Food photography is a challenging and fun hobby for anyone. Here, we share some of the best food photography portfolio examples from Format users along with tips and tricks on how to create one yourself.
October 4, 2021Hilaire Baumgartner is an editorial and commercial food photographer based in Fort Worth. What started as a vegan food blog in 2017, Baumassfoods (a play on words from her last name) is now Hilaire’s business where she focuses exclusively on food + product photography. She believes food should be fun and often transfers her playful personality into bold and colorful work.
https://baumassfoods.format.comDubai-based advertising & commercial food photographer and recipe developer.
https://roseanne-orim.format.comWe are Plate of Joy – Kasia and Tomek. We are in love with good food, photography, food styling, our samoyed boy Boguś and each other. We are a perfect team – both in professional and private life.
https://plateofjoy.format.comSuyen Torres has been working as a Food Photography since 2015. She was a consistent contributor for Sacramento Magazine for 4 1/2 years. Photographing food, taking portraits of the chefs and photographing the restaurants enviroments. She photographed her great grandmothers cookbook "Generaciones del Arte Culinario" in Dec 2019 which is available on Amazon. She has her studio in Bakersfield, Ca and is also available for travel.
https://suyen-torres.format.comLéa & Alex are a 22-year-old couple based in Québec City. They have a classical approach for styling, so the focus is purely on our work. They have worked with PS/LR and recently, with Helicon Focus.
https://luto.format.comBorn and raised in NYC, Joel Goldberg has shot food professionally for the last 8 years. Shooting for food-based brands, publications in the food industry, restaurant menus, and any advertising and marketing material she also always set time aside to shoot for fun since at the end of the day this is what she enjoys doing the most!
https://thefoodreveal.format.comGreat shadowing is key to a well-balanced photograph. Shadows add depth and interest to a subject, sometimes helping to enhance its main focal point. Too much shadowing can ruin a photo’s overall composition.
When shooting food photography, find the right level of shadowing to flatter your subject. Try to avoid harsh shadowing and let the food in your photo engage the viewer.
Shelby Moore is a food and beverage photographer and multimedia journalist. Most of her work happens in a hospitality industry context. Shelby is based in Los Angeles and often travels back to Phoenix, where she grew up and worked on shoots for close to a decade.
https://shelby-moore.format.comSarah Pflug is a commercial and editorial food photographer based in Toronto, Canada. An avid learner, Sarah embraces challenges and loves to immerse herself in the stories her client’s wish to tell. Be it for local, national, or global brands, Sarah is ecstatic about creating one-of-a-kind imagery that best fits their needs. Sarah is passionate about food - and cooks one hell of a goulash - and lives vicariously through her photography, the FoodNetwork, and her shelves of cookbooks.
https://sarah-vitc.format.comSarah is a New York-based creator living in Brooklyn. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Fashion Design. Shortly after, Sarah transitioned to the field of Food Photography. When not shooting, she is developing recipes, reviewing coffee shops, or boxing.
https://sarahhassan.format.comMichelle Boulé is a Boston based food and product photographer. She is a graduate of the Cinema and Photography program at Ithaca College. Michelle has worked in the product and food space for the past 10 years in New York, San Francisco and Boston.
https://michelleboulephoto.format.comLarisa Niedle creates drool-worthy food and drink images. She grew up in New York City and currently bases her work around her hometown, as well as the New Jersey area. Growing up in NYC exposed Larisa to various different foods from all over the world. She claims that her love for food became even stronger when she pursued her PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, where creating beautiful and delicious dishes became her escape from the pressures of grad school.
https://larisaniedle.format.comKulsum Kunwa is an acclaimed food and lifestyle photographer. Based in Kuwait, her work has appeared in various cookbooks, magazines, and websites — both locally and internationally. Kunwa uses her unique aesthetics and abilities to create quality images, bringing together texture, light, and mood. In her spare time, she writes in her popular blog Journey Kitchen, which has also been the subject of worldwide recognition.
https://kulsum.format.comWhen shooting the ideal food photo, keep the background as clear as possible. You’ll want the food to be the focal point of the photo.
A neutral background is the best way to ensure that the photo’s main subject is emphasized. While this doesn’t mean the background should be plain, it should complement the food and allow its colors to pop.
Gilbert Yap is a part-time Boston and Cambridge-based food and restaurant photographer who focuses on highlighting the delectable food of small or upcoming businesses, especially those run by underrepresented minorities. His favorite style of food photography lighting is the hard-light style that evokes a sunset meal at your favorite restaurant's window seat - inspired by the photography work of The New Yorker and Bon Appetit.
https://gilbert-yap.format.comJohn Cizmas is a photographer based in Los Angeles. John specializes in location food and drinks photography. With over 15 years of experience, he has collaborated with different creatives, chefs, makers, mixologists, and artists.
https://cizmas.format.comJohn Troxell is a food and lifestyle photographer based in Los Angeles. He also travels between Chicago, NYC and everywhere in-between. John’s approach to photography is truly his own. He fell in love with photography at a very young age, initially starting his career as a cameraman in Hollywood. From here, he worked behind the lens of car commercials, music videos and subsequently food commercials, sparking a career in food photography.
https://fifthflavors.format.comAubrie LeGault is a freelance food and drink photographer based out of Portland, OR. Aubrie loves highlighting Portland’s food and drink scene, helping to showcase all of the wonderful food and beverage items the city (and the Northwest) has to offer.
https://aubrielegaultphotography.format.comAndrew Welch started his career “as most people do” — dabbling with a cheap digital camera he bought from a friend in college. Since then, he worked in several career fields and “never felt right about any of them”. Photography opened a door for Andrew to create something and feel proud of his work, all while also providing for his family of four. Today, he gets to work with clients near and far — helping them realize those visual dreams they didn’t think possible in small-town Jackson.
https://andrew-welch.format.comDimitrios Brouzioutis is a mixologist and photographer based in London, UK. He is a classically trained bartender and graduate of the prestigious Leica Creative Photography school. After a decade spent working in the hospitality industry, he believes his experience has given him the ability to understand the art of food and drinks. He helps his clients develop their brand through a creative visual narrative.
https://dimitrios-brouzioutis.format.comSometimes simple is best. If your food subject is brightly colored or uniquely textured, try using a simple composition to ensure the subject truly stands out.
Placing your food subject in the center of your photo will create a strong visual impact. To ensure the subject is the focal point, keep your background simple and leave any distracting decorations out.
Named for her grandmother's street, where her love of color and craft began, Talia Manrique Dinwiddie is the photographer behind Maryvine Street. Based in Los Angeles, and educated at California State University of Long Beach, she has been learning and working in the field since 2008. Currently shooting for Café Gratitude and Gracias Madre.
https://talia-manrique-lyhk.format.comScott Fine has been a photographer for over thirty years. His devotion and eye for detail enables him to capture a creative edge to his work. Studied at RIT in the ‘70s he has seen the evolution of the photographic process. Now deeply entrenched in the digital world he is creating imagery that explores the world around him.
https://scottfine.format.comKatie Chase is a professional food photographer located in New England. Her love of lobsters, bright, rustic, and family dinner vibes come together for an endearing portfolio of commercial work. Katie is available for hire in home and on location for food photography, recipe development, and restaurant photography.
https://katie-chase.format.comLenka had thought about opening a restaurant after receiving several marriage proposals from people tasting her culinary creations. Food is always on her mind and in her heart. If you know her, you've likely tried something she's made. That's how she shows her love and care. She knew she needed hands-on creativity in her life, not exploiting herself for others in a restaurant cooking the same stuff. Food photography lets Lenka live her passion for healthy food and sharing stories around a table.
https://lenkaslens.format.comLinda is a food blogger and photographer who blogs at Wild Greens and Sardines. She is inspired by trips to the Mediterranean and cooking with local, seasonal ingredients.
https://linda-hmbb.format.comWith a love of photography from an early age, the subject was never the focus for Marc Haydon. It's always been about composition, light, colour, and shapes and to create something beautiful through the lens. Thats why throughout Marc's career he have drifted between different subjects, from landscapes to music and portraiture, to fashion and still life and then finally to food where he finally found my feet working with beautiful props and delicate food styling to create mouth-watering images.
https://marc-haydon.format.comWhen it comes to food photography, dishes and backgrounds can sometimes look over-exposed. To avoid photos that look too bright and have no visible detail, consider increasing the exposure for just the highlights of your subject.
This means adjusting the exposure levels so that details are only seen in the brightest areas, helping them stand out. Enhance any shadowing in the editing stage for a perfect shot!
Sara Ali is a NYC based food photographer and stylist that specializes in natural light food photography. When she's not creating food photography for her clients she is cooking up meal ideas over on the Dieteticaesthetic blog.
https://dieteticaesthetic.format.comJackie Alpers is an award winning editorial and advertising food photographer based in Tucson, Arizona. Clients include The Food Network, Refinery29, The Kitchn, Taste Cooking, Glamour & Edible.
https://jackie-alpers.format.comNeal is an editorial and commercial photographer based in Philadelphia, PA and is available for work. When not making photographs, he's tending to his glorified urban homestead, Farm 51, with his husband in Southwest Philadelphia, complete with four dogs, three cats, twenty-some-odd chickens and thousands upon thousands of bees. Or punching and kicking while doing Muay Thai training.
https://neal.format.comDan is a professional photographer who works in Toronto and lives in his head. Following a brief stint as a croupier, Dan attended Humber College for photography. He can still deal a mean game of blackjack. Originally from a small town, Dan has come to embrace city life. This includes embracing the pavement with his body after getting his bicycle tire caught in a streetcar track. Dan, like Confucius, believes that wheresoever you may go, you should go with all your heart.
https://danrobbphoto.format.comDavide Luciano is a New York based conceptual food and beverage photographer and motion artist. His artistic vision together with his love for storytelling has shaped his unique approach to photography. Alongside his talented food stylist wife Claudia Ficca, Davide creates colorful imagery bursting with energy and ready to fill your eyes with fun! His captures jump off the page, whether digital, paper, billboard, or displays. Davide splits his time between NYC and Los Angeles.
https://davideluciano.format.comI'm a photographer based in Rome, Italy, working worldwide: I love food and all that comes around it. Traveling around the world, meeting people, eating good food, drinking Negronis and taking mouthwatering photos since 2009. Always open to new projects and grabbing coffee.
https://andreadilorenzo.format.com