What is a Food Stylist?
If you own a diet book, it probably contains some beautiful pictures to go with all those "mouthwatering recipes".
Ads, cookbook covers, and fast food menus also display lovingly crafted food creations.
They are the work of a food stylist.
A Food Stylist uses a number of techniques including:
- creating steam with cool air nebulizers or a combination of chemicals that give off smoke that gives the appearance of steam;
- spraying food with water or mixtures of water, corn syrup, or other liquids to keep food looking fresh;
- making a mixture of solid shortening, corn syrup, and powdered sugar (essentially a very stiff frosting) that can be scooped to simulate real ice cream;
- using a variety of browning agents (usually mixtures used to brown gravies or sometimes heat activated liquids used in commercial bakeries) to enhance the color/browness of cooked meats and poultry;
If you think I'm kidding, go check out the portfolios of these food stylists. NOTE: It's probably best to do so if you've already eaten. They make food look seriously appetizing.
More like this in Food and Media Watch
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That is awesome! I'm ditching fitness blogging - food stylist for me!
RT
ReplyI'm always a little grossed out by those pretty pictures of food, in all honesty. The compounds they use to make them look nice often render the foods inedible... and sometimes (like in the case of "ice cream") you're not even seeing the actual food. Yuck!
ReplyIt might not look real, but makes you want to go and have the real thing !!! and I guess that's their goal.
ReplyIf you think these guys are great, you should check out Donna Hay (http://www.donnahay.com.au/) or Debbi Moses (http://www.debbimoses.com/sweets.php).
ReplyInteresting. In the picture of the fig with the wedge removed on Adele Hagan's site, the wedge isn't even from the fig that's pictured (compare the stem part on the wedge with the stem of the fig). And the pancakes -- the syrup just hands on the sides. But, the shortcake with blueberries, strawberries and raspberries looks wonderfully delicious!
ReplyI got into a really indepth conversation with my photographer about food photography and he told me about all the tricks they use...bowls of cereal are usually bowls of Crisco and cereal, etc. Pretty interesting line of work, actually.
ReplyI'm glad the food stylists have the jobs that they do. I'm a great cook, but sometimes the food just looks, well, limp, or maybe grey, or whatever. It tastes fantastic, but the cooking process has taken some of it's beauty away. Honestly, I don't think I'd even TRY half the recipes that I have if there wasn't a mouthwatering picture there...
Now, ask me about airbrushing in fashion magazines, and I'll have a completely different opinion.
Replydont worry, they airbrush food too!
its actually illegal in australia not not represent food truthfully. Like you cant use mashed potato as ice-cream...etc.
Replyto not, i mean.
ReplyHow much do these people get paid? I want in!
ReplyI could totally see that is being a valuable service. The better the food looks the more likely people will buy it.
Reply