- Home
- Food Stylist
Who is a Food Stylist?
If you’re afraid of butter, use cream ~ Julia Child
Have you ever seen the food platters beautifully arranged in a way that it brings water to your mouth? A culinary art specialist who is in the profession of arranging food items in a presentable way is known as food stylist. He or she makes fine dining establishments in such a way that it looks marvellous and captures the eyeballs.
Food Stylist in a Nutshell
A food stylist is a culinary art specialist who is responsible for making the food look arranged in a presentable way decked up with accessories for a close shot. He or she works with chefs, photographers and editors.
Quick Facts for Food Stylist
-
Industry
Hospitality
-
Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as food stylist is suitable for everyone regardless of gender. Whether a person is male, female or belongs to any other gender can become a food stylist.
-
Any special needs
No
A career as food stylist is not suitable for individuals with special needs. It demands them to be creative and make enticing arrangements of food items decorated on platter using ideas that fetch attention of the viewer and develop an urge to taste the food.
Table of Contents for Food Stylist
What is the role of Food Stylist?
A food stylist arranges food in a creative style to click its close-up shot. He or she chooses accessories for the first shot. A food stylist works in close contact with chefs, photographers and editors. A food stylist may also serve as a food photographer. He selects the accessories for taking the first shot before making the food arrangement. A food stylist selects table cloths, plates and placemats. He or she selects those accessories that compliments the food.
Styling
A food stylist is responsible for adding style to food items for photography and videography. He or she makes it look marvellous and tasty with beautiful yet enticing arrangements.
Maintenance
A food stylist job comes with the responsibility of maintenance and cleanliness of the test kitchen or demonstration area for cooking equipment and utensils.
Consulting
A food stylist has to consult with marketing as well as food production staff concerning the food items or which food recipes should be prepared for presentation or photography.
Props Arrangement
Before planning a shoot, a food stylist has to arrange all the props and accessories required in the food photography and videography to make it presentable by utilising silverware, plates and fabrics for food.
Food Arrangement
A food stylist is responsible for purchasing food ingredients, food items or recipe items required for presentation. While conducting live demonstrations, he or she has to organise supplies and ingredients by himself or herself.
Types of a Food Stylist
The food styling varies depending on the type of media platforms where it is going to be showcased or exposed to viewers. We have listed below several types of food stylists depending on their area of specialisation.
Editorial Food Stylist: An editorial food stylist clicks food photographs that are represented on cookbooks, recipe books, newspapers, magazines and other editorials. It mainly involves photography that demonstrates the recipe, raw ingredients and other cooking products.
Advertising Food Stylist: A food stylist who works with advertising agencies or marketing teams is an advertising food stylist. He or she has to understand the requirements of clients and usually gets a brief from him or her. He or she uses the recommended color, prop and visuals as per the storyboard.
Web Food Stylist: A food stylist who is in the work of styling food items for their representation on websites, blogs and e-books could be considered as a web food stylist. He or she usually does not require too many props or lightning. Natural light is mostly preferred by them for its simple set up.
What is the workplace/work environment of Food Stylist like?
A food stylist works in all types of fine dining establishments such as hotels, restaurants and food studios. He or she has to arrange props such as lights, lenses, camera to capture the food items and recipes. He or she ensures it looks representable by adding style with the use of various accessories such as glasswares, silverwares, table cloths and plates.
Does Food Stylist require travelling?
Likely
A food stylist has to arrange props and accessories for food styling and representation. He or she often requires to purchase the food ingredients and items used in the recipe. Many such tasks require short distance frequent travel.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Part Time
A food stylist usually works from morning to evenings. He or she is required to represent food items and arrange them with accessories such as silverwares, tablecloths, plates and other items that look marvellous to capture the gaze of viewers.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
A food stylist is usually hired by restaurants, food cafes, food processing and manufacturing companies on a contract basis depending on the need of the assignment. He or she may find permanent opportunities for working with an advertising agency as well as food studios.
Work Place
Restaurants, Hotel, Food Cafe, Food Studio
A food stylist can work outdoors as well as indoors. His or her works demand manual dexterity, artistic skills and knowledge of food ingredients and recipes as well as photography skills. He or she is responsible for styling the food and capturing it.
Presence in Geographical Area
Urban
A food stylist career gets the right opportunity where there is the concentration of the food industry. Metro cities, where people from all parts of the country come for study, employment or other such activities are concentrated with food entities such as restaurants, food cafes and studios. These cities include Jaipur, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.
Time Pressure
Likely
A career as food stylist demands to lift, carry, shove, pull, stand, sit and crouch to click the best photographs of the food items. One needs to arrange props and accessories required for shoot before planning it. Hence, there is time pressure to make arrangements and organise the demonstration area.
Overtime Details
A food stylist often requires to work overtime when there is a deadline. He or she has to finish the shoot to get photographs published on the newspaper, magazines or websites.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 40 Hours
Work hours depend on the number of assignments based on recipes and food items needs to be styled and represented for capturing the numerous clicks to get the best out of it.
How to become a Food Stylist?
Steps to become a Food Stylist
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Food Stylist?
Do you know about the essential requirements to become food stylist. We have provided below a list of food stylist skills required in day-to-day tasks. One must acquire these skills in order to become a successful food stylist.
Knowledge of Colors: A food stylist must possess knowledge of colors. He or she must know what it takes to make food appear ready to taste on photographs and videos. He or she must know which color accessories compliments the color of the food item.
Chemistry Skills: Knowledge of chemicals to be used in food items to make them look presentable is crucial for the role of food stylists. He or she often requires concocting props or fake food for good visuals. A food stylist must know how long the food items can survive in a warm temperature that needs to be refrigerated.
Photography Skills: It is most crucial for the role of a food stylist. A food stylist is required to take close shots of food items. He or she must know the camera angles and rules of photography to capture it for marketing purposes.
Organising Skills: A career as food stylist demands to be organised. He or she has to multitask before planning the shoot. It involves arranging props and accessories required in the shoot, organising the demonstration area and numerous other tasks.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Food Stylist?
We have listed below several certification courses that aspiring individuals may opt to upgrade their knowledge of the food processing sector.
Internship Availability
One can find food styling internships at food studios, restaurants and other fine dining establishments. A food stylist intern is often assigned with several responsibilities such as organising the prop room. He or she provides assistance in prop returns and recommends as well as implements the storage solutions. A food stylist intern provides support in upcoming shoots. He or she researches, runs errands, pulls props, creates backgrounds and provides assistance on sets.
Career Path Progression for Food Stylist
We have provided below a food stylist career list that individuals opt while progressing through the career as food stylist.
Junior Food Stylist: A junior food stylist is responsible for providing assistance to the senior food stylist. He or she researches on ideas of styling food items and colors to be added to make it more appealing.
Senior Food Stylist: A senior food stylist is responsible for heading a team of food stylists and staff. He or she has to coordinate and assign responsibilities to junior food stylists.
Food Stylist Jobs and Salaries
Junior Food Stylist
Job Description
A junior food stylist provides assistance in arrangement of props and accessories such as plates, silverware, table cloth and other things including food ingredients used in decorating food items.
Salary Description
A junior food stylist could earn Rs. 15000 per month. He or she requires to gain more experience to take up the senior roles that come with numerous responsibilities and better pay.
Senior Food Stylist
Contractual/Permanent
Job Description
A senior food stylist works in close contact with chefs, the marketing team, editors and photographers. He or she determines which props are required and selects accessories that complement the food items and styles them.
Salary Description
A senior food stylist could earn anything between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000. He or she can also work independently and take assignments on a freelance basis.
What is the job outlook for Food Stylist?
One needs to start as a traditional cook or chef and climb up the ladder to become a food stylist. Aspiring individuals are required to acquire experience of various types of fine dining establishments to become a food stylist. A good portfolio attracts more opportunities for a food stylist to take on clients. Several food stylists work as freelancers while several are hired as in-house food stylists. Restaurants may hire a food stylist to make enticing arrangements for the display pictures on the menu. Several advertising agencies that work for food companies hire food stylists.
Frequently Asked Questions for Food Stylist
Que. What are the top food stylist colleges?
Ans.Top Food Stylist Colleges
Que. What is the minimum required education needed to become a food stylist?
Ans.In order to become a food stylist one must complete class 10 and possess a diploma in culinary arts or hospitality.
Que. What are the skills of food stylist?
Ans.Food Stylist Skills : knowledge of colors, organisational skills, manual dexterity, physical strength and photography skills.
Que. What is the average salary of food stylist?
Ans.The average salary of food stylist in India is Rs. 17015, according to Glassdoor.
You might also be interested in
Select your reason of reporting
Explore Related Careers
Did you know?
Fact 1
To keep food from rolling or tipping away, putty or wax is placed between a hard surface and food.
Fact 2
Faux ice cubes are used in drinks and shrimp cocktail as they don’t melt in warm environments.
Fact 3
Dye and paint is brushed on prepared food to give it a better color and outlook for styling.
Fact 4
Motor oil replaces the pancake syrup for taking nice photographs of food representation.
Fact 5
A fast drying glue is often used to assemble crumbled food.
