobs.
What if I have no website?
The paid brief supports photos without a website. For a sample, share a public business profile if you have one, or email us to discuss your material.
Will an illustrated ad change how the food looks?
A drawn look simplifies the appearance. Review the shape, ingredients, portion and wording before approving it. Tell us which details must stay accurate; we use AI tools where suitable and check the output.
See how Frontreel makes restaurant video ads and watch the fictional pizza example.