Food stylists are hired to prepare food for cookbooks, food advertisements, magazines, commercials, and TV and film productions. Food stylists should have a background in culinary arts - many food stylists start their careers as chefs.

Food stylists prepare food so it looks fresh and appetizing. It's essential for food stylists to know different cooking techniques and the science of food. However it's not necessary for the food to taste good. Food stylists experiment with unusual (and often inedible) ingredients to make the food look perfect for a photo shoot. Food stylists should also have an artistic flair for plate presentation.

Tricks of the Food Stylist Trade
There are many tricks to the trade of food styling. Stylists use heavy cream instead of milk when photographing cereal. Cake is coated with hairspray to keep it looking moist and delicious. Plastic ice cubes are used instead of real ice in drinks. Browning agents such as soy sauce and gravy browning are used on meats to keep them looking juicy and plump. Strawberries are coated with dye to deepen their redness. To create the appearance of steam, food stylists use cool air nebulizers or chemical combinations. In the age of digital photography, food styling has become much easier. Food no longer has to sit under hot lights between shots - photos are taken and accessed quickly. Immediately after the photo shoot, the food is thrown away.

Food Stylist Tools
Food stylists use a strange combination of tools. Besides basic cooking utensils like pots and pans, measuring cups, and spoons, food stylists can use shaping knives, tweezers, syringes, long wooden picks, scissors, atomizers, Q-tips, and paper towels. They use liquids and gels such as petroleum jelly, glycerine & hairspray. Food stylists also use tools from art supply stores such as paint brushes, spatulas, and blu-tac.

How to become a Food Stylist
Look for Culinary Arts Schools that offer food design courses. A good food stylist will often have a degree from a culinary arts school and has spent several years working as a traditional chef. There are many chef roles including executive chefs, sous-chefs, sauciers, garde mangers, and pastry chefs that have a food styling component. After you gain experience in a traditional chef role, work as an assistant to a well-established food stylist. Eventually you will acquire your own clients and establish yourself as an independent food stylist. Other careers in the food industry include cake decoration and food photography. A background in fine art is also quite useful for food styling.



Food Stylist - Related Careers:
Other careers closely related to food styling or that require the services of a food stylist are: Food Photography and Cake Decorating.