Ally Mcfarlane Photography

Name: Ally Mcfarlane Photography
Address: Birkdale, Auckland, 1060, NZ
Telephone: +64212048448

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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!

08/09/2026

I pretty much love all styles of food photography BUT…

If I had to choose one, it has to be dark & moody!

It’s rich. Warm. Indulgent. Atmospheric.

The shadows, contrast and depth draw you in and make your viewer imagine the taste, texture and experience. There’s something about dark and moody photography that makes you feel something.

In my latest shoot for Eden Park, this is the same dish photographed four different ways - creating four completely different marketing assets.

Different composition.
Different perspective.
Different story.
Different ways that my client can use the imagery across their website, social media, campaigns and marketing.

I work really hard when on set because I want you to have a library of imagery that works just as hard for your business.

I’m now taking bookings for November, so if you are thinking, ‘yup, I need some new imagery for Summer’ – let’s get you booked in!

📸 Eden Park
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03/09/2026

New Menu 📸 for Mr Tanaka's 🍣🥟🥗

Last week I had the privilege of capturing the new menu for Mr Tanakas in Ellerslie Village

Now, I love a new menu shoot, but the diversity and flavours of this one is next level.

How do I know? I got to sample quite a bit, and it was all delicious! The DIY bar buns especially are a standout!

Highly recommend 👌

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Mr Tanaka's

01/09/2026

Spring is FINALLY here 🙌 ☀️🙌

I am so looking forward to more sunshine filled shoots like this one for Little 'Lato 🤍

I very rarely need an excuse to eat icecream, but as the weather improves it makes the decision SO much easier!

What's your go to flavour?

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30/08/2026

Simply put...I take photos of food.

But really, it’s never just about the food.

Yes, I want the dish to look bloody delicious. I want you to see the texture, the steam, the little details and think, yep… I want that.

But overall, I want to create a portfolio of work that my client can use directly in their marketing, promoting their business and driving people through the door.

Photos and videos of food make people hungry.
That's a fact.

And food content performs incredibly well online (when it's done right)

Think about the last time you visited a new restaurant. Did you research it online first?

Was the social media up to date with quality content or was it blurry, dated and unappealing?

Did it make you want to visit or search for somewhere else?

So yes, I take photos of food.

But I’m really there to photograph everything that makes your ideal client want to visit.

📸 Photography for The Nightcar 夜班车 AKL

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Hey - I’m Ally, an Auckland-based food photographer, food stylist and recipe developer, creating natural, scroll-stopping photography and short-form video for food, hospitality and lifestyle brands across New Zealand.

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27/08/2026

Restaurant Month is on for a few more days, and if you don’t have plans this weekend, I HIGHLY recommend booking a table at East and trying their two-course special.

I’ve been very lucky to have tried most of the dishes, and honestly, there are some absolute standouts.

But the crispy cups with pineapple, mango and Thai green curry cauliflower mousse… UNBELIEVABLY good.

Like, I’m still thinking about them good.

I absolutely love what I do, and getting to photograph and share some of the incredible food coming out of Auckland’s restaurants is one of the best parts of it.

So if you’re looking for somewhere to eat this weekend, put EAST on the list!

📸 East
Heart of the City Auckland
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Hey - I’m Ally, an Auckland-based food photographer, food stylist and recipe developer, creating natural, scroll-stopping photography and short-form video for food, hospitality and lifestyle brands across New Zealand.

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26/08/2026

My ultimate meal 🍕

Am I easy to please? Emmm… probably. Especially when pizza is involved.

I just really, really love pizza. The perfect base, those moreish toppings, the first bite when it’s fresh from the oven… it’s one of those foods that somehow manages to be comforting, delicious and the perfect excuse to gather around a table and share.

And if you’re in Taupō, make sure you pop into Dough Bros Pizzas - Taupo - because this is pizza done very, very well. 🍕

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18/08/2026

When I'm photographing food, I'm rarely just looking at the food.

I'm looking at everything around it.

Where is the light coming from?

What angle makes this dish look its best?

What colours are going to draw your eye in?

Does it feel like your brand?

Does it feel like somewhere I'd actually want to eat?

And most importantly, what is this image going to make someone feel?

That's the part of food photography I find really interesting.

I can photograph the exact same dish ten different ways and get ten completely different reactions.

One might feel fresh and bright.

Another might feel cosy and indulgent.

Another might make you feel like you're sitting in the restaurant right now, waiting for that first bite.

The food hasn't changed.

The story has.

And when I'm working with a client, that's what I'm thinking about.

I'm not just trying to make your food look good.

I'm trying to understand what you want people to see, feel and ultimately do when they come across your images.

Do they stop scrolling?

Do they get hungry?

Do they want to book a table?

Do they want to try your product?

That's where I think photography becomes really powerful.

It's not just about the picture.

It's about what happens after someone sees it.

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17/08/2026

"That food looks amazing"

Lovely.

But what I really want your photography to make someone think is…

“I want to go there.”

Because a hero shot of food can make someone hungry, but generally I want more.

I want to imagine sitting at that table.
Imagine the noise, the atmosphere, the people.
Imagine what my evening there might actually feel like.

But I think we sometimes forget that restaurants are about so much more than what’s on the plate.

They’re about people.

And when we bring a little bit of that into your imagery, your photos start telling the bigger brand bigger story.

So are gorgeous food photos needed?
YES..

But let’s also show people why they want to be there ❤️

📸 East

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13/08/2026

One product, but many ways to portray it 📸

When I’m shooting food products, I always love creating a number of different images.

For this Mexicano shoot, we created a little mix of images to give the brand the most variety to use across all media.

We started with the recipe development images, showing the chips being used in a recipe and giving the viewer that “ooh, I could make that” feeling.

Then there’s the product shot. Clean, simple and all about the packaging and the product. These are the images that are so handy for websites, retailers and all those places where my client needs the product to really stand out.

Lastly, we have lifestyle images - my chance to bring everything to life a little and so the viewer can picture the product in their day to day life.

By capturing imagery this way, my client is building a library of content that can tell different parts of the brand’s story.

Plus… let’s be honest, for me, photographing chips is a pretty GREAT day!

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09/08/2026

Question for anyone who runs their own business...

Do you ever feel guilty when you're not working?

Even if everything's been done, there are no urgent emails, and you've actually got some free time?

Why does it still feel like you should be doing something?
Is it just part of owning a business?
Or do we just get so used to being busy that slowing down feels strange?

I honestly don't know the answer, but I've realised I find it much easier to tell someone else to take a break than I do myself 😂😂

Would love to know if anyone else feels the same, or if you've figured out how to properly switch off. 👇

But for now, here's a little snippet from Mr Tanaka's, one of the yummiest restaurants in Ellerslie Village 📸

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Address

Birkdale
Auckland
1060

Telephone

+64212048448

Website

http://www.allymcfarlanephotography.com/

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