How To Become a Food Photographer as a Dietitian
If you're a registered dietitian with a passion for food, the world of food photography could be a great way to expand your career and showcase your culinary powers.
Not only does food photography allow you to share your love for gorgeous, vibrant ingredients, but it also opens doors to working with food bloggers, food companies, recipe developers, and other professionals in the food industry. Or you can just promote your own food blog or nutrition website.
In this guide, I will break down the steps to becoming a food photographer as a dietitian, and how you can turn this into a profitable side hustle or even your main career. I was inspired by another fellow dietitian. Here is her story.
Spotlight on Food Photographer and Food Stylist, Ashley Moyna Schwickert, RDN, of Studio Moyna.
Stacey interviewed Ashley Moyna Schwickert, food photographer and stylist and the founder of Studio Moyna. She has so many insights into the business that you will love. She's a fantastic storyteller, which is why she is a good food photographer.
Ashley has collaborated with numerous food brands, restaurants, and cookbook authors, and her photography appears weekly in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. You can find her here www.studiomoyna.com.
Here's what she says: "I truly believe that dietitians are amazing at business + it can be a wonderful way to increase your earning potential. If you're interested in business-related career opportunities, my advice to get started would be learning about business subjects (marketing, sales, finance, etc.) via online courses, job shadowing, interning, new roles within your company, volunteer opportunities, or other creative ways to slowly shift your skill set in that direction! Then speak your goals out loud, cater your resume to your desired job, and apply. Your RD credential will help you stand out in the best way!"
Watch our video interview here.
What Does a Food Photographer Do?
A food photographer captures images of food items that appear in cookbooks, websites, social media, and advertisements for food brands or culinary magazines. You could collaborate with food stylists, prop stylists, and sometimes even professional chefs to create beautiful food photos that highlight the aesthetics of food. The job is not only about taking pictures of food; it’s about conveying the beauty of food through the lens of a camera.
A food photographer has a keen eye for light sources, understands the importance of shutter speed and focal length, and often works in different settings like studios or restaurants.
Whether you’re working with a team of professionals or handling the shoot yourself in a home studio, your main goal is to make the food look as appealing as possible in print or online.
How to Become a Food Photographer
As a dietitian, transitioning into food photography can be a natural extension of your love for food and nutrition. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started:
Build Photography Skills
To become a professional food photographer, mastering the technical side of photography is essential. Start by learning basic photography skills such as working with natural light, artificial lighting, and understanding shutter speed and white balance. Familiarize yourself with the rule of thirds and experiment with different angles to find the best ways to capture the main subject in your food photographs. Online courses or even formal training in photography can be incredibly useful.
Develop Food Styling Skills
Great food photography isn’t just about snapping pictures of food; it’s about food styling. You may want to experiment with prop stylists or become one yourself to showcase food in its best light. Understanding color palettes, textures, and arrangement are key to creating visually stunning images of food that grab attention on social media and in cookbooks.
Create a Portfolio
To attract potential clients like food bloggers or food brands, you’ll need a portfolio website showcasing your best work. Take time to shoot a variety of food photographs that highlight your versatility. Whether you’re focusing on capturing fresh ingredients or recipe development, your professional food photography portfolio should demonstrate your skills and creativity.
Leverage Social Media
Social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and even Facebook groups are great places to showcase your food photography and attract potential clients. Many food bloggers and food companies are actively looking for professional photographers through these platforms. As a dietitian, you can also connect with favorite RD food photographers and other industry professionals to build your network.
How to Showcase Your Work
Once you’ve built a portfolio, it’s time to get your work out there. Here’s how you can make sure your photography is seen by the right people.
Social Media Presence
Instagram and Pinterest are visual platforms that are perfect for food photography. Share your best work, use the right hashtags, and engage with the community by commenting on other posts. This helps boost your visibility, especially with food brands and bloggers.
Portfolio Website
Create a sleek, professional website to serve as a gallery for your beautiful food photos. Potential clients will want to see your range, so make sure to showcase a variety of images, from single images to more complex, styled food photography setups. Be sure to include your contact information and a clear call to action for those interested in working with you.
Collaboration
Collaborating with food stylists, art directors, or even professional chefs can add new dimensions to your photography. These professionals can help you experiment with new styles and subjects, which can lead to a more diverse portfolio. Don’t be afraid to reach out and propose partnerships.
Submit to Food Magazines and Blogs
Pitching your photography to food blogs and culinary magazines is a great way to get your work published and gain credibility in the industry. Start with smaller, niche publications that align with your style, and as you build your portfolio, aim for larger food publications. Being featured in magazines or online platforms also helps build your professional reputation and can lead to more freelance opportunities with food brands or food companies.
Network at Food Events
Attend food festivals, culinary conferences, and industry networking events to meet potential clients and collaborators. Bring business cards or postcards that showcase your best work, and don’t hesitate to introduce yourself as both a dietitian and a food photographer. Building relationships in the food industry can open doors to editorial work, cookbook projects, and other lucrative collaborations.
How to Start Making Money as a Food Photographer
Now that you’ve developed your skills and built a portfolio, here’s how you can turn your passion for food photography into a profitable venture. Whether you want this to be a side hustle or a full-time career, there are plenty of opportunities to monetize your work. Here's a list.
1. Work with Food Bloggers
Many food bloggers, as dietitian or food creators, need high-quality images for their websites and social media platforms. Reach out to bloggers whose style aligns with yours, and offer to collaborate on their next recipe post or food article. Bloggers are often on tight schedules and budgets, so offering a flexible pricing model or package deal for multiple shoots can be appealing. Make sure you’re active in Facebook groups where food bloggers and photographers connect. Building relationships with bloggers can lead to recurring projects, which is an excellent way to create steady income.
2. Pitch to Food Brands
Another lucrative opportunity is working with food brands and grocery stores. These companies frequently need professional images for product launches, marketing campaigns, and social media promotions. Compile a list of brands you’d love to work with, especially those whose products align with your style or niche. Reach out to them with a pitch, highlighting your professional food photography skills, your background as a registered dietitian, and your ability to combine nutritional knowledge with stunning visuals. Make sure to include a link to your portfolio website in every pitch to showcase your best work.
3. Offer Services to Local Restaurants
Local restaurants often need fresh, high-quality images for their menus, websites, and social media. Approach restaurant owners with a portfolio that demonstrates how you can enhance their brand's presentation. Offering to shoot a few dishes for free as your first job or as part of a promotional package can help build your reputation in your community. Once you establish relationships with a few local spots, word of mouth can quickly lead to more business. You can even offer ongoing services, such as updating seasonal menus or new menu items, to ensure a steady stream of work.
4. Start a Side Hustle
If you’re already working in private practice as a dietitian, food photography can be a perfect side hustle that complements your current services. As part of your corporate wellness services or health coaching packages, you could offer professional food photography for recipe development, corporate newsletters, or nutrition blogs. This allows you to diversify your income streams while continuing to focus on your primary career. It’s also an excellent way to stay connected with your clients while showcasing your creative side.
5. Sell Your Own Cookbook
If you have experience with recipe development, why not take it a step further by creating your own cookbook? Self-publishing a cookbook filled with beautiful food photos can open up another income stream while leveraging your dual skills as a dietitian and food photographer. Platforms like Amazon or Blurb make it easy to publish both print and digital versions. Not only is this a great way to market your photography, but it also positions you as an authority in culinary arts and nutrition. You could even use the cookbook to promote your photography services to food bloggers, food brands, or restaurants that might need professional images for their own cookbooks or recipes.
6. Offer Food Photography Workshops
Once you’ve gained experience and confidence in your professional food photography skills, consider offering workshops to teach others. Aspiring food bloggers, amateur photographers, and even home cooks looking to improve their social media presence could benefit from learning the basics of food styling and photography. You could offer both in-person and online workshops to reach a broader audience. Workshops are a great way to build community, share your expertise, and create another income stream. Be sure to promote your workshops on social media and your website to attract participants.
7. Sell Stock Photos
Selling your food images as stock photos can be an excellent way to create a passive income stream. Websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and iStock allow photographers to upload and sell their images to individuals or companies looking for professional visuals. Since the demand for food-related content is high, food bloggers, editorial websites, and food companies often look for ready-to-use images of food items to enhance their content. This is a great way to monetize the work you’ve already done, especially if you have a backlog of high-quality images.
8. Offer Corporate Wellness Services
If you already offer corporate wellness services as part of your dietetic practice, you can easily incorporate your photography skills into these offerings. Many companies focused on employee health and wellness often need engaging content for their wellness programs. From visual guides on healthy eating to promotional images for corporate events, high-quality food photographs can be used to enhance company websites, newsletters, or wellness presentations. This is a perfect blend of your skills as a dietitian and professional photographer, making your services highly valuable in the food industry.
9. Find Private Clients
As you continue to gain experience, you may start working with private clients, such as nutritionists, personal chefs, or health coaches who need visuals for their websites, blogs, or social media. Private clients often look for a more personalized approach and appreciate the expertise of someone who understands both food and nutrition. Offering your photography services to these clients can help you develop long-term business relationships and provide a more consistent income stream. Your unique background as a dietitian can make you stand out from other food photographers who may not have the same level of knowledge about food science and healthy eating.
How to Build the Skills to Become a Professional Food Photographer
Becoming a professional food photographer doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to develop the necessary skills, but here’s how you can accelerate the process:
Formal Education or Self-Taught Learning
While you don’t necessarily need formal education to succeed, taking courses in photography or even culinary arts can help you gain the knowledge you need faster. Alternatively, many professional photographers are self-taught, learning from online tutorials and practice.
Master Editing Tools
Post-production is a huge part of making food photos look stunning. Tools like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop allow you to adjust color palettes, brighten up a scene, or correct exposure. Learning these tools is critical to elevating your food photos to a professional level.
Practice with Different Lighting
Food photography heavily relies on lighting—whether it’s natural light or artificial lighting, mastering how to light food is crucial. Experiment with different lighting setups to see how they affect the look and feel of your images.
Study Other Food Photographers
Follow and study the work of favorite RDN food photographers (like Ashley!) or professional photographers to learn what makes their work stand out. Pay attention to their use of light sources, how they frame their main subject, and their use of negative space or props. By analyzing other photographers’ work, you can start to incorporate these techniques into your own style.
Practice with Different Foods
The beauty of food photography lies in the diversity of subjects. Practice photographing different types of dishes, from fresh salads to hearty stews, to understand how different foods behave in front of the camera. Use fresh ingredients that look vibrant and colorful, as these will be the most visually appealing. Also, experiment with prepared dishes from grocery stores to see how to best showcase their texture and flavor.
Work on Recipe Development
As a dietitian, you already have an advantage in understanding the nutritional aspect of food. If you’re involved in recipe development, you can use your food photography skills to enhance your recipes, making them more visually appealing for cookbooks or food blogs. By photographing your own recipes, you not only practice your photography but also showcase your culinary skills.
What Equipment and Editing Tools You Need as a Food Photographer
To create high-quality, professional food photography, you need the right tools. Here is a list of what you should consider investing in:
1. Digital Camera
While some food photographers start with their smartphone cameras, a DSLR digital camera will offer more control over settings like shutter speed, white balance, and focus. Some of the best cameras for food photography come from brands like Canon, Nikon, or Sony.
2. Studio Equipment
Setting up a home studio with the proper lighting and background is essential for creating professional-grade food photos. A white background can help your food pop, while a variety of props can help set the mood for your shoots.
3. Editing Software
Using editing tools like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop will help you perfect your images. Adjusting things like negative space, contrast, and brightness can turn a good shot into a great photograph.
4. Lenses
Investing in high-quality lenses is essential for capturing the intricate details of food. A good prime lens, such as a 50mm or 100mm macro lens, allows you to focus on small details like the texture of a cake or the crispness of a salad. Different lenses will also give you more flexibility with depth of field and the ability to isolate your main subject from the background, creating that professional, polished look.
5. Tripods and Stabilizers
A good shot often requires a steady camera, especially when working with slower shutter speeds in low-light settings. A tripod will help ensure that your images are sharp, and it also allows you to experiment with different angles without worrying about camera shake. Stabilizers can also be useful when shooting handheld or on the go.
6. Props and Backdrops
Props are an important part of creating visually appealing food images. Consider investing in a collection of simple yet versatile props like plates, napkins, utensils, and cutting boards. Neutral-colored backdrops, like a white background or textured surfaces, will keep the focus on the food while enhancing the overall composition.
Resources
Here are additional resources on food photography, with food bloggers and dietitians in mind looking to enhance your photo skills:
The Bite Shot: A community platform offering education and resources specifically for food photographers. It's a great space to ask questions, get inspired, and connect with others in the field. The Bite Shot
Today's Dietitian - Food Photography Mastery: Offers tips on how dietitians can take high-quality food photos using simple tools like smartphones, making it perfect for those who blog, write books, or manage websites. Today's Dietitian - Food Photography Mastery
The Food Photographer’s Guide To Better Composition: Provides tips on enhancing food photography composition, which is essential for creating visually appealing food images. The Food Photographer’s Guide To Better Composition
Dietitian Connection - Taking Your Food Pix from Flat to I WANT THAT: Offers professional advice from food photographers and dietitians on taking captivating food pictures. Dietitian Connection - Food Photography Tips
Serious Eats Guide to Food Photography: Provides detailed guidance and tips for taking great food photographs, which is handy for anyone from amateurs to more seasoned food photographers. Serious Eats Guide to Food Photography
Food Blogger Pro provides a comprehensive guide on using natural and artificial lighting for food photography, emphasizing the balance and flexibility required to master lighting conditions. They also offer detailed courses on photo editing using popular software like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Food Blogger Pro - Lighting Tips
Cookie and Kate offer practical tips for food bloggers, focusing on the importance of choosing the right camera equipment and lenses to enhance food photography. They stress the significance of using fixed lenses for better depth of field and overall photo quality. Cookie and Kate - Food Photography Tips
Slade Photo discusses the fundamental aspects of food photography, from selecting the right equipment to mastering composition and the power of lighting. This site is ideal for those wanting to elevate their food photography from beginner to professional levels. Slade Photo - From Beginner to Pro
Food Photography Blog is perfect for both amateur and professional food photographers looking to dive deeper into the business side of food photography, offering resources like e-books, courses, and a membership site for ongoing learning. Food Photography Blog
See Imagery shares actionable photography tips from various food bloggers, providing insights into effective food styling and lighting techniques that are easy to implement and can significantly improve photo quality. See Imagery - Food Photography Tips
Food Bloggers of Canada rounds up several essential food photography articles in one place, offering tips on everything from lighting and composition to equipment and editing, tailored specifically for food bloggers. Food Bloggers of Canada - Photography Articles
Don't want to photograph your own recipes for your food blog? Here are some resources for that too!
Wrapping Up: The Path to Becoming a Food Photographer as a Dietitian
Becoming a successful food photographer as a dietitian requires a blend of creativity, technical skills, and industry know-how. With a focus on good photography, an understanding of culinary arts, and a passion for showcasing the beauty of food, you can carve out a niche for yourself in this growing field. Whether it’s for recipe development, corporate wellness services, or creating stunning visuals for cookbooks and food blogs, the opportunities are endless.
By continually honing your photography skills, building a strong portfolio, and networking within the food industry, you can turn food photography into a lucrative side hustle or even a full-time career. Remember, the most important part of the journey is staying passionate about the work you do—whether it’s behind the camera or in the kitchen.
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About the Author
Stacey Dunn-Emke, MS, RDN, is the Founder Owner of NutritionJobs and DietitianSalaries.com and is an established dietetic career expert. She helps steer dietetic and nutrition professionals to a successful job search process with the top-ranked dietetic job board platform, NutritionJobs.com. Stacey is the author of The Dietetic Resume Guide and numerous dietetic career action-ables. She gives the tools to create a modern standout dietetic resume to land that job interview, help with job interview prep, and with creating Compelling LinkedIn profiles. Stacey has interviewed and hired many dietitians. Since running NutritionJobs in 2000, she has reviewed thousands of dietetic resumes. She works closely with dietetic hiring managers and recruiters to know the standout elements on a resume that land a job interview. Stacey speaks on successful compensation negotiation at professional conferences and frequently consults with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at FNCE and co-created the webinar series, Dietetic Career Hack: The Complete Networking and Resume Guide and Dietetic Career Hack Part II: Interviewing Tips and Tricks. Her previous dietitian jobs have been in clinical, nutrition support, and research.
