In food photography, working with a food stylist is often crucial. For projects like cookbooks, a dedicated food stylist ensures that dishes are presented perfectly. As a food photographer in New York City, I sometimes style dishes myself, but having a professional food stylist speeds up the process and enhances the final images. The collaboration between the food photographer and the stylist is similar to the dynamic in fashion photography, where different experts focus on various aspects to create a cohesive and compelling image. This teamwork is essential in creating stunning culinary photography.
Lighting is a key element in both restaurant photography and food photography for cookbooks. While the approach might be consistent across different types of shoots, there are specific considerations based on the project. For instance, e-commerce images for delivery apps require clear, well-lit shots that focus on the food details without much ambiance. Conversely, restaurant photography aims to capture the atmosphere and evoke emotions, often using lighting to enhance the overall dining experience. In New York, where restaurant scenes are vibrant and diverse, effective lighting in food photography can make a significant impact.
Scaling Your Food Photography Business: Practical Strategies for Growth
It's counterintuitive, but the best lighting for food photography often comes from behind or the side of the subject. This approach, unlike front lighting, preserves the texture and depth of the food, making it look more appetizing.
In New York's competitive food photography market, understanding this principle can give you an edge. Practice placing your lights strategically to highlight the food's best features and create visually stunning images.
Color and texture are pivotal in food photography. These elements elevate the visual appeal and tell a story about the dish. But how can you achieve this without a professional food stylist? Here are some techniques to make your food photography pop in New York City’s vibrant culinary scene.
This episode features Francesco Sapienza, a food photographer based in New York. Francesco’s mission is to help elevate culinary brands using his extensive photographic knowledge and stunningly balanced compositions. He was worked with large brands such as Whole Foods Market, Oceans, Boucherie, Lavazza, Eataly, Hawksmoor, Smithsonian Books, Rizzoli Publications, and even The New York Times.
Francesco Sapienza revealed his transition from engineering to food photography. Motivated by a desire to minimize regrets, he built a portfolio and then faced challenges expanding into editorial work. Advice to niche down ultimately refined his style to food. Francesco stresses the importance of outsourcing non-passionate tasks to focus on creativity, and to follow your passion.
“Francesco is an incredibly skilled photographer. He has an innate ability to understand a brief and transform the beautiful into the spectacular. Not only is his vision and technical execution flawless but his ability to digest multiple different ideas and develop a holistic story is unmatched. I would highly recommend working with him on all types of projects, especially in hospitality and brand storytelling.”
“Not only is Francesco an incredibly talented photographer, both technically and artistically, but he is also absolutely wonderful to work with.”
“Francesco takes every client’s needs seriously - whether a headshot for a food blogger or endless photos for a three hundred page cookbook - and brings his big joy and charisma to each shoot. Francesco is boundless in enthusiasm and creativity and operates his business at the highest level of professionalism.”
“Francesco has great communication skills on top of an amazing talent for capturing captivating images in a seemingly effortless way.”
