Food Styling Secret
In restaurant and food photography, the goal is to make every ingredient look fresh, vibrant, and irresistible. Capturing a dish in its best light doesn’t always mean serving it piping hot.
Food Styling Tip: Why I Photographed Meatballs Cold
Take these meatballs in red sauce, topped with arugula and shaved Parmesan. Although most people enjoy the dish warm, I shot it cold to keep the greens crisp and the cheese intact. This simple adjustment makes the textures and colors pop on camera, so the dish looks as crave-worthy as it tastes.
Keeping Ingredients Fresh for Food Photography
Hot food wilts delicate greens and melts cheese too quickly, which can flatten a photo even when the flavors shine. With thoughtful food styling tactics for restaurants, small adjustments like this transform a dish into an image that sells before anyone even takes a bite.
Coaching Restaurants on Plating and Presentation
I also work closely with kitchens to plate food in a way that photographs beautifully. For example, I recently collaborated with a San Diego chef who excelled in cooking but needed help with presentation. By stacking a plate of cakes, I instantly elevated the look.
“Nancy is one of the best San Diego restaurant photographers. She used her artistic talent to make sure the food was plated to look its best for the photos. She even brought some props to help style the scenes,” said Taher of SciEats.
If you’re a restaurant looking to elevate your menu photos, I can help guide plating, styling, and photography so every dish looks irresistible. Beautiful food photography is more than just a picture… it’s a way to make your menu shine and attract more diners.
While I live in San Diego, I have family in Orange County, Santa Barbara County, and El Dorado Hills, but I am always open for a trip and have photographed for food brands in San Francisco, Israel, Japan, and France. So, reach out and tell me about your brand!
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