If you own or manage a food-related business — such as a restaurant, candy company, or bakery — sooner or later, you’re going to need some food photography for your marketing. If you don’t mind your photos looking like everybody else’s, you might be able to buy stock photography online. But if you want truly unique photos to promote your unique business, you’ll want to hire a high-quality, professional food photographer.
Hiring a food photographer can be an expensive endeavor, and if you haven’t done it before, the process can be daunting. Being a photographer, I’ve seen this process a hundred times from “the other side.” That’s why I’m taking the time here to share my experience. I’m hoping that I can help educate you and perhaps relieve the anxiety associated with buying food photography for the very first time.
There are several things to consider when hiring a food photographer. The main thing is to understand the type of food photography you need. Then, you want to find a photographer that specializes in food, and has a portfolio to show you. Additionally, there’s that pesky thing called a budget to consider.
Here’s an overview of the main considerations when hiring a food photographer:
TYPE OF FOOD PHOTOGRAPHS NEEDED
Before you get too far into your search, you’ll need to give some thought to the kind of food photography you want. Do you need photos for a magazine spread, a billboard, or some photos for your menu or packaging? The answer will determine what kind of photographer you look for.
PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE
If you haven’t hired a food photographer before, you may not realize that there are different types of shooters. Most food photographers are either editorial shooters or advertising specialists. (Food Photo Studio is the latter.) While some food shooters will be able to create photos in different styles, you might want to look for someone that naturally shoots in the style you’re looking for.
You’ll be able to tell a lot by looking at the photographer’s portfolio. For example, if you’re looking to do some packaging photography and all you see on the photographer’s site are “directly overhead" photos, maybe they are not the best person to shoot your packages. That particular photographer might shoot lovely magazine spreads, but wouldn’t have the first clue about shooting for advertising purposes.
STUDIO AVAILABILITY
If you want to shoot at your restaurant or another location, any food photographer that has the style you need might do. If, on the other hand, you want to shoot in a studio, you’ll need a photographer who has a studio. (Not all of them do.) Sounds obvious, but it’s something to consider.
USING THE INTERNET TO FIND A FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER — AN INSIDER TRICK
Just because you Google “food photographer Chicago” doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to get a list of the best photographers that shoot food in the Chicago area. What you will find is a ranking of the photographers with the best SEO in the city.
It does give you somewhere to start, however. To make your search time most efficient, here’s what I suggest: Go ahead and Google that same phrase, but instead of poring through all the websites, click on the “images” option at the top of Google’s results. Since food photography is a visual thing, you will be able to see hundreds of food photographers’ images. Simply click on the photos you think best match your needs, and you’ll be taken to each photographer’s webpage, where you can see more pics. It’s a good shortcut.
MAKING CONTACT
Once you find the food photographer that best suits your needs, contact them to discuss your project.
A little warning here: You’re going to want a price of some kind, but the photographer will need answers to a lot of questions before they can provide one. Most food shooters end up charging for their time in one way or another, so the photographer will want to determine how long the shoot will take to complete. Besides time, there may be other expenses involved that can sway the price quite a bit.
Here are some of the questions a quality food photographer may ask:
How many and what type of food photos do you need?
What type of backgrounds and props will you need?
Will a food stylist need to be involved in the shoot?
How will the photos be used?
Where will the photography take place?
Do you have a budget you need to work within?
How soon would you like to shoot?
Who will supply the food?
Will there be an art director involved?
Are there any existing layouts to follow?
As you can see, that’s a lot of variables! Because of all the factors at play, most food photographers do not have a set “per shot” price. Each project’s estimate will be different and based on your unique needs.
IN SUMMARY
Finding the right photographer for your food photo needs is not an easy task, but with a little patience and hard work, you can find someone who is a great fit for your project. If by chance you’d like to chat about Food Photo Studio’s capabilities, you can drop me a quick note anytime.
