4 Things That Happened When I Hired A Food Stylist

The most common question I get from clients is whether or not they need to hire a food stylist.

Since photography is my primary medium, I’m often asked if I can just do it all myself. After all, isn’t that how photographers work? But the truth is that food styling is an art form in itself—one that goes beyond just making sure everything looks pretty on camera. It involves creating a mood and emotion with every element of an image: what your subject looks like, how they move and feel, even what they smell like! Here are 4 things that happened when I hired a food stylist.

#1 My ideas were elevated. The Food Looked Incredible

A food stylist is a creative partner. They elevate the quality of my work and bring out the best in it by making it look delicious!

A food stylist is a professional. Their job isn’t as simple as putting a plate of food on camera, though that’s part of it. They also have to make sure everything looks appealing from every angle and angle possible (think 360 degrees) while being mindful of the time constraints and budget constraints I may have given them so they can help me get through my shoot day with ease.

A food stylist is also a problem solver! I don’t need to worry about anything because they know exactly how to handle all those little details like making sure there are no crumbs left behind off-camera after shooting or using props such as napkins or straws, so they don’t take away from what’s important: The FOOD!!

#2 I Focused on What I Do Best

When I hire a food stylist, it frees up my time to focus on what I do best. I can now focus on photography and my client. I can also focus on creative direction, which is one of the most important parts of the job.

You might think that a food stylist is someone we can skip because “Mica, you know how to style food.” But if you want really amazing photos, you need someone who has experience with creative direction.

I’ve worked with some restaurants that don’t believe in hiring a food stylist—because they don’t want to spend money on something they think isn’t necessary. And there’s some truth to that: it can feel wasteful when your budget is tight and every penny counts. But when your business is struggling or just starting out, you need all the reinforcements you can get.

#3 There was more time for me to think creatively.

When I hire a food stylist, the person who is responsible for the look and feel of the food on set will be someone other than me. This allows me to focus on the creative side of photography—what lens to use, what background will suit my subject best, how much light is needed. I can think more creatively about your vision without worrying about every little detail that goes into every shot. Having an expert with years of experience in styling means that I can spend more time on those details—and have less stress overall!

#4 Time flew by in the best way possible and we got so much done faster

When I hire a food stylist, I’m able to focus on what I do best: creating. Time flies by at warp speed because of how much fun the shoot is. My energy and creativity are at an all-time high, and that allows for some truly amazing work to be produced in such a short amount of time.

I know that hiring a food stylist can seem like a lot of money to spend on just one shoot, but it’s actually an investment in your business.

Hiring a food stylist is like hiring a photographer: it’s not about the individual image or photo. It’s about the whole experience and what you’re trying to communicate with the images. And when I hire a food stylist, you’re telling people out there that you care about how your food looks—and that means something.

So if you want to make the most of your investment, don’t skip on the food stylist.

I’m a professional food photographer, and I want to help your restaurant stand out. Whether you’re looking for an eye-catching menu or some beautiful shots of your dishes, I can help. If you’re looking for a food photographer who can turn your dishes into drool-worthy shots, then send me a message!