From Kitchen to Camera: What does a Food Stylist do?
Have you ever watched a commercial or movie where the food looks too good to be true? Is the chocolate too creamy, the butter too soft, or even the water looks too crisp? Well, that’s someone’s job. A food stylist plates and designs food for the camera. Food stylists are often hired by production and advertising agencies to help sell a product or make the meal look a certain way.
In the film industry, food stylists often work in the props department. They collaborate with directors, and other members of the crew like hand models, knife specialists, and camera operators to create visually appealing meals.
When creating picture-perfect food, sometimes what you see may deceive you. A food stylist will switch out ingredients to make the project easier and more eye-catching. For example, syrup is replaced with motor oil, milk is replaced with glue, and shaving cream is used to create the perfect swirls that whipped cream can’t. Other tricks include soap to make a drink foamier, cardboard to add height, and super glue to create a stringy cheese texture. Food stylists combine art, science, and a love of cooking to create mouthwatering meals.
Holly Cochrane, a professional food stylist, says “What a lot of people seem to misunderstand about food styling, is that you are basically a chef. The word ‘styling’ is misleading – your job is not just to artfully plate and fluff food, but to cook everything to perfection too, so you need to be able to cook first and foremost.”
Food styling first became popular in editorial, where people would create picturesque food for magazines and other publications. As movies and films grew in popularity did culinary culture. Food became another important factor in making a story come to life.
On set, food stylists have many roles beyond presentation. On some projects, they must teach the actors how to make a recipe step-by-step for an upcoming scene. They teach cooking skills and movements to create an authentic portrayal.
Other times, food stylists plan meals for characters while on screen. If the actor or actress has dietary restrictions, a food stylist must come with up a creative way around certain ingredients.
A majority of food stylists are freelancers, meaning they work independently from job to job. Because of this, they can have an unsteady income, if they don’t have your next gig lined up. However, some of the top professionals can make up to $75,000 per year, according to salary.com.
Overall, food stylists play a crucial role in the entertainment industry. They use creative tips and tricks to create visually appealing food for their audiences. So next time you’re watching your favorite movie or show and see that creamy chocolate souffle or vibrant pasta dish, just know there’s a cook behind that camera.
References
I’m a Food Stylist, here’s what you should know.
All The Mouthwatering Food You See In Movies? That’s Someone’s Job.
