Become a Food Stylist

A passion for food and an appreciation of art collide in the career of a professional food stylist. From knowing how and where to find the prettiest produce to setting up a delicious-looking photo-op, the food stylist does the amazing behind-the-scenes work for the pictures found in cookbooks, magazines, ads, menus, and more.

While many people have heard of the interesting techniques used by food stylists (spraying food with water or syrup blends to keep it looking fresh, using cream instead of milk for a thicker—less soggy—look, using browning agents for meats, blanching green vegetables for brighter color, along with many others), preparing food for the camera requires more than just knowing the tricks or the trade. Developing the skill to make even the least attractive meal look enticing for the picture takes both vision and practice. Inspiring and practicing food stylists alike can see what it takes through a variety of programs—both hands-on and online.

Schools Offering Live Classes, Courses & Lessons

The following classes prove to be popular programs for both hopeful and current food stylists to learn more about the profession in a live setting.

• The French Culinary Institute: Based out of New York City, this school offers 6-month programs for plating and food styling. Certificates are awarded at the end of the session. Their web site, www.frenchculinary.com, provides the instructions for enlisting.
  
• Culinary Entrepreneurship Program: Taught by experts of the industry, these are a series of intense courses designed for the professional food stylist. They also teach alternative ways for stylists to earn money in the business. Classes are offered both internationally, in cities like Singapore, as well as in the United States in larger cities like San Francisco. Their web site, www.culinaryentrepreneurship.com, lists further details.
  
• Classes taught by Jacqueline Buckner: This expert stylist teaches private lessons scheduled at the individual's convenience. Inside a professional photo studio, she helps the student style up to 3 photographs for his or her portfolio. She also follows up for the next 3 months to assist with marketing consultation. While Jacqueline works internationally, she's based out of both New York City and Boulder, Colorado. More information is available at www.food4film.com.
  
• Classes taught by Donna Lafferty: For 20-plus years, Lafferty has proven her ability as a food stylist and home economist. She teaches spring and fall classes every year in Chicago. Her web site, www.theartofstylingfood.com, provides registration forms.
  
• International Conference on Food Styling: Led by veteran food stylist, Lisa Golden Schroeder, this weekend event offers fellow stylists the opportunity to see and discuss aspects of the business. The next conference is scheduled for June 18 - 19, 2011 at Boston University. More details are available at foodsylingandphotography.org.

Online Training Classes

Before spending too much time and money on hands-on experiences, an online course may be the perfect way for an amateur to figure out if food styling is the right career choice. Internet classes also offer an excellent and convenient method for current stylists to hone their skills. Here are some of the types of classes available.

• www.Foodesigns.com: Through this site, food stylists can find a nice variety of classes. From "Food Styling 101" and "Everyday Food Styling Techniques" to classes geared toward teaching self-promotion and marketing, these programs aim to be fresh and relative to today's market. Most last around 4 weeks. This group also offers live two-dayworkshops. In 20110 they occur in Minneapolis (March 6-7, 2010) and Chicago (June 5- 6, 2010).
  
• www.photostylingworkshops.com: Well-respected food stylist, Lisa Golden Schroeder, leads a nice array of classes through this site. "Everyday Food Styling," and "Food Styling 101," are popular online courses. She also offers offline, more direct courses, such as "Marketing and Self-Promotion for Food Stylists," as well as instructional books that are offered through this site.

Additional Information & Options

There are other web sites that can offer helpful information for food stylists yearning to learn more. Here a couple of good ones which are filled with valuable information.

• http//stilllife.com: This site keeps stylists updated with the latest happenings in the business. From listing several upcoming teaching events to offering an open forum for individuals to ask an answer questions about related issues, it is a very useful resource.
  
• www.cookingschoolguide.com: By visiting this site, people can find the contact information for a long list of cooking schools around the world.
  
• www.insidedigitalphoto.com: Thanks to internationally-recognized food stylist and consultant, John F. Carafoli, this site focuses on digital photography. By providing helpful links to radio and television programs pertaining to the digital world, it can help stylists keep up to speed with today's technology.

While these classes and web sites can offer a pretty picture of the life of a food stylist, they are not the only options out there. It's important to stay informed of the latest trends in this profession by keeping an eye out for new opportunities.