Uploading Photos

MenuGaze accepts photos in the following formats:

• JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) — The most common format from phone cameras. This works great.
• PNG (.png) — Good for images with transparency, though most food photos do not need this.
• WebP (.webp) — A modern format that offers smaller file sizes at the same quality.

The maximum file size is 10 MB per photo. If your photo is larger than this, try reducing the image resolution in your phone's camera settings or use a free image compression tool before uploading.

Every photo you upload is automatically processed by our AI enhancement system. The enhancement improves your photos in several ways:

• Color correction — Makes food colors look more vibrant and appetizing
• Brightness and contrast — Balances light and shadow for a professional look
• Sharpness — Adds subtle sharpening to bring out detail and texture
• Background cleanup — Removes distracting background elements when possible

Enhancement happens automatically when you upload a photo. The process takes a few seconds. You do not need to do anything extra to activate it.

Even with AI enhancement, starting with a good photo makes a big difference. Here are some practical tips:

• Use natural light — Photograph near a window during daytime. Avoid using your phone's flash, which creates harsh shadows and washes out colors.
• Shoot from above or at a 45-degree angle — These angles show the dish clearly and work well on screens.
• Use a clean, simple background — A plain plate on a neutral surface keeps the focus on the food.
• Fill the frame — Get close enough that the dish takes up most of the photo. Customers want to see the food, not the table.
• Avoid filters — Do not apply Instagram-style filters before uploading. Our AI enhancement works best with unfiltered photos.

If your upload fails, check the following:

• File size is under 10 MB
• File format is JPEG, PNG, or WebP
• Your internet connection is stable
• You are logged into your account

If the upload continues to fail after checking these, try refreshing the page and uploading again. For persistent issues, see our photo upload troubleshooting guide.