Mexican Food Photography

Charred chiles, bright crema, salsa roja that still reads red. I photograph Mexican food on location for taquerias, restaurants and food brands across Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Fast quote
A traditional Mexican meal featuring a black stone molcajete filled with green salsa, topped with chopped onion, a ceramic bowl of chopped cooked pork, fresh avocados, limes, and green chili peppers, with cilantro in an orange bowl. Los Angeles food
Tequila cocktail - Commercial beverage photographer - San Diego
Person holding a Chipotle burrito filled with rice, black beans, vegetables, and shredded meat, with a blurred outdoor background. Los Angeles food photography
A cocktail glass with a salted rim, garnished with a pineapple slice and mint leaf, filled with an ice-filled yellow-brown drink, on a textured surface, with a bottle of liquor and a bowl of potato chips in the background. Los Angeles beverage photog
Mexican restaurant - cocktail photography - Los Angeles
Three tacos with grilled fish, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, guacamole, and a side of sliced radishes, served on a decorative blue plate with salsa and guacamole. Orange County food photographer
Crispy seared tuna slices topped with diced red onions, arranged in a circle on a yellow sauce, garnished with shredded carrots and green scallions in the center, served on a decorative blue and white ceramic plate. San Diego food and lifestyle photo
Plated Mexican dish with three beef enchiladas topped with white crema and red sauce, garnished with avocado chunks, served with rice, lettuce, and sliced onions. Riverside food photographer
Salmon sashimi garnished with green herbs, shredded vegetables, and black and white sesame seeds on a patterned blue and white ceramic serving dish. San Bernardino food photographer and stylist
Two people toasting with cocktails over a table filled with Mexican food, including a large plate of nachos, tacos, guacamole, and other dishes. Los Angeles food photographer and stylist.
Bored Taco - Product photography in Los Angeles
A plate of beef tacos topped with diced tomatoes, chopped onions, sliced jalapeños, shredded cheese, and a drizzle of white sauce, with a dollop of guacamole, pickled red onions, and pink radish slices on top. Riverside food photographer
Plate of Mexican food featuring taquitos topped with white sauce and tomato, accompanied by rice, beans, sliced cucumber, watermelon radish, and a side of creamy dip with a tortilla chip. Corona food photographer and stylist
Plate of Mexican food with green sauce chicken, Mexican rice, sliced red onions, lime wedges, fresh cilantro, pink radish slices, and a black bowl of creamy dip with a tortilla chip. Orange County food photographer
Three tacos with shredded meat, chopped onions, and cilantro, garnished with lime wedges, on a terracotta plate, with side dishes of salsa and chopped salad in colorful bowls, on a wooden table. Los Angeles food and lifestyle photographer
A glass of iced coffee with a salted rim, garnished with a chocolate-covered churro with sprinkles, and two black straws. Beverage photographer working in Los Angeles
Bored Taco. Three cups of churros with a yellow and black leopard print design and "Bored Taco" logo, set against a yellow background with black diagonal stripes. Los Angeles food and product photographer
Plate with chicken in red sauce, rice, refried beans, and sliced onions with a pink napkin in the background. Los Angeles food photographer
A spicy bloody Mary cocktail garnished with a lime wedge, with a bottle of Modelo beer in the background.
A glass of green cucumber cocktail garnished with a cucumber slice, with a bottle of tequila, a bowl of sliced jalapeños, a whole cucumber, and a lime wedge on a wooden surface. Cocktail photographer for bars and restaurants - San Diego.
Plate of Mexican food featuring a chicken leg with mole sauce, rice, sliced onions, and guacamole with tortilla chips.
A red cocktail with ice cubes in a glass garnished with a half strawberry and a salt-rimmed edge, on a wooden surface.
Thinly sliced raw fish, likely tuna, topped with diced pickled vegetables on a decorative blue and white plate with a green garnish and shredded vegetables in the center.
Stack of corn tortillas on a wooden cutting board with chili peppers, corn kernels, and a bag of tortillas in the background.
A plate of Mexican food including cheese quesadillas topped with sour cream and pico de gallo, side of Mexican rice, refried beans with a tortilla chip, and fresh sliced cucumber, radish, and lettuce.
Sliced raw tuna or fish topped with diced pink pickled vegetables, arranged on a yellow sauce or puree, garnished with green onion strips, all served on a blue and white patterned plate.
Two beef tacos with chopped onions and cilantro on yellow corn tortillas, served with lime wedges, guacamole topped with pomegranate seeds, roasted jalapeño, and a side of pico de gallo on a colorful blue and white plate.
Two pieces of frozen ice cream on a wooden cutting board, with fresh strawberries in the background and corn kernels scattered nearby.
A wooden table with a wooden cutting board holding cooked pork ribs, chicken, chicharrón, and pork ear, surrounded by various bowls of salsa, guacamole, and cilantro, with slices of lime, avocado, and tortilla chips.
Traditional Mexican food with tamales, salsa, cilantro, and drink on a wooden table.
Three beef tacos with lettuce, purple cabbage, pico de gallo, and cheese, served with guacamole, salsa, radishes, and a grilled jalapeño on a colorful blue and white plate.
Three tacos filled with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, and chopped herbs on a decorative blue and white plate. Accompanied by sliced radishes, grilled chili pepper, lettuce, small bowl of salsa, and a small bowl of guacamole in the background.
Plate of two tacos filled with shredded beef and chopped onions, topped with cilantro, alongside lime wedges, sliced watermelon radish, guacamole with pomegranate seeds, grilled jalapeños, and a side salad with mixed greens and diced tomato and onion
Three beef tacos topped with chopped onions and cilantro on a blue patterned plate, accompanied by lime wedges, guacamole with pomegranate seeds, a grilled jalapeño pepper, and a small cup of pico de gallo.
Banana and strawberry dessert topped with whipped cream, chocolate and caramel syrup, chopped nuts, and powdered sugar on a decorative blue plate.
Plate of beef enchiladas topped with white sauce, drizzled with red sauce and sour cream, garnished with avocado slices, alongside rice, lettuce, and sliced onions on a decorative ceramic plate.
Plate of Mexican enchiladas topped with white sauce, avocado chunks, and red sauce, served with rice, shredded lettuce, and sliced red onions.
Seafood salad with shrimp, onions, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and sliced radishes on a bed of lettuce in a blue and white patterned bowl.
Seafood salad with shrimp, sliced red onions, avocado, and lettuce on a decorative blue and white plate.
Plate of eggs Benedict topped with crispy fried onions, served with ham, hash browns, and potato wedges.
Plate of Mexican food with rice, sliced radishes, lettuce, avocado, grilled chicken with sauce, and a side of refried beans topped with cheese.
Plate of Mexican food featuring an enchilada with white sauce, sliced avocado, pink radish slices, Mexican rice, and a side of refried beans with a tortilla chip.
A colorful plate of breakfast food including two sunny side up eggs, sliced avocado, grilled steak, diced potatoes, chilaquiles topped with cheese, sour cream, and cilantro, with slices of radish and lettuce.
Seafood salad with shrimp, corn, shredded seaweed, toasted coconut, and greens, served on a decorative plate with a small cup of dressing.
Mixed grilled fajita steak, shrimp, chicken, and vegetables served on a sizzling cast iron skillet with lime, rice, and beans on a patterned plate.
Sizzling skillet with shrimp, beef, and vegetables at a wooden table
Plate of ceviche with shrimp, octopus, corn, greens, and a spicy sauce
Plate of loaded beef nachos with jalapeños, diced tomatoes, shredded chicken, sour cream, guacamole, and pickled pink onions on top, served on a decorative blue and yellow plate.
A tall glass of spicy Bloody Mary cocktail garnished with a lime wedge, with a bottle of Modelo beer in the background on a wooden surface.
A glass of margarita with a salted rim, garnished with a lime wedge sprinkled with chili powder, on a wooden surface.
A margarita cocktail in a glass with salted rim, garnished with a lime wedge, on a wooden surface.
A red cocktail garnished with a strawberry and served in a glass with a salted rim and two black straws.
A tall glass of spicy margarita with a salted rim, garnished with a lime wedge, on a wooden surface.
A glass of iced coffee with a salted rim, garnished with a chocolate-covered cookie.
Three small appetizers with a topping of seafood and greens on a colorful patterned ceramic plate.
Plate of Mexican food including chicken with mole sauce, rice, sliced onions, and a side of creamy cheese dip with tortilla chips.
A close-up view of a mixed variety of colorful hot peppers, including red, yellow, orange, green, and black peppers, with some dried peppers scattered among fresh ones.
A mug of hot chocolate with frothy surface on a white saucer, on a colorful striped tablecloth with cinnamon sticks, cacao beans, and chocolate in the background.
Plate with Mexican food including tamales topped with red sauce, a side of refried beans with cheese, and a chocolate cookie with crumbled cheese on top.
Assorted freshly baked bread and pastries in a basket, including rolls, a twisted loaf, and a cookie, lined with pink tissue paper.
Two chicken drumsticks in dark, rich gravy served on a white oval plate, with spices and dried herbs in the background.
Orange habanero peppers scattered on a blue wooden surface.
A traditional Mexican dish of chili con carne topped with chopped green chilies and slices of pickled jalapeños, served in a blue ceramic bowl. Surrounding the bowl are prickly pear cactus pads, ripe red tomatoes, and dried chili peppers, all set aga
Two bowls of yellow-orange pepper-based dish garnished with sliced peppers, a bowl of yellow and orange cherry peppers, a bowl of mixed cherry peppers, a wooden spoon with chopped pepper, and a piece of paste-like food with green leaves and a banana
A colorful plate of Mexican ingredients including tomatoes, garlic, herbs, dried peppers, beans, and a bowl of salsa on a blue surface.
A bowl of green chili soup garnished with cilantro and onions, with green apples, tomatillos, and a bowl of jalapeños and green beans in the background.
A bowl of spicy green chili soup garnished with chopped onions and cilantro, surrounded by green tomatoes, green chile peppers, and an avocado, with a wooden spoon on a blue wooden table.
A top view of two bowls of yellow lentil soup garnished with slices of yellow chili peppers, surrounded by small bowls of fresh yellow and orange heirloom tomatoes, some halved, on a green wooden table with leafy banana leaves and a piece of traditio
A cocktail drink with pineapple juice in a glass with a dried pineapple slice, placed on a wooden surface with a pineapple, lemon wedge, and green chili nearby.
A pink cocktail with a salted rim, ice cube in a glass, surrounded by an apple, dried chili peppers, a can, and a bowl of dried chili peppers on a wooden surface.
A glass of green cocktail garnished with a cucumber slice, with a bottle of tequila, a lime wedge, a cucumber, and a bowl of jalapeno slices on a wooden surface.
A cocktail glass filled with a bright yellow mango or orange-colored beverage, with a lime half, two small orange peppers, a bottle of tequila, and a bowl of sugar and chopped ginger in the background on a gray surface.

 

Mexican food photography

I'm Alan De Herrera. I photograph for taquerias, Mexican restaurants, mariscos counters and salsa, tortilla and hot sauce brands across Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego and the Inland Empire.

Mexican food is built on colour and contrast: charred chiles, bright crema, lime and cilantro, the deep red of a good salsa roja. The whole job is holding all of that in one frame without letting the reds go muddy or the greens go grey.

Churros in branded boxes with long shadows on yellow - Los Angeles Mexican food menu photography

Tacos, shot for a Los Angeles taqueria

Yellowtail crudo tostada with serrano and microgreens on a blue corn tortilla - Hollywood food photography

Hollywood, on location during service

How I light it

Texture first, then colour

Directional light rakes across a tortilla so you can see the char marks and the grain. Careful fill keeps cilantro green and salsa red instead of brown. A little sheen on the meat and the crema makes a plate look like it was set down in front of you a second ago.

Everything is lit, not found. That matters in a taqueria, where the good light is usually on the wrong side of the room and service does not stop because a photographer showed up.

What a day covers

Row of street tacos with lime on a wooden board - Los Angeles restaurant food photographer

Menu work, Los Angeles

A full menu in a day

A typical day is thirty to forty-five dishes: tacos, burritos, tortas, platos, aguas frescas and the desserts. I shoot each one so it works on a printed menu, on your website and as a square tile in DoorDash or Uber Eats, and I name and size the files so your manager can drop them straight into the merchant portal.

Flat rates start at $495, every usable frame is yours with no per-image fees or licensing tiers, and the edited images land within three business days.

  • We agree a shot list before the date, grouped by where the images are going. On the day I build one lighting set-up that carries the whole list, so the fortieth plate looks like the first. Your kitchen plates to camera with me directing, which costs you nothing extra; if a dish needs a food stylist I bring one in and quote it separately.

    I can shoot vertical video in the same visit while the lighting is already up, so your menu, your website and your reels all come out of one day.

Mexican food photography questions

  • My flat rates start at $495 and include unlimited images from the shoot, editing and delivery within three business days. The number moves with how many dishes you need, whether we add video, and whether any dish needs a food stylist.

    No per-image fees and no licensing tiers. The images are yours for a menu, a billboard or anything else, forever.

  • Yes. Almost all of my Mexican food work happens on location, in your kitchen and dining room, because the food is freshest where it's cooked. I bring all the lighting, so a windowless corner or a lunch-rush kitchen works fine.

  • Thirty to forty-five is normal for a taqueria or a full Mexican menu. Dishes that need to be built to order, like a molcajete or a mariscos tower, take longer, so tell me early and I build the day around them.

  • Yes, and that is usually the highest-return part of the day. I shoot to the crops and sizes each platform asks for and name the files by menu item so they go straight into the merchant portal. On a delivery app the photo is the menu.

  • Usually not. Tacos, burritos, platos and salsas plate for camera straight out of your kitchen with me directing, which costs you nothing extra.

    Ice cream, melted cheese pulls, foam and any hero shot that has to hold up for hours under lights really do benefit from a stylist. When a dish needs one I bring in a stylist and quote it separately, so you only pay for styling where it earns its keep.

  • Three business days for the edited set. That is my standard turnaround, not a rush fee. If you are up against a menu print date or a launch, tell me the deadline and I will work to it.

  • Yes. The lighting is already up and the food is already on the table, which makes vertical reels the most cost-effective video you will ever buy. Kitchen action, the pour, the pull, the first bite — shot in the same visit as your stills.

  • Regularly. A truck or a counter has no studio and no spare room, so the whole set-up has to be small and fast. That is a lighting problem, not a reason to charge more.

  • Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Corona, San Bernardino and Palm Springs, and I travel beyond Southern California for brand and packaging work.