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So what's it really like to work with a food photographer?

  • Semla Studio
  • Apr 12, 2024
  • 2 min read

Collaboration, vision and visual storytelling come together to bring your brand to life


In today's digital age, where marketing is ALL about the visuals, having a good relationship with your food photographer is vital. Food photography is not just about capturing a dish; it's about creating an immersive experience and mood that tantalises taste buds and sparks the desire to purchase and use your product. So let's take a look at what it's like for a food brand to work with a food photographer and food stylist (me!) - and unlock the secrets behind creating mouth-watering images!


The art of collaboration

At the heart of every successful food photography project is collaboration. You bring your in-depth understanding of your product, a strong brand identity, and marketing goals to the table, while I bring my artistic vision, technical skills, and storytelling ability. Together, we create a narrative that elevates your brand's image and resonates with your audience.


Understanding the brand vision

Before the camera shutter clicks, I work hard to research and understand your brand's vision. This involves delving into your brand's story, marketing materials, target audience, unique selling points and visual identity. I like to immerse myself in the details to ensure that every image accurately reflects your brand's essence and communicates its message effectively.


Crafting a visual story

Once the vision is clear, the creative process kicks into gear. I work meticulously to prepare the food, paying attention to every detail from colours, freshness and textures to arrangement and garnishes. Then I move onto the shoot, playing with lighting, angles, and composition to capture the food in its most enticing form.


Platter full of different kinds of finger food

Technical expertise

Behind those captivating images are technical skills honed through years of training and experience. Photographers understand the intricacies of lighting, camera settings, and post-processing techniques, and how to use them to get the very best - and most eye-catching - end result.


The power of storytelling

Beyond the aesthetics, food photography is about storytelling. It's about evoking emotions, triggering memories, and sparking cravings. Well-executed images can entice the viewer into to exploring, indulging, and connecting with your brand on a deeper level.


Building brand identity

Consistency is key in visual brand building. Food photographers and stylists play a vital role in maintaining visual coherence across all marketing channels. Whether it's for social media, websites, print materials, or advertisements, they ensure that your brand's imagery remains cohesive, recognisable, and impactful.


Measuring success

The impact of professional food photography and styling can be directly measured by increased engagement on social media, higher conversion rates, positive brand perception, and enhanced customer loyalty. Brand visuals are an investment you get an actual return on!


The collaboration between food brands and photographers encompasses artistry, technique, and strategic vision. It's about creating a strong visual narrative that not only showcases your product at its most appetising, but also conveys your brand story and values.

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Hello!

Thanks for visiting. I'm Jessica, a New Zealand food photographer, recipe developer and videographer.

 

I have decades of cooking and baking experience gained in commercial kitchens, creating bespoke cakes for clients, and developing unique recipes for food brands.
 

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About me

 

I'm a New Zealand food stylist, food photographer, recipe writer and digital content creator based in Wellington.

 

I'm passionate about working with food brands to create recipes and visuals that showcase their products, and inspire and grow their audiences.

"I reached out to Jessica to create some photos and recipes for us at The Avo Tree. I have found her extremely professional and lovely to deal with and she is such a clever creative! Her process and execution has been fantastic and we can't wait to work with her on more creations."

"Jess was an absolute pleasure to work with. The entire process was seamless and the end results were amazing - we couldn't be happier. Would absolutely recommend her beautiful photography services."

"We want to give a huge thank you to Jessica for her incredible work on our new 0% Chardonnay! She delivered stunning imagery with a super-fast turnaround and created a beautiful lifestyle setup that truly captures the essence of our alcohol-free wine."

Contact me

Semla Studio

Christchurch, New Zealand hello@semlastudio.com

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