Working With a Food Stylist

Food Stylist Directory: foodportfolio.com/food_stylists/
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0:00 Intro.
0:36 Question #1.
2:45 Question #2.
5:19 Question #3.
6:34 Question #4.
7:14 Outro.
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[@jimjimgl3]

Great advice for those who are stepping into photography and navigating the bits and pieces of commercial photography. I've been shooting for years (started as an editorial photographer at our studio in NYC now in Chicago) and there are a few other potential situations for photographers when it comes to food stylist for jobs. Sometimes, a client will want a specific food stylist on the job--usually this pops up with bigger commercial food clients. This summer I did my second job for a large US food company. They wanted a food stylist who, I thought, was wrong for this specific challenge (baking with the clients products). This food stylist was more skilled at savory than sweets but had done a previous job with me for this same client but savory dishes. I ended up with a food stylist whose speciality was baked good by sending along the alternate stylist's site and making a comparison between the former's baked goods pics and the new food stylist's baked goods. So it always helps to have a list websites of good food stylists ready to give to a client. And a variation of this is knowing when to hire a food stylist whose work looks more commercial over one whose styling is more "artful" or editorial. Last week we shot for one of the largest US retail chains. We had a food stylist friend in NYC who would travel to Chicago but in the end we went with a local whose had the chops to make things a bit more commercial looking--ie perfect. And I'm sure you've touched on this in previous videos I may have missed but if possible, test with as many local food stylists as possible. You'll have a chance to feel out their personality (good luck being on set for a commercial client with a food stylist who is not flexible) and see how skilled they are with styling. You'll end up with a few you love working , a few you'll like enough but still work with and then some you'll know to put way lower on your list. And while you might now often work with a food stylist on set, clients are impressed, I'm sure, with the knowledge that you can do the food and props and photography.

[@TheHappyWhisk]

What's shakin' bacon !!!!!! Goin' old school! Very good point about the goal not to take 100% off the business that comes across the desk. I see so many that take jobs that are a huge amount of work, for very little pay. Love your outlook Joanie. If I haven't said it in awhile, you're the best teacher. Sooooooo thankful to be in your Business and Artificial Light classes. Crazy good. Another good point about the ex-restaurant folk. That's me. It can be NUTS in those places. Tim and I were talking about this today and yesterday, the amount of crazy, chaos, stress and just wild energy that goes into food that hits the plate, is amazing. Great points. Catch you again soon. Cheers and boogie boogie!

[@TheBiteShot]

Right back at ya Ivy!!

[@LifewithErns]

I'm just about at that point where I could really use the help like this.Thanks for sharing such great insight.

[@jozmahal]

Hey Joanie! I'm a solopreneur and I love food styling! Someday I hope to hone in on one aspect of the business...for now, I'm still having fun! Have a happy holiday to you!!

[@TheBiteShot]

That is awesome!! So glad to hear! And happy holidays to you, too!

[@IsadoraMatia]

I want to be a good stylist; I started with an Instagram page, and your videos help me so much! I love your videos ! Thank you!

[@TheBiteShot]

So happy to hear!!

[@Forketti]

"Staying out of trouble" hehe 😅

[@pradeepsharma9278]

❤️

[@nrinka]

I got a gig as a dessert stylist on a budget film. it was so much fun! can you be a successful food stylist without working at a restaurant?

[@TheBiteShot]

Absolutely! I've worked with stylists who never worked restaurants before. There's no set "required" path.

[@arijeeta1]

I am a chef and want to change my career to food stylist, is it possible? If yes and how should I do that? Can you please tell me.

[@FCPK]

🥗🍝🍛🍜👍