Case Study: Why product photography is important – Alphonsomango.co.uk

Intro

The world is very visual-led nowadays, whether is videos or photos, we devour a huge amount of images every single day. The reason why is that images are immediate and speak more than a thousand words. It is essential for a brand, especially one that sells products to have high quality professional images, even more if you are based online and you have no ways to communicate to your ideal customers in person. I worked with Alphonsomango.co.uk, a premium Indian mangoes online retailer in the UK, to create simple professional images that show their natural products in many formats and to show the people behind the brand.

I am a London based photographer specialising in food and drinks. If you are curious to know more check my commercial food photography services.

Why good product photography helps sales & conversions

Professional food photography helps people recognise your brand at a glance, it send trustworthiness signals and it shows that you are invested in your products just as much as you are into your food photography.

Having great unique content helps your SEO as well, and in keeping your customers engaged it helps you rank higher on search engines such as Google.

In turn, this helps to convince your viewers to buy, making them salivate with anticipation of trying your delicious products. Having said this, convincing people shouldn’t mean misleading them, your product still needs to be authentic and genuine to continue this relationship of trust. Your images need to be consistent in style to reflect your brand, show authenticity and speak to your ideal client demographic.

About the client – Alphonsomango.co.uk

As the name suggests, www.alphonsomango.co.uk are based in North West London and specialise in the finest Indian mangoes delivered to many UK postcodes, their signature mango is the Alphonso mango, but they also sell other varieties such as Kesar mangoes, Badami mangoes and Pakistani Chaunsa mangoes. Their main challenge was to show their brand identity, (organic, natural premium quality fruits) and their personal story through images. the aim was to capture the freshness and high quality of their produce in an online space, as they do not have a physical store.

The photography process & brief creative decisions

To show the organic nature of Alphonsomango.co.uk products,  I have opted for natural lighting or naturally looking lighting in a studio environment, with props that would enhance this style, such as wood, linen backgrounds and so on, and a minimalistic look not explicitly commercial.

Images editing went in this direction too of not overly edited images, with low contrast and saturation.

David and Satya are the two founders of Alphonsomango.co.uk, they have been friends since a very young age and as passionate foodies wanted to bring these amazing, relatively unknown premium fruits to the knowledge of everyone in the UK, the brand visuals had to tell this story with a fun contemporary look.

Furthermore they wanted to feature a few recipes with mangoes and I have worked at the food styling, prop sourcing and photography from my studio in Highgate, North London.  I would generally recommend hiring a food stylist and prop stylist if possible along a food photographer, but if the budget is tight then I can help with that.

The results

The results were a professionally looking webpage with a great conversion and a strong trustworthy visual branding. The first year or trading was very successful with sales more than doubling what was predicted. The images were also used as part of a press release, which helped to secure press coverage with the images featured in The Telegraph, London on the Inside and Fruk magazine.

Conclusions: Why product photography matters in 2025

Product photography is essential to show a brand identity and key products. It helps improving click-trough rate and conversion especially, but not only, with online sales.

Not long ago I read an article about branding, it said “you can think about your brand as a celebrity and act like him/her” - would you be a Audrey Hepburn or a Marylin Monroe? Because these appeal to different audiences. The key principle of commercial photography is to reflect who your brand is and to consistently show your products in the best possible light to convey that message.

If you’re a UK brand looking to showcase your products with consistency, clarity and style, see how I approach commercial food photography.

“It was great fun working with Jennifer, she really understood our brand and helped us to grow visually. Her professional images helped us to get some top press coverage, from the likes of The Telegraph.”

— Satya Morarji

I’m Jennifer, a London based food photographer. Find our more about me here: Jennifer Cauli London based Food & Drinks Photographer

Professional hospitality photography

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High-end hotel, restaurant & food photographer for brands who value storytelling

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About Me

I’m Jennifer, a London-based professional hospitality photographer who collaborates with hotels and restaurants to produce beautiful imagery showcasing your brand. From interiors to food photography, images of people and lifestyle shots, I help to explain your story through pictures to welcome guests and define your identity.

My Hospitality Photography Services

1. Hotel & Restaurant Food Photography

From à la carte menus to buffets and bar menus, I work together with your chefs and marketing department to produce mouth-watering images capturing the spirit of your cuisine. These images are essential for websites, social media, and Google listings. If you want to know more check my case study : [Restaurant menu photography]1.

2. Hotel Interior Photography

I specialize in hotel interior photography showcasing light, space, and design. I photograph guest rooms, lobby spaces, restaurants, pools, spas, and common areas — promoting your brand’s look and ambiance.

> Tip:> Schedule interior shoots during natural daylight for warmth and authenticity.

3. People & Hospitality Staff Photography

I capture your employees in action, highlighting their service and personality to differentiate your hospitality experience.

4. Hotel Videography

I create short-form videos and drone shots of your property’s best angles, including hero exterior shots and immersive landscapes.

> Tip:> Complement still photos with video for mood and space perspective.

5. Lifestyle Photography

Lifestyle shoots feature genuine guests or models enjoying your space — dining, relaxing, or attending events — to showcase the true guest experience.

What Makes Great Hospitality Photography?

Good hospitality photography tells a story, stirs emotion, and builds your brand identity. I create images that speak directly to your ideal guest, whether you're a luxury resort or boutique hotel.

> Tip:> Use real-life, emotional storytelling shots — guests connect more with relatable, natural imagery than empty rooms.

Photoshoot Deliverables & Details

• Fast turnaround: delivery within 1 week
• Brand-relevant, innovative imagery
• High-resolution files for print
• Web-optimized images for online use
• 2 professional retouching sessions included

Hospitality Photoshoot Pricing & Packages

• Custom quotes for every project
• Day rates from £500
• Per-image or per-project pricing available

Who I Work With

I collaborate with:

• Luxury resorts and boutique villas
• Budget hotels and serviced apartments
• Fine dining, casual dining, and fast-food restaurants

Where I Work

Based in London, I work across the UK and internationally. Whether your property is in London, Europe, or worldwide, I’m available to travel.

Get in Touch

Looking for hospitality photography or London food photography services?
Let’s discuss your next hotel or restaurant shoot. Contact me today.

Restaurant Interiors and Menu Photography Case Study: Three Uncles London

Three Uncles, Chinese Restaurant Photography London

I have worked with Three Uncles since 2019 when they opened their first shop in Liverpool Street. Since then, I have provided photography for each of their branches including Liverpool Street, Camden, Brixton, Ealing and St Pauls and helped provide all images for their website, print and social media.

Three Uncles specialise in Cantonese roast meats and have grown to 6 units in London, via grab-and-go shops as well as two sit-down restaurants in Ealing and Brixton. They are now one of the largest Cantonese restaurant groups outside of London’s Chinatown. As part of their brand growth, they’ve invested in commercial food photography London businesses can rely on to capture both quality and character.

As part of my hospitality photography work in London, this project showcases how consistent visuals can elevate a restaurant’s brand identity.

The client’s vision

Three Uncles vision is a modern representation of a Cantonese BBQ shop, with a focus on high quality food and a simple, straightforward menu. The aim for the restaurant food photography was to align with this vision but focus on punchy, bold images highlighting the artistry behind the laborious marinating and roasting process.

The client wanted restaurant menu photography and restaurant interior photography in Ealing, St Paul’s and Brent Cross as well as a mixture of takeaway images for delivery platforms (such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat)

Why does restaurant photography matter for your brand in London?

People eat with their eyes first, professional restaurant photography together with amazing food styling glorifies your food and communicates professionalism and trustworthiness of your brand. Customers often search for restaurants in London for inspiration on the web and they will associate your photography effort to the effort you put into creating your dishes. It is not something to be underestimated.

Restaurant branding photography is essential to your brand as people find an emotional connection with photography that triggers positive emotions - convert into trust and loyalty.

Your brand perception can be led by photography storytelling, such as luxurious settings conveying the message of premium and exclusivity, or rustic styling conveying an organic natural brand.

As a professional restaurant food photographer in London, my aim is to make sure to convey the right message with my images that align with your brand strategy.

How competitive is the London restaurant scene?

Very competitive. According to Rentech Digital there are 11,414 restaurants in London, as of January 2025, showcasing a 4.63% increase since 2023. This includes single-owner establishments and chain restaurants, reflecting the city's dynamic food culture.

A significant number of London restaurants have established a strong digital presence, with 8,205 having their own websites and thousands active on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

With all this competition, the importance of being visible through online engagement via photography and media, is vital in the restaurant industry.

Why you need strong interior photography.

Interior photography captures the atmosphere, and conveys the overall mood, lighting and the dining experience. Many customers choose a restaurant based on its atmosphere, therefore professional interior photography can help show your venue at its best.

My role during the restaurant interior design photoshoot for Three Uncles was to capture the ambient mood and distinctive design elements. Through a blend of interior and lifestyle photography, I aimed to convey the dining experience accurately to the customer.

Lighting challenges in restaurant interiors

Choosing the lighting techniques for restaurant photography can be challenging, but when possible, I will opt for natural lighting. This is my favourite type of lighting combined with bracket exposure. Bracket exposure is a combination of three images with different exposures, that are merged in post-production to bring in the brightest and darkest part of the image in a balanced result.

One of the main Interior lighting challenges is a wide range of bright spots in contrast with dark spots (or high dynamic range) that must be carefully considered.

For Three Uncles interior photoshoots I have a used a mixture of natural lighting and studio lighting.

Styling dishes to match the restaurant’s aesthetic

The style of the dishes often matches the restaurant’s aesthetic, in certain instances the image style drives the restaurant’s aesthetic. In some instances (like with Three Uncles) I often use a particular type of backdrop that mimics microcement and this ended up being Three Uncles' choice for their table top.

The food styling techniques in their branch in Liverpool Street included using backdrops (that I can provide) and adding any sauces, chopsticks, drinks and other elements that create a story. The food is the hero, so it needs to shine with the use of studio lighting combined with natural lighting.

The restaurant’s food presentation for photography is the same as it is presented to customers, the choice was often in a takeaway box with the occasionally plated dish.

Summary

For the past five years, I’ve worked closely with the wonderful team at Three Uncles, capturing their journey and playing a key role in theirbranding transformation and storytelling through photography. Strong, consistent visuals and customer engagement through food photography have helped them build trust with customers and reflect the quality of their food. The signature Three Uncles style draws in thousands of people to eat in their restaurant every day.

If you are looking for a food photographer in London, for advertising, social media and websites, get in touch.