Chicago Food Photographer & Food Videographer
Make people hungry before they ever walk in. We create food photography, food videography and social content for Chicago restaurants, chefs, hospitality groups and food brands, from menu shots to scroll-stopping reels.
Food Photography and Videography That Sells the Plate
Kenneth L. Dixon Photography, Video Production & Drone is a Chicago food photographer and food videographer working with restaurants, chefs, bars, bakeries, hospitality groups and packaged-food brands across the city and Chicagoland. Food is one of our core specialties, and we have photographed and filmed menus from Mexican and Peruvian to Indian, Japanese, Italian and modern American kitchens.
Great food content is about appetite. We light every dish to show texture, steam, gloss and color, style the table so the plate is the hero, and capture the people behind the food: chefs at the pass, bartenders mid-pour and guests enjoying the room. The result is imagery that works on your menu, website, delivery apps, ads and social feeds.
Because photography and video are handled by one team on the same day, you leave a single shoot with a full menu library, short-form reels and a hero brand video, with a consistent look across every platform.
Food Photography, Videography and Social Content
Book photography, video or both. Tap any film to watch recent restaurant work with sound.
Restaurant and Menu Photography
Clean, mouthwatering images of every dish on your menu, styled and lit to match your restaurant's personality. We shoot hero plates, overhead spreads, ingredients, desserts and drinks, delivered in sizes ready for printed menus, websites, Google Business Profile, Yelp and delivery apps.
We also photograph interiors, chefs and staff so your listings show the full experience. See our restaurant photography page for more.
Cinematic Food and Restaurant Videos
Slow-motion pours, sizzling pans, steam rising off a fresh plate and a chef's hands at work. Our food videography turns your kitchen into a story, with brand films, chef features and opening announcements edited and color graded in-house.
For complete campaigns, explore our Chicago video production services.
Reels, TikTok and Social Media Food Content
Short, punchy vertical videos built for Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts: dish reveals, behind-the-line moments and menu drops cut to the beat. One shoot can deliver a month of posts, plus stills for carousels and stories.
Need ongoing content? Our social media content team can keep your feed fresh every month.
Content for Delivery Platforms and Food Brands
Consistent, bright product imagery and short videos for DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub listings, ecommerce and packaged-food brands. For bigger campaigns we add exteriors, rooftop patios and FAA-certified drone aerials so customers can find you and see the setting.
Learn more about our drone services.
Kenneth has completed dozens of shoots for my restaurants. He is professional and efficient and best of all his work is amazing. I definitely recommend booking him if you want professional and great looking videos and pics that stand out from the crowd.Adon Marcus · Google Review
Food Media for Every Kind of Food Business
From neighborhood spots to multi-location groups, we plan each shoot around how you sell.
Restaurants and Chefs
New menus, seasonal launches, openings and chef features for independent restaurants and fine dining.
Bars and Cocktail Programs
Beverage and cocktail photography with crisp ice, condensation and pours captured in slow motion.
Hospitality Groups and Hotels
Multi-location shoots with consistent styling; see our hospitality photo, video and drone work.
Bakeries, Cafes and Caterers
Pastries, coffee, catering spreads and event tables photographed in natural, inviting light.
Food and Beverage Brands
Packaged products, ingredient stories and lifestyle content for ecommerce, retail and ads.
Ghost Kitchens and Delivery
Fast, consistent menu photography that wins the tap on delivery apps.
Why Food Photography and Videography Matter for Chicago Restaurants
Chicago diners decide where to eat on their phones. They scroll your Google listing, your Instagram and your delivery menu before they ever book a table, and the photos and videos they see shape what they order and how much they expect to pay. Dark, blurry phone shots make great food look average; professional imagery makes it irresistible.
We shoot on location in your restaurant across Chicago and Chicagoland, working around service and prep so your team keeps cooking. Most shoots are planned with your chef in advance, so dishes come out of the kitchen at the right time and look their best on camera.
📍 1021 W Adams St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607
From Shot List to Ready-to-Post Content
A simple, kitchen-friendly process that keeps service running.
Plan the Menu
We agree on dishes, drinks, angles, video moments and where the content will be used.
Schedule With the Kitchen
The shoot is timed around prep and service, with a run order so every plate is fresh.
Shoot Day
Styled photography, food video and social clips captured together, plus interiors and team shots.
Edit and Deliver
Retouched photos, edited videos and vertical reels, sized for menus, web, apps and social.
Why Chicago Restaurants and Food Brands Choose Us
Food Is a Core Specialty
Years of restaurant and food work across many cuisines and service styles.
Photography and Video Together
One booking delivers stills, reels and brand video with a consistent look.
Commercial-Grade Quality
The same standard we bring to national brands, applied to every plate.
12+ Years of Full-Time Experience
Professional, efficient shoots that respect your kitchen and your time.
In-House Editing and Color
True-to-life color and appetizing retouching, edited by the people who shot it.
On Location Across Chicago
We come to your restaurant, bar, bakery or commissary anywhere in Chicagoland.
Food Photography and Videography Questions
Ready to plan? Call (708) 296-9087 or send us your menu.
How much does food photography cost in Chicago?
It depends on the number of dishes, whether you need photos, video or both, styling needs, location and turnaround. Share your menu and goals and we will send a clear quote.
Do you offer food photography and videography together?
Yes. Most clients book both so one shoot delivers menu photos, social reels and a brand video with a consistent look.
Do you shoot on location at our restaurant?
Yes. We shoot on location across Chicago and Chicagoland and plan around prep and service so your kitchen keeps running.
Can you create content for delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats?
Yes. We deliver consistent, bright menu images sized for delivery platforms, plus your website, Google Business Profile and printed menus.
Do you make Instagram Reels and TikTok videos for restaurants?
Yes. We shoot and edit vertical videos built for Reels, TikTok and Shorts, and can provide content on a monthly basis.
How should we prepare for a food shoot?
Send us your dish list, prep plates fresh in the planned order, have garnishes ready and keep the dining room tidy for interior shots. We will share a simple checklist before the shoot.
More from Kenneth L. Dixon Photography, Video Production & Drone
Pair food content with our restaurant photography, video production, hospitality media and social media content. For chefs and owners, we also offer professional headshots and event coverage for openings and pop-ups.
Ready to Make Your Food Impossible to Ignore?
Tell us about your restaurant or brand, the dishes you want to feature and where the content will live. We will put together a shot list and a plan.
1021 W Adams St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607