FOOD

STYLING
 The food styling:

Is the art of preparing food to be

photographed or filmed.
 Purpose of food styling:
1. Photographs
2. Film as part
 Responsibility of Food Stylist:
• Organizing the food
– Sourcing unusual ingredients,
– Arranging for shopping,
• Pre-production
– Preparation of food,
– production of food on the shoot
• Final inviting presentation of the food under
camera.
 Food Stylist Goal
• To create images that appear to be freshly made,
coming straight out of the kitchen to your dining
table.

• Handled the food a great deal or having food that

must stand for long periods of time on a set.

• Food styling is an art and a science

 Preliminary step of Food stylist:

1. The stylist meets with the photographer/art director, and

sometimes the client, to discuss what will be shot.
2. The appropriate recipes, layout, or storyboards are reviewed
3. The necessary food, material, and equipment
4. While the stylist is responsible for the shopping and
purchasing of the needed food, actual product to be used is
usually sent by the client.
Food styling
tools
 Food styling tools:
1. Cutting tools:
• French Knife Set
• Decorating Knife Set
2. Food preparation tools:
• Portable gas cooker
• Teflon Pan
• Mixing Bowl
3. Fasteners:
• Zap A Gap CA+ (Use this glue on just about any kind of food.
Creates an almost instant bond to foods like tortillas, poultry
and meats)
• T-Pins (Good all purpose pin for a variety of uses)
 Food styling tools:
4. Applicator:
• Styling spoon (tea spoon) (These mini spoons work great for applying sauces
to meats, poultry and seafood)
• Eye Dropper (This small eye dropper works well for applying color to sauces or
gravy)
• Mini Spritz Bottle (A 2 oz. bottle with a medium-fine pump sprayer. Good for
creating a wet look to vegetables or glasses)
5. Torches and Melter:
• Small Heat Gun (Delivers 650 degrees F. of hot air. Good for detailed
browning, small cheese melts. 9 inches long)
• Paint Stripper (Perfect for melting cheese on casseroles, pizza, or
sandwiches)
6. Special Effect:
• Instant Ice or Ice Powder (Make perfect fake blended drinks, sorbet and slushies
with this incredible powder. Compare to Ice Powder)
• Crushed Ice Maker or Cristal Ice (Need to show beer or soda bottles nestled in
crushed ice? This is the product for you. Also works for displaying seafood and
many other uses. Compare to Crystal Ice)
Food styling
technique
 Food styling technique:
• Keeping Moisture (or replenished) by brushing or
spraying the surface with water or a thin coat of
vegetable oil, and keeping the food under cover until
needed.
For instance, vegetables are undercooked and kept in
cold water until needed to retain their color.
 Food styling technique:
• Poultry and meats are also undercooked, or
cooked at lower than normal temperatures, to
prevent them from shriveling or shrinking.
 Other technique in food styling:

• By adding aspirin powder to champagne,

stylists create extra fizz.
 Other technique in food styling:

• Mashed potato to replenished of ice cream

 Other technique in food styling:

• Ice cubes used in shoots are made of acrylic,

so they won't move, melt or float.
 Other technique in food styling:

• White glue may be used in lieu of milk

 Planning before shoot:
Planning before shoot:
• Study the Dish/Food
– Background
– Accompanied
• Focus on feature
– Texture
– Shape
– Color
• Sketch before shoot
 Set up for photograph:

• Set up the Table (height, size, lighting

condition)
• Plates and silverware
• Food styling
• Property need (props)
 Set up the stage:

• Set up shooting tethering (camera to laptop)

• Position the dish
• Setting Props
• Style:
– Close in (food only) and all in focus
– Close in with limited depth of filed
– Table setting elements providing character and a reference
situation
 Post Editing:

Digital Editing:
• Crop
• Color
• Brightness
• Special effect
• WordArt, etc.