Francesco's passion for photographing food developed naturally. His first big break came when a friend asked him to photograph cheese for an e-commerce site, and from there, his career flourished. Today, Francesco's work graces the pages of the New York Times and many top-tier culinary brands.
Francesco's journey in food photography began with the advent of digital cameras. He reflects on how digital technology revolutionized the field, making it more accessible and allowing for greater experimentation. The ability to instantly review and adjust shots has been crucial in his development as a food photographer. Francesco's experience shows that embracing new technology can significantly enhance one's creative process and output, particularly in a vibrant city like New York.
Almost ten years ago, I landed my first food photography gig with The New York Times in New York City. It was a defining moment in my career, one that I’ll never forget.
I remember the excitement when I got the call. The NY Times! It was the big league. I knew this could be a game-changer for my career in culinary photography. I prepped like crazy, making sure every shot was perfect. The lighting, the angles, the plating - everything had to be on point.
When a client grants you creative freedom, it's a testament to their trust in your expertise and vision. This trust is empowering. You get to experiment with new techniques, play with lighting, and explore unique compositions. Each photoshoot becomes an opportunity to push boundaries and discover fresh ways to capture the essence of food.
There’s a huge difference between shooting a dish for a delivery app vs for social media.
In the first case, you dont need any props and you just want to show what the dish looks like. In the second case, you’re trying to create an emotion and that requires a much more complex story.
It’s still food photography but the storytelling aspect is totally different.
For Francesco, food photography is about more than just taking pictures of dishes. It's about capturing the essence and story behind each meal. In New York City, where food culture is rich and varied, he finds endless stories to tell through his lens. By focusing on the details, from the texture of a steak to the steam rising from a hot soup, Francesco creates images that invite viewers to experience the food with all their senses. His work demonstrates the power of photography to convey the beauty and appeal of culinary creations.
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.”
