Burger guide
How to Photograph Burgers for Delivery Menus
A good burger delivery photo shows the stacked ingredients clearly, keeps the bun from looking flat, and uses side light so sauce, cheese, and sear marks stay appetizing without looking wet.
Burger photography for menus is the process of arranging and lighting a real menu burger so customers can understand the patty, bun, cheese, toppings, and portion size in a small delivery-app thumbnail.
This matters for burger shops in Brooklyn, Queens, Chicago, Austin, and Los Angeles because a DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub tile often has to compete beside fries, chicken sandwiches, and combo meals on the same screen.
How to photograph a burger
- Build the burger for height: Use the real bun and patty, place lettuce or onion where it creates separation, and keep the top bun slightly angled without adding ingredients that are not sold.
- Light from the front side: Put soft light near the camera side and use a small white card opposite the light so the patty and cheese do not fall into shadow.
- Shoot slightly above table height: A low three-quarter angle shows layers better than a flat overhead shot, especially for smash burgers, doubles, and chicken sandwiches.
- Clean the edges: Remove stray crumbs and sauce smears from the plate or wrapper, but keep a small amount of natural gloss on the cheese and patty.
- Crop for delivery: Leave space around the bun so square and landscape crops do not cut off the top, then check the photo at thumbnail size.
Burger photo checks
- The patty is visible, not hidden under the bun.
- Cheese and sauce look appetizing but not greasy.
- The image still reads clearly as a burger at small size.
- The photo matches the actual menu item.
Related burger menu links
- Back to all food photography guides
- How to Photograph Sushi for Delivery Menus
- How to Photograph Pizza for Delivery Menus
- How to Photograph Drinks for Menus and Delivery
- How to Photograph Desserts for Menus
- Use the AI burger photo generator
- DoorDash photo specs
Burger photography FAQ
Should burger photos be overhead or angled?
Use a low three-quarter angle for most burgers because it shows layers. Overhead works better for combos where fries, sauces, or sides need equal attention.
Can I retouch a burger photo?
Yes, clean distracting crumbs, color cast, and crop issues, but do not add ingredients or change the size of the item customers receive.