Food Stylist

Think of the menus or posters you’ve seen with the too-good-to-be-true picture of some mouthwatering dish. Or the cookbook picture that makes a recipe seem worth all the work. Or the cover photo of your favorite food magazine. Chances are that a food stylist has made the food look that good, and that a food photographer has arranged and taken the picture.

Food stylists use their knowledge of the culinary arts and sciences to help food get ready for its close-up. The food stylist works with the food photographer to enhance the look of food and arrange it in such a way that it will look as fresh and appealing as when it was first plated.

According to Delores Custer, a professional food stylist, the work of a stylist requires gathering information from many sources -- the client, producer, advertising agency, and photographer -- to determine how much food is necessary for a specific shoot, the requirements of the location, and what equipment is needed.

Tricks of the food stylist range from using lipstick to redden berries, carefully placing drops of detergent on coffee to make it look just-poured, or even using glue in place of milk for cereal shots. And tools that stylists use can include wire, needle nose tweezers, and other art supplies. But faking freshness isn't all food stylists do. Many stylists experiment with new recipes crafted by others, or even create new ones themselves.

Food stylists often work as independent consultants, and salaries vary accordingly. The average national salary for food stylists is $56,000, and can go as high as $76,000.

Many stylists have come from a culinary background. A culinary arts education teaches you not only how foods should look, but also how they behave in different environments. A career as a food stylist might be the perfect outlet to combine an artistic vision and culinary talent.