The Job of a Food Stylist

A Successful food Stylist helps Produce a photo that sells a dream,brand,product,restaurant,ect

They do so by making food look as mouthwatering and appealing as possible.

They take great care in making sure everything about the item is perfect,down to the last detail;like that

vanilla icecream cone with a shiny little cherry on top with one drip of icecream running down the side-

its all part of the food stylists creation.Did you know that the “Ice Cream cone” isn't really Ice

Cream,but icing sugar, shortening and food coloring mixed together with cornstarch added to reach

desired consistency,and that single drip running down the cone isnt melting icecream but toothpaste

with food coloring added to it!These are a few tricks food stylists can do to make food look amazing to

be able to take that perfect photo.

Now a food stylists Job doesnt end with the food, they also chose the plating,the background and any

props that will be in the photo.Food Stylists must be organized, they need everything together to do

assignments quickly,so that they can get from one job to another quickly if they want to make any

money.They need to be a good cook and baker,in order to cook the food so that it looks perfect for the

photo you need to know how to cook,which is why some Culinary training would be a good idea.

Food Stylists need to be a problem solver,many challengers may arise and you need to be able to

handle them,like what if you have a chicken leg with torn skin?You also need to be a team player,

photo stylists have assistants and other members on there team for each assignment and you need to be

able to work effectively with each member.

The First wave of food stylists were self taught,they were good technicians but not always artful

Culinarians.They were creative, entrepreniurial women who strode with curage into this new

profession,Who mostly worked out of home.

Photo Stylists can find employment in many different areas,like Newspapers,magazines,cookbooks,

advertising,and television.You must be able to give the client what they want.

There are some steps for food styling: Find food/Props/Equipment:First you make a shopping and equipment list. Its a good idea to buy extra food,because sometimes you have to make the same

dish twice.If you are also propping the job,you must shop for plates,glasses,flowers.

Prepare food: First unpack and organise your workplace,then prepare the food so it looks

it's best.It's your ultimate job to make it look mouthwatering.

arrange food: Arrange the food so that it looks appealing to the camera.you must be aware of

how the camera sees the food.

keep food beautiful,and add final touches:After its arranged on the set,you must keep it looking

perfect.Which is a constant challenge.

Food Stylists have kits that they bring with them to every assignment that has everything they could

possibly need to make the food item look perfect for the photo.In there kits there are items like,

a corkscrew,peeler,pins,tweezers,eyedropper,ruler,fishing line,digital timer.Food Stylists can earn

anywhere from $450 to $850 a day once they are established.It’s one thing to cook up a delicious batch

of spaghetti sauce, but it’s another to arrange the pasta and sauce on a plate just so for a beautiful and

appetizing photograph.Being a Food Stylist is an excellent way to combine artistic vision with culinary

skills.Food stylists can also work on food shows and in movies, using their discriminating and artistic

eye and knowledge to keep food in film looking delicious.It’s all about making a dish look so

appetizing that you want to eat it right off the page. Its meant to feed the eyes and the imagination.

Food stylists work together with prop stylists and photographers to achieve the mood the art director is

trying the capture.There are food styling training programs, and any experience working with food,

such as restaurant work or chef training, is going to be helpful.A food stylist might start her career as a

photographer’s assistant at a studio that has a lot of food clients. The next step would be a junior food

stylist working with a more experienced stylist. After gathering hands-on experience, the next step

would be a full-fledged food stylist, either self-employed or employed by a company, and Thats when

the fun truely begins!

As Food Stylists, They shoot on location everytime,wether its in a studio,in homes,outdoors,or an

empty soundstage,or even in a foriegn country.If you get a assignment in anoother country make sure

your passport is up to date,if you need to fill out special paperwork,is there any food or equipment

restictions,if you dont speak the lnguage higher someone who does,who do you bill for the job.

Making food visually appealing can be challenging just remember:always know the camera angle,

arrange the food as the camera will see it.use smooth strokes in frostings,dips,spreads,ect.

Think of the edge of the plate as a picture frame,dont overflow the food.

After the shoot and you are back at the office, unpack and make notes of anything you want to

remember about the job.Complete the invoice,which usually goes to the photographer who hired you.

Your invoice should include your name,address,and employee I.D number,invoice number,job

number,project title or description,date,your rate.Expenses seperated out into seperate categories:

food,transportation,materials,and miscellaneous,total expenses/fees,Send reciepts with invoice.make

copies of everything for your own records.