Want to learn how to become a food blog photographer? You can build a profitable business right from your own kitchen. Many food blog photographers are making between $50,000 and over $100,000 a year.
In this article, we explore food photography specifically for bloggers. Bloggers often hire photographers to create and take pictures of recipes, as the demand for new recipes is very high.
You might be wondering:
– Is food photography a good career right now?
– What does a food photographer do, and who do they work for?
– How much can a professional food photographer make?
– What do you need to know to become a food blog photographer?
– What equipment is needed for food blog photography?
– What steps are required to get started as a professional food photographer?
These questions and more will be answered in this guide on becoming a food blog photographer. This could be a great way to start making money from home.
If you’re interested in learning more, the Pretty Focused course teaches everything from using your camera, styling, editing, to finding new clients. Over 700 people have already taken this course!
### How to Become a Food Blog Photographer
#### Background and Getting Started
I’ve always loved photography and cooking. I even started a blog at one point but quickly realized that photography was my true passion. While building my portrait photography business, I helped a friend with photos for her food blog and got hooked. This introduced me to a whole new world of food photography for bloggers. I started connecting with bloggers and photographing content for their blogs, which led me to meet Stephanie. She was working a corporate marketing job while growing her blog, Spaceships and Laser Beams, and needed help with photography. We met in a blogging group in early 2016 and hit it off. I worked with Stephanie until 2018, when we both focused on growing Pretty Focused. Now, Stephanie has three Pretty Focused graduates working for her blog.
#### What I Love About Being a Food Photographer
I love the flexibility. I get to bake, create, and get paid while working from home.
#### Is Food Photography a Good Career Right Now?
Yes, absolutely! There are so many bloggers looking for photographers that it’s hard to keep up with the demand. Bloggers often complain there aren’t enough quality photographers.
#### What Does a Food Photographer Do?
Food photography for bloggers can vary based on how you set up your business and the services you offer. Generally, our students offer two main services:
– **Recreations:** Updating photos for existing recipes on a blog.
– **Exclusives:** Developing and photographing new recipes to sell.
The demand for content is high. For example, Stephanie’s blog publishes at least one new recipe a day, plus updates older recipes. This workload requires a team.
#### Earnings for a Professional Food Photographer
Earnings depend on how much you want to work and the services you provide. Some graduates work part-time, while others are full-time. Among our full-time graduates, 50% make $50,000+ a year, and 25% make $100,000+ a year. Recreation services typically charge around $175, while exclusive recipes average $300.
#### Education Requirements
There are no specific education requirements to become a food photographer for bloggers, but there is a learning curve. Bloggers prefer tutorial-based photography over editorial. Our Pretty Focused course trains photographers in food blog photography, making them highly attractive hires.
#### Typical Work Schedule and Environment
Food photographers for bloggers usually work from home, setting up a designated area for photography. This could be in a dining room, garage, or even a child’s playroom with the right lighting.
#### Equipment Needed
To get started, you’ll need:
– A DSLR camera (no phones or point-and-shoots)
– 50mm and 100mm lenses (kit lenses can work initially)
– Portable table
– Styling boards
– Reflectors and light stands
– Styling items (forks, plates, linens, etc.)
– Lightroom software
– A computer
– A natural light source
#### Steps to Get Started
1. Study food blog photography by browsing Pinterest and Google for your favorite recipes.
2. Analyze styling and angles, then try photographing a recipe yourself.
3. Join Facebook groups for bloggers and food photographers to understand the industry better.
#### Additional Tips
You don’t need to work for free, tag brands on Instagram, or fight for clients on platforms like Upwork. There’s a profitable way to work with food bloggers.
#### About the Pretty Focused Course
Pretty Focused is a unique program that teaches you how to photograph for blogs, provides coaching, portfolio reviews, and connects you with a community of buyers willing to pay you well. Our course opens once a month, and you can sign up for the waitlist to hear about the next launch. Learn more at Prettyfocused.com.
Are you ready to become a food blog photographer?