FAQ

This is one of those questions with many variables to provide an accurate answer. The number of dishes/products to be shot, the number of images needed, different looks and setups and editing needs all play a part in delivering a fair price. The best way to start is to visit my Estimate Request page and complete the form, then I’ll get back to you with more detailed information.

It also depends on the quality of the finished shot, and the time you're willing to invest. The first shot always takes the longest - that's the one where we figure out the exact lighting, placement of cards, etc. This could take an hour or more, and each consecutive shot could easily take 30 minutes or more, depending on complexity. It's like fast food vs. fine dining - you can shoot 20 dishes in an hour, but the quality of the finished image won't even be close to the one you took an hour to get right.

It depends on your shoot. For product or editorial work, a food stylist is essential, usually alongside assistants and prop stylists. For restaurant shoots, a chef or sous chef with strong plating skills can often prepare the food themselves, and best represent what your customers will actually see when they visit.

Preparing food for the camera is a different skill than plating for a guest, though — lighting, angles, and timing all affect the final look. If needed, I can help translate your chef's presentation for the set, but keep in mind that adding styling to my role will extend the shoot day.

One important note: as your photographer, I'm responsible for lighting, composition, and capturing an image that's on-brand — not for how the food itself looks. Food styling is a separate skill set, and if you're not using a dedicated stylist, make sure whoever is plating has strong food handling and presentation skills.

Retouching, or post-processing, is where the photographer gives an image that polished, professional look. Basic edits — saturation, white balance, sharpness, and the like — are included in your pricing. More involved retouching, such as splash or zest shots, composites, and action shots, incurs additional charges due to the added time, setup, and expertise involved.

For small businesses, pricing includes full usage rights for your website, social media and online marketing. For print images, licensing and usage is based on permanence and distribution reach. I own the copyright, as is standard for photographers, and retain the right to show the images in my own portfolio and marketing materials.

For larger commercial shoots, licensing and usage fees will be based on the size and scope of the project.

You’ll receive an email invitation with a link to your private gallery, where you’ll choose your favorites and leave any comments, edit requests or questions. Once I have your final selections and editing requests I’ll make any finishing touches and deliver them to your private gallery where they can be downloaded. For the web, high-resolution .jpeg will be your best format. For print, I will follow the credentials from your printer and make sure the ICC profiles are correct. I do not deliver RAW files.

For a quick Instagram post, absolutely. For a menu board, website or print materials, you'll want a professional camera.

Phone cameras have improved a lot, but they're still working with a sensor a fraction of the size of even an entry-level DSLR or mirrorless camera. Sensor size drives how much light and detail a camera captures — which matters in food photography, where mixed lighting, glossy surfaces, and fine textures (steam, sauce sheen, crumb structure) need to be rendered precisely.

That gap is easy to miss on a phone screen but shows up fast at scale. An image that looks great on Instagram can fall apart on a menu board or in print — the file just doesn't hold enough data to enlarge cleanly, and no app or AI filter can add back detail the sensor never captured. This lack of data also affects post-processing – there’s simply not enough information there to edit the images properly.

There's also more to it than the camera itself. Lighting, lens choice, composition, styling and editing all shape the final shot — that's the craft you're really hiring for.

So, for casual social content, your phone is fine. For anything that needs to hold up on your website, menu, packaging, or in print, you need a professional setup.

I prefer to have a decision maker on set to make sure the shots are in line with your vision. It's possible to do this remotely, but my calibrated laptop screen provides a more accurate view. You may not need to be there for every shot, but please keep in mind I ask to know if the images are acceptable during the shoot, and I make changes accordingly until each shot is perfect. If you view the images after the shoot and are unhappy, a re-shoot will incur my usual fees. See the section on Tethered Shooting below for further clarification.

As both a photographer and a chef, I believe in the beauty of human artistry. The thought of AI replacing photography for a craft as passionate and sensory as cooking absolutely terrifies me.

Please don't trust AI, even if you think you just need a "simple sandwich shot." Your customers will walk through your door expecting to see that sandwich. And they won't get it. That's a pretty easy way to lose customer loyalty.

You put a lot into your business — passion, sweat, hope, dreams, not to mention a serious financial investment. Photography is your golden opportunity to really show it off. Let your product shine, utilize the skill and heart that went into it, and build an honest relationship with your customers.