Whatever the lighting situation, "natural" is the way to go.

Something that’s interesting to consider is that the best food photography is often shot in natural light, light from the sun.  Lighting is key and if your session doesn’t allow for natural light for one reason or another, make sure your photographer is equipped with enough artificial light.

Another important factor to consider is that while the chef is the mastermind behind creating the food, the photographer is the person you’ve hired to make the photographs look good.  Good, open communication between the two of them is critical.

Photographic "Miz en Place"... EveryONE in their place.

Wide angle shots of the interior of your dining establishment help show the mood of your eatery.  It’s nice for customers to get a feel for your atmosphere from a photograph without having to be there.  Narrower shots of your food are also useful.  There’s something to being able to show your clientele how good your food looks up close.  Making them hungry by looking at a photo is important.

Please pass the jelly...

It’s good for the chef to know which menu items need to be shot.  If the aim is to have entrées, the chef should have an array (perhaps no fewer than four) that can be completed quickly so that the photographs can be of freshly prepared foods.  Moreover, the chef should have all the ingredients ready for him at the start of the shoot.

Getting good pictures of food for websites or menus is easy, as long as you’re prepared.