Food stylists prepare food for its television, magazine, or photo closeups. You will work alongside the chef and photographers to make the food look beautiful and ensure it lasts the entire duration of the shoot with its good looks intact. In some cases, you may also be the photographer, which is standard for food bloggers. Food stylists usually work as freelancers, but there are also some companies that keep food stylists in the house.
How To Become A Food Stylist
You will usually start as a chef or some other career in the food industry. You might decide to hold a culinary arts degree from either a trade school or culinary school. Studying photography will also help you; you’ll have an understanding of what it takes to make something look good for a camera. It’s also a good idea to work as an intern for a professional food stylist to learn the tips and tricks of the industry. There are courses in food styling, but there is no degree specific to the career.
What's it Like Being a Food Stylist
The salary of a food stylist varies regionally. Larger cities have a greater demand for you, as do cities in the process of growth and development, particularly in the restaurant industry. Also, because food styling is a newer and more specialized field than many culinary positions, it is difficult to accurately predict job growth at this time.
However, as online and traditional media turn more toward food-related subjects, the demand for highly experienced and creative food stylists will grow. Your work may appear on social media or online blogs, or, it could also appear in magazines, cook books, or individual publications.
Skills Food Stylists Should Possess
You should have an eye for detail. Know what looks good and how to get it there. Because food styling is a combination of art and science, you should be aware of everything that goes into the foods you are prepping for photos so that it looks fresh for the day. Lastly, you need to be a people person. You are meeting with and working alongside groups of individuals for each project, so you need to be able to communicate well.
Now, Do It
If becoming a food stylist appeals to you, start your career with culinary training. Not only will you learn how food behaves, but also you’ll meet people who can help your career along.
