Food styling and food stylists from the perspective of a food photographer

If you want to learn as much as possible about food styling, you might want to know what a food photographer thinks about food styling and food stylists.  Just remember, this will only be one perspective, and a biased one at that.

As a food photographer, I really don’t get to touch the food very much.  Every once in a while, when the food stylist isn’t looking, I might reach in and tweak something or another, but that’s it.  The food stylist’s job is to prepare the food to its best advantage for the photo.  The food photographer’s job is to compose the shot, choose perspective, lens and lighting.  Just remember that the food photographer and food stylist are there as a team to do one main thing, make the client happy.  The stylist and photographer need to work together as efficiently as possible to please the client and to do this as quickly as possibly.  That doesn’t mean that the team can’t go above and beyond the call of duty in order to produce a shot better than the client’s wishes.  Just remember that time is money and if the client is happy, he or she may consider you wasting money if you spend too much time on one shot when the client wants to move on to the next one.

Here are a couple things that you can do as a food stylist that would be greatly appreciated by your teammate, the food photographer.

The Food stylist should arrive well before the client. Nothing starts a day off as badly as when part of your team shows up late to a shoot.  This means the stylist, the photo assistant, and yes even the photographer.  The day starts of under a lot of pressure and usually goes straight to hell after that.  The client knows for a fact that he is spending a whole lot of money and wants to see the day progress as efficiently as possible.  It’s his nickel, so we’re here to give him (or her) want he (or she) wants.

Unless the photographer specifically asks you not to make a stand-in, do it. You may think that you are saving time by not making a stand-in, but more times than not, you will be wasting time and creating a situation that will end up with a poorer final food photograph.  The reason is…  A photographer makes decisions about his composition and lighting based on what the food item looks like. When I say stand-in , I mean food that looks as much as possible to the hero, including size, shape, surface texture. If he has nothing to practice on, he can’t make vital decisions until the hero food hits the set.  And then, the time required to compensate for what he thought it was going to look like, may take longer that the life of the food.  Not only that, it makes the photographer look bad to the client.  And believe me, photographers really don’t like that.  And it may show the next time the photographer is involved in the food stylist selection process.

During your day’s chit-chat with the client, the food stylist shoulf make it a point NOT to talk about other photographers.  Whether it’s good or bad, photographers don’t like it when you talk about their competition in front of clients.  Maybe we’re all just a little insecure, I don’t know.  I do know that I really hope it when a stylist mentions another photographer in front of the client.  When the client leaves, sure go ahead.  Most photographer love to hear gossip just as much as anyone else in this world, just be careful of what you say.  If you say the wrong kind of things, the photographer may wonder just what you say about him behind HIS (or her) back.

The food stylist should Compliment the photographer on the way out the door.  I know this sounds kind of shallow, but photographers are in a field where their egos are dependent on the subjective interpretation of their work.  Everyone likes an “attaboy” once in a while and people tend to like people that let you know that they admire you in some way.  It’s only human nature and besides, what can it hurt?  Who knows, he may even give you an “attaboy” too.

Sponsor:

Food Photography by Michael Ray

Name

Location

Phone

MidWest Food Stylists

Elm Grove, WI

262-784-5491 @

Amy Andrews

Fargo Chicago, IL

773-465-0619

Nancy Banaszek

Chicago, IL

773/728-1135

Janice Bell

Chicago IL

773/769-2458

Lisa Bishop

Clarendon Hills, IL

630/455-9097

Lezli Bitterman

Evanston, IL

847/332-2403

James Boardman

Chicago IL

312/644-0606

Oklahoma City, OK

405-843-7634 @

Port Clinton, OH

419-349-4597 @

Beth Buzogany

Arlington Heights IL

847/818-1506

Michelle Callaghan

Grand Rapids, MI

616 363-0421 @

Black, Carol

Chicago IL

773/327-1591

Coena Coffee

Downers Grove IL

630/434-8441 @

Donna Coates

Chicago, IL

312/615-0792 @

Bloomfield Hills, MI

248-792-2665 @

Charla Draper

Chicago IL

773/955-5503

Eureka, MO

314-477-5075 @

Waukesha, WI

262-544-9420 @

Verona, WI

608-833-6236 @

Chicago, IL

773-282-7715 @

Lenexa, KS

773 718-6828 @

Chicago, IL

913-461-7538 @

Leawood, KS

913-648-6015 @

Caroline Kriz

Bolingbrook, IL

630/226-1960

Elmwood Park, IL

708-456-8415 @

Kim Loughlin

Oak Park, IL

505/988-9624

LaGrange Park, IL

312-320-7068 @

Overland Park, KS

913-638-4443 @

Farmington Hills, MI

248-553-7314 @

Minneapolis, MN

612-920-3991 @

Brooklyn Park, MN

763-391-9411 @

MJL Consulting Service

Western Springs, IL

708/784-0628 @

Walter Moeller

Cary, IL

847/639-5848 @

Minneapolis, MN

612-978-5733 @

Des Moines, IA

515-284-2966 @

Chicago, IL

773-528-0416 @

Columbus, OH

614-224-7584 @

Janesville, WI

414.531.1280 @

Chicago, IL

312-266-1179 @

Solon, OH

440-264-6382 @

Florissant, MO

314- 838-5234 @

Chicago, IL

312-953-6208 @

Des Moines, IA

515-284-7315 @

Andover, MN

612-701-4551 @

Chesterfield, MO

314-369-1364 @

East Food Stylists

Nir Adar

Briarcliff, NY

914-941-7477 @

Carrie Andalora

New York, NY

212-505-5230 @

Dyne Benner

New York, NY

(212) 688-7571 @

Linda Brown

Baltimore, MD

410-581-4920@

Jacqueline Buckner

New York, NY

212-737-5746 @

Jolanda Burkhard

New York, NY

212-532-2122 @

Cynthia Caldwell

Northampton, MA

413-665-3427 @

Bobbi Cappelli

Spring City, PA

610-792-7444 @

John F. Carafoli

New York, NY

212-532-6387 @

Kay Chun

New York, NY

212-522-1590 @

Shari Citron

Pinebrook, NJ

973-227-3699 @

Caroline Colston

New York, NY

212-206-0901 @

Keith Coughenour

Pittsburgh, PA

412-391-1500 @

Donna Chriszt

Cleveland, OH

216-288-9094 @

Delores Custer

New York, NY

212-285-1410 @

Elizabeth Davis

New York, NY

212-935-0200 @

Diane Daniels

Brookline, MA

617-731-1829 @

Melanie Dubberley

Rahway, NJ

908-377-8835 @

Liz Duffy

Hoboken, NJ

646-230-9316 @

John Elkhay

Providence, RI

401-453-2077 @

Rick Ellis

New York, NY

212-228-3624 @

Cindy Anita Fain

New York, NY

212-501-9090 @

Michelle Francisco

New York, NY

718-683-7003 @

Victoria Granof

New York, NY

212-206-0901 @

Sarah Greenberg

New York, NY

212-873-1764 @

Paul Grimes

New York, NY

212-787-3705 @

Vicki Cheung Hicks

Morristown, NJ

201-919-3688 @

Marilinda Hodgdon

New York, NY

212-735-6583 @

Katy Keck

New York, NY

212-246-2171 @

Catrine Kelty

Boston, MA

781-264-2158 @

Laurie Knoop

New York, NY

212-369-0922 @

Marsha Harris

New York, NY

845-758-2355 @

Lisa Homa

NY

212-740-1142 @

Brett Kurzweil

Montclair, NJ

973-746-4175 @

Acirema Landa

Burlington, VT

802-862-3849 @

Christine Langfeld

New Brunswick, NJ

732-404-7388 @

AnneMarie Leyden

Pittsburgh, PA

412-833-7092 @

Barbara Listenik

New York, NY

718-852-3284 @

Maureen Luchejko

Woodstock, NY

845-679-9806 @

Dan Macey

New Hope, PA

215-794-0527 @

Harry McMann

MD

410-276-0816 @

Judy Mentzer

Lancaster, PA

717-569-5476 @

Nancy Meyer

Bearsville, NY

845-679-6077 @

Jon Middleton

Danielsville, PA

610-837-3252 @

Eileen Negrycz

Ridgewood, NJ

201-652-7447 @

Sally-Jo O'Brien

New York, NY

917-207-8204 @

Sarah Perlman

New York, NY

917-697-1253@

Marie Piraino

Winchendon, MA

978-297-9926 @

Brian Preston-Campbell

NY

917-216.2765 @

Jill Raff

New York, NY

212-799-0884 @

Roberta Rall

Norwalk, CT

203-846-0687 @

Stephanie Rose Foodstylings

New York, NY

646.246.6072 @

Krista Ruane

Brooklyn, NY

718-810-4516 @

Lisa Golden Schroeder

Dellwood, MN

651-653-4348 @

Pamela Simmons

Madison, CT

203-421-4022 @

Ulli Stachl

New York, NY

212-794-3542 @

Polly Talbott

Lynbrook, New York

516.599.2922 @

Katrina Tekavec

Philadelphia, PA

(215)850-6594 @

Lilia Temple

Darien, CT

(917)885-0353 @

Karen Temple

NY

212-924-7870@

Francesco Tonelli

Port Ewen, NY

845-340-1799 @

Corinne Trang Studio

New York, NY

646-862-1932 @

Kelly Upson

Boston, MA

978-887-2146 @

Jeanne Voltz

New York, NY

212-316-4213 @

Deborah Wahl

Chesapeake Beach, MD

301-855-6806 @

Deborah Winson

New York, NY

212-505-1510 @

Patricia J. Winters

New York, NY

212-249-6337

Robert Yamarone

New York, NY

718-351-4076 @

Cathy Walsh

Columbus, OH

614-442-5604 @

Shui Ziegler

Pittsburg, PA

412-580-6123 @

West Food Stylists

Alise Arato

Los Angeles, CA

310-398-6902 @

Lisa Barnet

Los Angeles, CA

626.376.5932 @

Stevie Bass

Taos Ski Valley, NM

505-751-0015 @

Vincent Beckley

West Hollywood, CA

213-445-7252 @

Ruth Bracken

Los Angeles, CA

323.-856-0999 @

Jacqueline Buckner

Boulder, CO

303-530-3416 @

Joanna Cantrall/Badano

Santa Rosa, CA

707-696-0632 @

Joy Delf

Seattle, WA

206-525-0232 @

Debbie J. Elder

Gilbert, AZ

480 551 9769 @

Michelle Fingert

Ventura, CA

805-644-8793 @

Cindie Flannigan

Los Angeles, CA

310-562-0625 @

Calla Ganz

Los Angeles, CA

323-876-4896 @

Sandra Griswold

San Francisco, CA

415-775-4272 @

Alice Hart

Los Angeles, CA

323-877-2376 @

Tess Hartwell

Santa Barbara, CA

805-901-8770 @

Carol Cooper Ladd

Portland, OR

503 226 3611 @

Mary Lempke

Loveland, CO

970-613-1079 @

Tobi Frank Martin

Calabasas, CA

310-552-7921 @

Patty Mastracco

Folsom, CA

916-988-9463 @

Christy Nordstrom

Seattle, WA

206-365-9049 @

Charlotte Omnes

Seattle, WA

206-354-5690 @

Carol Peterson

Glendale, CA

818-500-1166 @

Kathleen Prisant

Sonoma, CA

419-710-9530 @

Judy Reynolds

Phoenix, AZ

602-840-9405 @

Rebecca Robison

Boise, ID

208-371-8303 @

Carolyn Schirmacher

Portland, OR

503-222-4266 @

Shelley Thomas

Seattle, WA

206-524-0433 @

Andy Sheen-Turner

Los Angeles, CA

(323)333-0070 @

Joy Shefter

Beverly Hills, CA

310-275-2371 @

Carolyn Schirmacher

Portland, OR

503 222 4266 @

Mary Stec

Agoura Hills, CA

@

Robyn Valarik

San Francisco, CA

415-517-5692 @

Denise Vivaldo

Los Angeles, CA

310-836-3520 @

South Food Stylists

Kristine Ackerman

Dallas, TX

214-526-6119 @

Maureen Allaben

Tucker, GA

678-296-9852 @

Cheryl Binnie

Dallas, TX

214-821-3445 @

Paula Block

Lauderdale, FL

954-565-9766 @

Paige Boyle

Houston, TX

281.745.4781 @

Laura Ciffone

FL

954-295-7935 @

Ruth Clemmons

Dallas, TX

214-804-8458 @

Virginia Cravens-Houston

Tuscaloosa, AL

205-556-5866 @

Sandra Day

Lafayette, LA

337-989-0077 @

Deborah DiSabatino

Pittsboro, NC

919-542-2438 @

Patty Forrestel Food Style

Fla

305-461-2924 @

Mary Ann Fowlkes

Nashville, TN

615-665-2085 @

Sarah Freedman-Izquierdo

Miami Beach, FL

305-725-4116 @

Kendall Collins Gensler

New Orleans, LA

504.343.2092 @

Julia Hettiger

Houston, TX

713-661-6970 @

Mary Holloway

Orlando, FL

913-461-7538 @

Carole Kotkin

Miami, FL

305-378-6026 @

Mary Lane

St. Simons Island, GA

912-634-2247 @

Sandy Langston

Plano, TX

214-929-9346 @

Jeff Lehr

Memphis, TN

901-685-7685 @

Sara Levy

Norcross, GA

(770)246-0059 @

Ana Martinez

San Antonio, TX

210-224-7123 @

Nan McCulloch

Alpharetta, GA

770-664-7474 @

Angie Mosier

Atlanta, GA

404-374-6674 @

Margo Prince

Garland, TX

972-276-1398 @

Gloria Smiley

Atlanta, GA

404-261-1630 @

Dorine Smith

Orlando, FL

407-645-4487 @

Ellen Longino Smith

Dallas, TX

214-384-9540 @

Martha C. Torres

New Orleans, LA

504-931-5422 @

Virginia Willis

Atlanta, GA

404-964-1753 @

Canada - Food Stylists

Australia - Food Stylists

Sponsor

Food Photographer - Michael Ray (visit his portfolio)

Food Photography and Food Stylist Related Resources:

International Association of Culinary Professionals

Food Photography Blog

How'dedodat? - Photography educational site

Food On Film - Food styling and photography seminar

Food Designs - Food Stylist resource

Mandy.com - International film and TV productin resources

Trengove Studios - props and special effects

Style Share - Food Design Forum

Link Exchange Sites

Pittsburgh Creative Directory of Advertising Agencies and Graphic Design, and Public Relations Firms

Pittsburgh Photography Directory

Pittsburgh People Photography

Image Fx - Digital image enhancement

Food Photography Blog

Craig Brewer, Los Angeles photographer

If you are a stylist and would like to be listed on this directory, please send the necessary information to additions@foodportfolio.com ( it's free ) If you find any mistakes or corrections that need to be made to this list, please click here.