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Without doubt, food photography is one of the most challenging commercial specialties, but not for the reasons you might think.  Technically, the lighting can be as simple or as complex as you wish, but well within the capabilities of an experienced pro who understands light and how to control it.  Often the simplest lighting, even daylight, is the most effective in keeping with today’s casual editorial lifestyle look.

Similarly, the creative aspects of set design and product placement are applied skills that we have all learned by experience in photographing people, weddings, products, architecture or events.  These are the fundamental design, colour and compositional skills that we apply every day and the Impact of the final image is paramount.  So if you can routinely produce above average work in most of these areas, you posses the technical knowledge to shoot a shrimp salad or a barbequed steak.

As in any specialty, being current with style and trends is imperative.
In the case of food, it is also crucial that you have an interest in all things culinary and be able to converse knowledgeably about the subject.
If you don’t know the difference between an avocado and a mango, then you may be heading into dangerous waters and are certain to embarrass yourself in a studio full of ‘foodies’.

The greatest challenge is admitting to yourself that you are not an island. Successful food photography is a collaboration of talents shared amongst many creative professionals. I like to compare it to producing music, not classical but jazz.  Improvisational jazz is a collaboration of musical talent where no single individual takes all the credit.  Each musician has the opportunity to contribute to the piece and is expected to contribute in a creative, flexible and open-minded manner.  Once completed, the whole composition is greater than the strengths and contributions of the individual musicians.

With food, you are often working with a photo assistant, food stylist, prop stylist, art director, brand manager and/or client.  All of these people have a role in the collaboration and are expected to contribute equally to the production of the ‘piece’.  The food stylist and photographer have a particularly close creative relationship, as the shot comes together. If a pecking order must be defined, the photographer and stylists take their lead from the Art Director, who is responsible for satisfying the client.  Ideally, it is a friendly and professional hierarchy, with all team members of equal status.

At any given time, all of these contributors might be breathing down your neck as you produce your part of the composition, so you must be flexible, able to perform well under pressure and be a quick but diplomatic problem solver.  This room full of talent represents a lot of money and at the end of the day the success of the image rests on your shoulders.  Be warned that this is not for the faint of heart….but then neither is Wedding Photography, right?