Case Study: Menu Photography for Rayu Pan-Asian

Written By Yenayetul Shahid

The Client

Rayu is a fast growing Pan Asian restaurant known for its extensive menu and bold flavours. With a wide variety of dishes to showcase, the challenge was creating a visual style that felt cohesive while also highlighting the diversity of the menu.


The Challenge

Rayu’s menu is expansive, spanning categories from small bites like bao buns to hearty mains. A traditional styled shoot with props and elaborate setups risked becoming inconsistent and overly complicated. The client needed an approach that would:

  1. Keep the photography clean and unified across all menu sections

  2. Allow for efficient execution given the volume of dishes

  3. Be easy to replicate when new menu items are introduced

The Approach

We developed a system based on colour coded backdrops:

  1. Each menu section was paired with its own background color

  2. This created subtle visual variety while maintaining a consistent overall look

To ensure speed and scalability, we kept styling minimal

The Outcome

  1. A cohesive visual identity across a very large menu

  2. An efficient workflow, keeping the shoot streamlined despite the high volume

  3. A repeatable system that makes adding future menu items simple and consistent

Key Takeaway

Sometimes simplicity is the most powerful choice. By focusing on clean backdrops and letting the food stand on its own, we delivered a scalable photography style that will continue to serve Rayu as their menu evolves.

Yenayetul Shahid