Food stylist: features of the profession and training

Food photos can now be found on billboards, restaurant signs and even on Instagram. Many girls, when visiting a restaurant or just seeing a beautifully presented food, try to post it immediately on a social network. The dishes look nice and appetizing. It turns out that there are secrets, having learned which, you can, on a professional level, present us with original pictures of delicious food.

A food stylist is a person who can present a photo of food in such a way that you will definitely want to eat it. Food stylists work wonders, their juicy pictures can be found in cookbooks or on restaurant menus. Even the most ordinary dish or just an apple cut in half can look like you can't take your eyes off them. Craftsmen are always ready to make a video of the preparation of dishes and their actions resemble the work of an artist. Their creations are often used for advertising so that viewers not only buy the product, but also enjoy it.

Any surprises on set, variety of food and products should be the norm for a professional. After all, many hours of work in the frame requires quick reactions and informed decisions.

To become a food stylist, you don't need to graduate from college or take certain courses. The main thing for this profession should be a great desire to photograph. Take pictures beautifully and skillfully, have a shutter speed, know all about contour lighting and aperture.A master must have talent, imagination and his own view of the world, meticulousness in the little things and hands suitable for such a delicate work. In order to take pictures not for a home amateur album, but to promote and be famous, it is necessary to collect a portfolio with the most successful works and show them in advertising agencies or restaurants. They always use the services of this professional.

Even if you have not been trained, but you have the necessary skills and knowledge, there is a chance to get this job. But you should surely have knowledge of cooking.

After all, as a food stylist, you should know all the stages of creating dishes. You can also study yourself, for this there is a lot of information in the Internet space. Attending various food conferences and participating in webinars will only benefit you. The best way to learn from examples is to take the time to look at the work of famous food photographers.

As soon as the profession began to become popular, various methods were used to create a beautiful photo, which have nothing to do with the natural preparation of foods and natural ingredients that can be eaten. For example, using a blowtorch to create a golden crust, or using a lime solution instead of mayonnaise. Now everything has changed, food stylists are using real products and natural methods.

• Tip # 1. Of course, for high-quality shooting, first of all, it is necessary to have high-quality equipment. The camera must meet all professional requirements. The presence of a graphics tablet is also necessary, since after viewing the frames, minor defects may be found, and with the help of a tablet they can be easily retouched.
• Tip # 2. For an original and vivid photo, you need to buy only beautiful and fresh food. For fruits or vegetables, look for perfect specimens, free from cuts or dents, with a large size and a juicy, ripe color. If it is fish, then it should also be fresh with a healthy color. After all, if the products in their natural form look beautiful and appetizing, but in the photo they will undoubtedly look even better without the use of retouching or special effects.
• Tip # 3... The correct arrangement of food on the plate is an important criterion in creating a quality frame. Food stylists have a special rule for the arrangement of products. The cymbal is a dial. There is a place for meat at two o'clock, for vegetables at six, for a side dish (potatoes, pasta or other carbohydrates) at ten o'clock. All professionals adhere to this method, since the composition divided into three parts will be well remembered. If you want to focus on any other product, then you just need to raise it higher relative to other food.
• Tip # 4. To make your photos look natural, you need to use natural lighting as well. Good photos are taken on a sunny day, when you can use both light and shaded areas. If it's a cloudy day, then the window area is the best place to take a photo. If it is a completely dark rainy day, then you definitely cannot do without using a flash.
• Tip # 5. For a perfect photo, work must be done quickly and skillfully. After all, if you search for a zone or a suitable side of the product all day, but as a result, the product will lose its fresh appearance.
• Tip # 6. To prolong the aesthetic and fresh look of your products during a photo shoot, spray them with lemon juice or ice water 15-20 minutes before starting work. If these are boiled dishes, then it is better to refresh them only with water, and if fried, then only with oil.
• Tip # 7. To show off your dishes and emphasize them, use plates of a solid color.For this, dishes of white or blue color with a wide rim are better suited. Always keep the headband open, do not put food on it. This will make the dishes look elegant and distinctive. As for the dishes and cutlery themselves, it is better to purchase an expensive option.
• Tip # 8. If you will be photographing a hamburger or similar food, then use a background and stand. Try to keep the frame simpler and avoid using other food or accessories.