We design the parts of your site where photos do the talking: the home page hero, menu highlights, the about page and the gallery. We tell you which shots each layout needs, prepare every image at the right size and write text descriptions for each one. We do not run photo shoots ourselves.
What this service includes
- Page layouts for the home page, menu highlights, about, events and a gallery, built around your photos.
- A shot list for your photographer, with the shape and subject each layout needs.
- Image preparation: cropping, sizing and compressing for each space, with sharper versions for high-density screens.
- Alt text for every meaningful image, written to describe what a guest would see.
- Guidance on credits and permissions for photos you did not take.
Designing around real photos
A restaurant site lives or dies by its photography, but the photos need the right setting. A plated dish shot from above wants a square or wide frame. A dining room wants width and depth. A portrait of the chef wants a tall frame and space for text. We design layouts that suit the photos you have, rather than forcing every image into the same box.
When photos are not ready, we design with clearly marked placeholders and give you a shot list. That way the photographer knows exactly what to capture and the shoot is shorter.
A sample shot list
| Shot | Shape | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| The room at service, wide | Horizontal | Home page hero and about page |
| Two or three signature dishes | Square or horizontal | Home page and menu highlights |
| Bar or counter detail | Horizontal | Drinks menu and events |
| The team or the chef | Vertical | About page |
| Entrance and exterior | Horizontal | Visit page, so guests recognize the door |
| Private dining room, set | Horizontal | Groups and events page |
Sizing and speed
Large photos are one of the easiest ways to slow a restaurant page down. We export each image at the size it is shown, in a modern format, and provide a sharper version only for screens that can use it. Every image has set dimensions so the page does not jump while it loads, which helps the Cumulative Layout Shift measure in Google's Core Web Vitals [1].
Alt text that helps
Alt text is the description a screen reader announces for an image. WCAG 2.2 requires a text alternative for non-text content [2]. Good restaurant alt text describes the dish or the room plainly, for example "Seared scallops with pea purée and crisp pancetta," rather than repeating the restaurant name or stuffing in keywords. Purely decorative images get an empty description so screen readers skip them.
Honest photos
Photos on a restaurant website are a promise about the food and the room. We recommend using photos of your own dishes and space, and keeping them current when the menu or the décor changes.
The same honesty applies to reviews and testimonials shown next to photos. The FTC's rule on consumer reviews prohibits, among other things, writing or selling reviews that misrepresent the reviewer's existence or experience [3]. Our review rules guide covers what restaurants should know before quoting guests on their site.
Credits and permissions
If you use photos taken by a photographer, a guest or a supplier, make sure you have permission to use them on your website. We include a credit line where the photographer asks for one, and we keep a short record of where each image came from as part of the handover.
Galleries that load well
A gallery should not be a hundred full-size photos on one page. We build galleries that load small previews first, open larger versions on demand and work with a keyboard. On phones, galleries scroll smoothly without trapping the guest.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use stock photos?
We avoid stock photos of food and dining rooms, because guests expect to see your real dishes and space. Stock images can be fine for abstract backgrounds.
Do you edit or retouch photos?
We crop, size and lightly adjust exposure for consistency. Heavy retouching is best left to your photographer.
Can guests' social media photos appear on the site?
Only with the guest's permission. We can design a section for shared photos and explain how to ask for and record permission.
How many photos do we need to launch?
A focused site can launch with ten to fifteen good photos. More can be added over time.
Sources
Checked on October 29, 2026.
- web.dev, Web Vitals. Primary source
- W3C, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. Primary source
- eCFR, 16 CFR Part 465, Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials. Primary source
