Ally Mcfarlane Photography

Ally Mcfarlane Photography Driving customers to your business through quality, authentic imagery. Food & Product Photographer. Thank you and Enjoy

Check the website : www.allymcfarlanephotography.com

This site promotes my passion and love that I have for photography, everyday I am inspired....this is just my way of showing it!

You don't need a photographer...Most hospitality business owners aren’t sitting awake at 2am thinking, "I need a food ph...
09/06/2026

You don't need a photographer...

Most hospitality business owners aren’t sitting awake at 2am thinking, "I need a food photographer.”

Fact.

You’re thinking:

👉 Why isn’t our social media converting?
👉 We’ve invested so much into this space, and nobody seems to notice.
👉 Our food looks incredible in person but average online.
👉 We’re launching something new and need people talking about it.
👉 We’re constantly scrambling for content.
👉 Our competitors seem to have stronger branding than us.

These are pressing issues but so is the fact that food costs are rising, staffing is challenging, margins are tighter, and customers are more selective about where they spend their money.

So in a time when EVERYTHING is a bloody struggle, standing out has never been more important.

Essentially, before customers visit your venue, they visit your Instagram, website, or Google listing. I know, because clients do it to me.

And those first impressions shape everything.
The challenge usually isn’t your food, your service, or your venue.

It’s that your visuals aren’t communicating the quality and experience you’ve worked so hard to create.

Professional photography is about making sure what people see online reflects what they’ll actually experience when they walk through your doors.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk...it's amazing what thoughts come into your head on a morning run 🤣

And if we're opening the floor up, what’s the biggest challenge you’re currently facing when it comes to marketing your business. Doesn't need to be hospitality orientated.

📸 Taken from recent shoots with , , &




07/06/2026

If a product shoot were to fail, it's generally not because of the camera, it's everything around it.

But in reality, most of the stress happens before anything is even shot.

Unclear briefs.
Uncertainty around what’s actually going to be delivered.
And that constant back-and-forth trying to translate a vision that lives in your head.

That’s why I’ve built my process to feel really different.

Clear from the start - what I need, what I’m thinking, and what you can expect back. No guessing games.

And creatively, I don’t just “shoot the product” - I think about how it lives, how it feels, and how it connects with the people you’re trying to reach.

“From her kind, wrap-around service, making it clear what is needed and what will be delivered. Insane creativity… top-notch, beautiful results.”

That kind of feedback means THE WORLD to me, because it’s exactly what I aim for on every project: calm process, strong creative direction, and work you’re genuinely excited to use.

If you’ve got a product range that deserves better visuals, I’m always happy to chat.




How good are nachos? 🔻🔺️🔻They are the ultimate, easy meal. Having friends over? Nachos. Family friendly meal? Nachos.Dat...
04/06/2026

How good are nachos? 🔻🔺️🔻

They are the ultimate, easy meal.

Having friends over? Nachos.

Family friendly meal? Nachos.

Date night? Nachos.

Recently, I had the chance to develop and shoot a series of nacho dishes for Mexicano, designed specifically to showcase their incredible tortilla chips in a fresh, visually-driven way.

During this project, I made sure every detail was intentional: colour contrast with the bright red packaging, structure, freshness, and that unmistakable “loaded” look that makes nachos so irresistible.

The result?

Dishes that don’t just taste great, but tell a visual story of crunch, freshness, and indulgence - exactly what I was after.

Why is this important to you?

Well, If you’re a hospitality brand looking to develop and refine dishes that translate into powerful, scroll-stopping imagery, I’d love to chat.

Or if you are struggling with tonight's meal...here is your inspo!

Special thanks to my wonderful hand model ❤️








Why did I become a photographer? ..and why food? I was asked this over the weekend. And honestly, I don't think I chose ...
01/06/2026

Why did I become a photographer?
..and why food?

I was asked this over the weekend. And honestly, I don't think I chose photography. Infact, I didn't. Well not to start with anyway. I was an artist, and I guess I still am but photography slowly followed me around until I finally got the hint.

I've always been fascinated by the little things people overlook. The proud look after they've created something from scratch. The tiny moments that tell a much bigger story.

And why food?

Because food is never just food.

It's early mornings, family recipes scribbled on stained bits of paper, burnt batches, happy accidents, long lunches, big celebrations, and the occasional "I have absolutely no idea what to make for dinner but I'll make it work" moment.

Food has personality. Some dishes are polished and elegant. Others look like they've had a rough morning but taste incredible anyway.

As a photographer, I realised I wasn't just photographing ingredients or plates. I was photographing the people behind them, the passion, hard work, creativity, and sometimes pure stubbornness that turns an idea into something worth sharing.

Plus, food is one of the few subjects that never complains about being in front of the camera ☺️

It does, however, get cold while I spend ten minutes moving a single coriander leaf two millimetres to the left.

So, why photography?

Because moments matter.





INTERNATIONAL BURGER 🍔  DAY! Burger Day falls on May 28 every year. It's the ultimate global excuse to indulge in your f...
27/05/2026

INTERNATIONAL BURGER 🍔 DAY!

Burger Day falls on May 28 every year. It's the ultimate global excuse to indulge in your favorite handheld meal..and after being in Canada for the past few weeks (one of the best places for burgers) it's safe to say, they are one of my favs!

📸 Taken from a recent shoot with - how good does this burger look?

What's your go to place for a burger? 🤔




One dish. Five ways to tell the story.When I’m photographing food for a restaurant, café, or brand, I’m generally never ...
26/05/2026

One dish. Five ways to tell the story.

When I’m photographing food for a restaurant, café, or brand, I’m generally never just capturing the plate. I’m creating a collection of images that gives you flexibility across Instagram, websites, menus, press, and advertising.

Here are 5 essential shot options I’ll usually create for a single dish:

1. The Flatlay
Shot from above to showcase styling, colour, ingredients, and table composition. Perfect for social grids, campaigns, and menus.

2. The Serving Shot
The dish being plated, poured, sliced, or served. Adds movement and makes the food feel alive and inviting.

3. The Human Element
Hands reaching in, pouring wine, passing plates, taking a bite. People connect with people - these images create warmth and story.

4. The Close-Up
Texture, steam, garnish, crunch, sauce pulls… the details that make people hungry instantly.

5. The Hero Shot
The main event. Carefully lit and styled to become the signature image for the dish, campaign, or launch.

By using this method, I am giving your brand a complete visual story from just one dish.

Which style is your favourite to see from a restaurant?





How good is Mexican food? Taken from a recent shoot with , I just love the colours, the flavours and the textures - DELI...
25/05/2026

How good is Mexican food?

Taken from a recent shoot with , I just love the colours, the flavours and the textures - DELICIOUS 🧡




There is nothing better than chocolate covered raspberries 🍫🍓Sharing a little sneak peek of a brand new project I have w...
21/05/2026

There is nothing better than chocolate covered raspberries 🍫🍓

Sharing a little sneak peek of a brand new project I have worked on the past few months with .nz.

Tried and tested, these raspberries are DELICIOUS, so if you are planning a tasty healthy snack, hop over to their page 🙌

Looking forward to sharing more 📸




Food tourism isn’t just a trend in 2026 - it’s shaping where people choose to travel.And New Zealand is right in the mid...
20/05/2026

Food tourism isn’t just a trend in 2026 - it’s shaping where people choose to travel.

And New Zealand is right in the middle of it.

Globally, around 80% of travellers now prioritise local food experiences when choosing a destination, and in NZ alone, visitors spend millions annually on food and beverage experiences.

People don’t just want to see a place anymore - they want to taste it, experience it, and connect with it...and a lot of the time, post about it.

For hospitality brands, this means your visual presence matters more than ever.

Why?

People often decide where to eat long before they arrive, and long before they book a table. They see it on Insta, TikTok and on Google. That's when they decide - yup, that's for me.

Food is no longer just part of the trip.
For many travellers, it’s becoming the reason for it.

If you are needing imagery to showcase dishes that people will travel for, I'd love to chat!




Address

Birkdale
Auckland
1060

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