food photography

Have you noticed that a basic food photographer can have a thriving business 

and 

Have you also noticed that a brilliant photographer may not really be making enough in their business?

This is more common than you might think. 

Photography talent is very different from business acumen. They’re both completely different skill sets and just because we are good at photography doesn’t automatically imply we’ll have a profitable business.

Yes, it begins with us falling in love with photography. That step is a must to be able to even start a business, but once we are in it, the real game begins. 

Just like any other business, the reality of running a photography business is more than meets the eye.

It might look like all we have to do is take photos for clients, but that’s not what a successful photography business is only about. 

In this week’s episode, we continue our conversation with the NYC based Italian food photographer, Fracensco Sapienza, to learn more about the unseen realities of being a full-time food photographer.

This episode is hot & fiery as we dive into pricing, scaling your business, how to make it bigger by working less, client work, pitching to big brands, how to meet the profit and success we dream of when we set up a business etc.

If you’re thinking of moving to full-time photography or wanting to grow the business you already have, become informed about the path ahead and empower yourself for success. 

Just because there are challenges, doesn’t mean there aren't ways to overcome them. Being aware of those challenges and having realistic expectations is a large part of meeting success in our business. 

What looks easy on the outside is way more complicated on the inside. 

But there is no stopping if we decide that a photography business is what we want. Just like we build careers in the corporate world, it takes time and effort to build a career in the business world too.

And just because we are artists, doesn't mean we are destined to live the image of the “starving artist”.

Let’s be successful business owners and passionate artists.

Learning from someone else’s struggles and being prepared for curveballs puts us in a strong position to live the dream we so badly desire.


Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast 

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/87-the-hidden-realities-of-being-a-professional-food-photographer-with-francesco-sapienza-part-2/

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6

The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Have you ever been in a photoshoot and felt something was off, but you couldn't quite figure it out?

Most of the time, it's because of one big reason – light.

But instead of tackling light, our tendency is usually to start fussing with props and backdrops and composition, thinking that is the problem when actually sometimes all it needs is a tiny tweak in the light.

But here's the deal – to tweak the light, we’ve got to know what to tweak. We’ve got to understand light.

In this week’s podcast, I'm sharing all about one of the most dynamic lighting direction for food photography – Side Backlight.

Yep, this kid of lighting is my absolute personal favourite and I share all the reasons why it is so powerful. In this episode I also talk about where this light might not be the best fit because that is part of understanding light. Not just where it works but also where it doesn’t so that not only can we create this awesome light, but also know what to do if we get stuck.

The lighting techniques for food photography are not the same as other forms of photography. A solid grasp of lighting in food photography not only streamlines our photoshoot workflow but also propels our skills forward. Understanding various lighting techniques allows us to harness the unique strengths of each type of light, tailoring them to create the mood we want and make the food hero look like a million bucks.

Infact, it is the #1 skill every food photographer needs - a good grip on lighting techniques & the ability to troubleshoot when needed.  

I personally think that side back light is a superhero, it is mine atleast & once you begin to use it, I’m certain this lighting style will totally wow you.

Don’t be at the mercy of available light. Create light the way you want and take your photography to the next-level.

​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/86-side-back-light-when-to-use-avoid-it-in-food-photography/

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling https://myfoodlens.ck.page/b0ea86cef6
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

What do you think it takes to be a successful commercial food photographer?

Excellent camera skills?

High level of Creativity? 

Crazy passion for photography?

Expensive photography equipment? 

What if I told you, none of the above are deal breakers to be a commercial photographer.

It takes more than camera skills, creativity and passion to run a photography business.

Most of us get into food photography because we love food or have a passion for photography but running a successful and profitable photography business is a completely different game and definitely not a piece of cake.

In this week’s podcast we are getting as raw and real as it gets.

We are peeling back the layers & sharing the truth of being a commercial food photographer with our guest, Francesco Sapienza, a food photographer based in NYC.

He’s worked with huge names like the New York Times, Smithsonian Books, Rizzoli publications, Whole foods market etc. and is sharing how to build a photography business in a competitive market and the challenges to expect.

We talk about the different kinds of projects under commercial food photography, how to transition from part-time to full-time photography, the secret ingredient to set up a business, how to add & price your services, rejection in business, whether to get an agent, how to market yourself in a competitive market etc.

If you want a real peek into the opportunities and challenges of being a commercial food photographer, this episode is for you.  

Being able to take a good photo is only a small part of a photography business. Photography is the learnable part but there are many more parts that go into making it a profitable business. 

Ever seen an iceberg? We see a small part of the iceberg above water but the majority is below the surface. A food photography business is exactly like that. 

What we see on social media or hear professionals talk about is only the part of the business above the surface. There is a large part we don’t see or hear about. 

In this week’s episode, we’re pulling that large part of the iceberg out of the water so that you can see it in its entirety.

Not to discourage you though but to prepare you. This episode is full of truth bombs that will help you in your journey and set you up for success. It will help you anticipate challenges, identify opportunities and embrace change better.

Submit a voice question HERE and be featured on the podcast  

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

 Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens

 Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/

Download free resources
The 5 steps to visual storytelling

The 10-step photoshoot
Write that pitch 

Is creating compositions a challenge for you? 

I can totally see why. 

First off, for the simple reason that composition is art. It is subjective and everyone’s style is different. So it really leaves a lot of grey area on whether a certain technique works or not.

Secondly, because composition is an art, it is tough to learn it technically. Yes, we can understand guides and placement and general rules around composition but really, we all know that creating composition is like composing music. 

Thirdly, compositions are tough because there are so many choices. Any food can be photographed in infinite no. of ways. 

And because the choices are so vast, it often becomes a time struggle for us. In addition to the time we spend on creating the composition, theres so much decision making that has to be done to choose a composition style for our subject, ending up in taking up more time.

What if there was a way to make that decision faster? What if you could look at a food subject and decide what composition style would suit it best? What if you could save all that time upfront? 

In this week’s episode, we discuss how to know when to create large compositions.

We discuss the 3 categories of food that are worth spending the time to create elaborate compositions, how to use that to your advantage in client projects and how to work smartly to create simpler yet powerful compositions. 

Creating large and elaborate compositions can be really time taking. Oftentimes we spend so much creating a composition for a subject and it doesn’t deliver our vision or look the best it could. 

We are either disappointed or think that we don’t have the skills to envision the result upfront or we start over and recreate. None of these situations are preferable.

Learn a simple way of identifying which food works best for larger compositions can help save time, develop the skill of envisioning the result upfront and also position us as experts in front of clients. 

Whether composition-creation is a struggle or not, here’s a simple way to work smarter with it.



Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast
HERE

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/84-how-to-know-when-to-create-large-compositions/

Download free guide and workbook

The 5-step guide to visual storytelling - DOWNLOAD HERE
The 10-step photoshoot - DOWNLOAD HERE
Write that pitch - DOWNLOAD HERE  

Whether it’s the start of the year or not, we all find ourselves at different points in our journey setting new goals, striving to achieve existing ones, or perhaps even questioning the necessity of setting goals altogether. Regardless of our stand on goal setting, we all have ambitions for our creative journey. 

It could be launching a new project, getting better at photography, growing our business, or simply finding more balance in our lives. 

Whether we set ambitious goals or avoid setting goals altogether to dodge the feeling of overwhelm, we have our own unique approach to move towards our creative aspirations. 

In this week’s podcast episode, I’m sharing what I wish I had done differently at the start of last year and how I’m approaching my goals this year.

Whether you set goals or not, the idea that I’m sharing in this episode can be a game-changer in your creative journey.  
And if you have set goals for this year, this episode will definitely make your goals stronger and more powerful, setting you up for success.

As creatives we want to continue to grow and improve in our journey. But how can we move forward if we don’t know which direction is forward? 

Goal-setting is exactly like that. 

How can we reach somewhere if we don’t set a destination? 

In this episode I’m sharing a goal-setting tip that can change how much you achieve this year.

Making that small tweak in the way you set goals is like picking your parking bay and reversing exactly between the 2 white lines. Perfectly. 

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/83-dont-lose-a-year-make-this-easy-goal-setting-tweak-now/


Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Being a full-time photographer and running a business can be very overwhelming.esp when everyone around is constantly hustling. 

Someone is working with food52

Someone is shooting for Delicious magazine

Someone just made $500,000 by selling their online course

Someone is talking about completing 10 years in food photography

We hear them, we look at their photography businesses and go, “Sigh! I’m so behind. Everyone is doing so much. I need to work more, work harder.”

Running a business is tough. 

But do you know what is the best part about having your own business?

The best part is that your business is your own. It can be anything you want it to be and it does not need to be like anyone else’s.

In this week’s episode, we continue our conversation with food photographer, blogger, professional cake designer, and cookbook author, Tessa Huff, who tells us all about how to create a business  you love without compromising on your personal life.

Tessa has 3 kids, moved countries, shut down a business and started a photography business from scratch only to go on to work with brands like Food network canada. The biggest step she took to set herself up for success was by creating a business unique to her and not influenced by how others were doing it in the industry.

In this episode Tessa tells us her challenge of working with food network, how she continues to work with brands on an ongoing basis, how she wrote a cookbook while balancing a business and family and how to make photography a profitable business.

The advantage of having our own business is that we can make it anything we like. It doesn’t have to look like someone else’s. 

We are unique as creatives, our lives are different from each other so how can our businesses look the same? 

If we can come to terms with this simple concept, it makes it so much easier to create a business around the life we have. Our personal commitments are as important, if not more, than our professional responsibilities. 

Oftentimes, life changes or starting from scratch makes us feel like we’ve fallen behind. But the truth is that there is no “behind” in life.

The biggest advantage of having our own business is that we can set our own pace, milestones, deadlines, processes and definition of success.

If you’ve been wondering whether your photography career will ever take off or are feeling behind because of personal commitments or you’re thinking about starting a new business, this episode is for you. 

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 
Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/82-how-to-build-a-photography-business-while-balancing-family-part-2-with-tessa-huff/


Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Have you ever taken a photo and thought -

“Ughh! that looks dull”

“Why does my photo look flat”

“That food does not look delicious”

“Why doesn’t my photo pop” 

“Ok, that looks good but I wish it was better” 

“Gosh! I did everything right but there’s still something missing”

Truth is, 90% of the time that missing factor in our photos is the light.

Most of us understand the basics of lighting in food photography but we are forever striving to take it to the next level.

We are constantly working on building a better understanding of light and honing our technique so we can create more impactful and eye-catching food photos.

But what does it take to create next-level lighting in our photos? 

How do we tell whether the light in our photos is powerful enough?

In this week’s podcast episode, I’m sharing simple yet powerful techniques to take the lighting in our food photography to the next-level. 

I share some key considerations that can skyrocket the way we work with light & double the power of our photos by working with light in a very intentional way.

In this episode, we go beyond lighting-101. It’s about thinking about light and working with it the way most professionals and experienced photographers do. 

I’m sure you’ve heard enough times that light is everything in food photography. In fact, I keep repeating that in food photography we don’t need great composition but we always need great lighting.

It doesn’t matter whether we work with artificial light or natural light, whether it's soft light or harsh light, once we have a solid grip on technique, it applies to anything and everything we create. 

This episode will give you insights into what to look for when you feel there's something missing in your photo. It will also help you look at light differently. It will help you get intimate with your light and really create a photo that meets your vision. 

We all want to create next-level photos and one of the most essential ways to get there is to deepen our understanding of light.

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/81-take-your-lighting-to-the-next-level-in-food-photography/


Have a question? Submit it as a voice note to be featured on the My Food Lens Podcast HERE


Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

If you had to uproot yourself and move to a new country, 
you had to shut down your business
And when you moved to the new country with the hopes of starting a new business,
You found out that you had a baby on the way.

How would you feel at that point in life?

Would you be excited at the prospect of building a new life and having a clean slate to start from? 

Or 

Would you be upset that you had to shut down your business and move to a completely unknown country and start building a life from scratch with such a huge life change on the way?

Most of us would be pretty confused or pulled down. I know I would.

And even if I would be okay with everything, willing to start a new business, the news of the baby would make me think. I would be excited but also wonder if it would be a good time to start a new business knowing full well how big mom commitments are.

Why am I asking you this?  

Because this is the story of our podcast guest,  Tessa Huff.

Tessa had to overcome all those challenges that I mentioned above and in spite of it, she built a successful food blogging and photography business for herself. 

Tessa is a food photographer, blogger, professional cake designer, and cookbook author based in Canada. She’s worked with several big brands including food network Canada.  In this week’s episode Tessa shares exactly how she built a business from scratch while taking care of 3 kids at home.

She shares what it takes to uproot yourself and settle in a new country, how to set a niche for your business, food styling and content creation tips and how to set up an organized approach to build a successful business from the get go.

Family is more important than business, so how do we bring ourselves to be present for our loved ones but also build the business of our dreams? It is totally possible. It takes a different style of working but with determination and an organized approach, it is totally possible.

We often take challenges and life changes as setbacks but the truth is that these changes have the potential to shape a brighter future for us. Tessa’s opportunity to work with Food Network may or may not have happened had she not moved to Canada. 

A life change whether it's moving cities, having a baby or simply the idea of starting a business, tune in to learn how to accomplish everything without compromising on anything. 

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/80-how-to-build-a-photography-business-while-balancing-family-part-1-with-tessa-huff/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Look at you stepping into the new year with a smile!

Well, I hope you’re smiling because it's the time of the year when fresh starts and new beginnings feel a lot easier to make. 

I don’t know about your goals but a big goal for me last year and the year before was to not quit food photography. Yep!

 It was my goal to do what I’m doing in spite of things not going my way.

It was a tough one no matter how easy it sounds.

And a big part of trying to achieve my goal of not quitting was to be able to recenter myself and constantly remind myself of why I do what I do. Over and over again.

A shocking realization in the process was that my love for food photography alone was not big enough to keep me in it. There had to be something more, something that would pull me out of the trenches every time I was sinking.

And there was one thing that did exactly that over and over again. It was a huge part of bringing a sense of purpose and a higher meaning to my creative life. It kept me from giving up.

In this week’s episode I’m sharing how to find that higher meaning and purpose in food photography. 

I share why we all need a higher purpose and need to make our photography journey more meaningful, how my entire way of thinking changed once I discovered this purpose, how a small simple step can change your life and others too. 

If you feel that you don’t need that sense of purpose, that is exactly how I felt. 

But when I was on the verge of giving up and leaving food photography for good in 2021 that higher purpose grounded me. It saved me from making a decision I knew I would not be happy about.

We as humans are always seeking meaning and also logic in everything we do. As passionate as we might be, as creatives we battle self-doubt, judgment, insecurity and sometimes, the feeling of not being seen as an equal to someone with a hot-shot corporate job. 

We work hard on our skills and business, but I think we work harder on our mindset. We work harder in trying to navigate the tough road of a creative life and an even tougher path of entrepreneurship.

If there is a way to make it a tad easier for ourselves, a way for us to navigate this tough path with more strength, resilience and joy, then why not try it.

I’m sharing an easy and simple way to create a deep-rooted sense of purpose in your creative lives. I can guarantee that once you find it, you’ll never see food photography the same way and no one around you will either. 

Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/79-how-to-find-a-higher-purpose-make-food-photography-more-meaningful/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Few years ago I received an enquiry from a brand for a cookbook photoshoot. 

They had seen my work and wanted to know more about my process and also my rates for the project. 

I shrieked. I mean who doesn’t want to shoot a cookbook. Almost every photographer dreams of it. I did too. I was excited reading that email.

But there was a minor problem. 

I had never done a cookbook shoot before. I had absolutely no idea what the process looked like and how I was supposed to charge for it. 

I mean it wasn’t a magazine, it was a cookbook. They’re both print media but are they really similar in process and pricing?

My head was spinning.

And so, I reached out to my dear friend in the industry, Diana muresan. Diana food photographer, stylist, blogger and educator, was also an experienced cookbook photographer & she came to my rescue.

I bombarded her with questions and she answered each one of them patiently and with complete transparency. 

In this week’s podcast we continue our conversation with Diana Muresan about cookbook shoots and she shares all the tricky details. 

We talk about pricing the project confidently, credits to be included in such projects, curveballs to expect and how to cater for contingencies, how to keep such projects profitable and whether cookbook photography is lucrative enough.  

So, when I received that client enquiry, I had made a rough estimate of $5000 for the project but after my conversation with Diana, I realized how far off that was from what the project fee should have been. Based on the brief, it was easily a $12000 project.

But I would’ve never known had I not spoken to someone about it.

Imagine if I would’ve been hired for $5000 only to realize too late what the project fee should have actually been. Can you imagine the jolt to my confidence, passion and my desire to do a good job on the project? Leave all of that, imagine how unappreciated and unvalued it would’ve made me feel.

We never want to be in that situation.

If we run a photography business, it is always a good idea to know about the different kinds of projects in the industry, what it takes to execute them & how to quote for them so that if there is ever an opportunity, our decision to take it up or leave it is based on our interest it instead of our lack of knowledge about it. 

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/78-how-to-take-a-cookbook-shoot-from-start-to-finish-with-diana-muresan-part-2/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Ever dreamt of shooting a cookbook?

How would you feel seeing your work in print?

How would you feel if you opened a cookbook and found your photos on large pages staring right back at you?

I don’t think I’ve ever met a photographer who didn’t want to see their work in print, who wasn’t excited by the thought of photographing a cookbook and creating memories not only special for the author of the cookbook but also for themselves.  

That feeling is pretty priceless, I’ll say. 

And while that feeling might be surreal, the overwhelm of taking on a cookbook project is real. 

There are so many questions about cookbook photography projects that fill our minds that most of the time, the intimidation of the process itself stops us from signing up for a cookbook project, in spite of wanting it so badly. 

In this week’s episode, Diana Muresan, commercial & editorial food photographer, stylist, blogger and educator based in Canada, who has worked with cookbook authors, national and international food brands and marketing & PR agencies, shares the A-Z process of a cookbook shoot.

In our conversation we cover everything from -

Landing a cookbook project

Questions to ask before quoting for the project

Pricing for the project

The styling & photography skills needed

The team setup required

…and basically the entire shebang of taking a cookbook shoot project from start to finish. 

I don’t know if you feel so but I think that cookbook shoots are a bit of a mystery because they aren’t talked about much or discussed as frequently as commercial food photography projects.

Even if there is a mention, there aren't enough details to be able to get a good grip on the entire process. A holistic picture of what this sort of a project entails is somewhat missing in our industry conversations. 

This episode gives complete insight on what a cookbook project looks like at every single stage. 

If you’ve ever wanted to photograph a cookbook or wondered what it is to take on such a project, this episode is for you. 

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available https://myfoodlens.com/77-how-to-take-a-cookbook-shoot-from-start-to-finish/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

I don’t know which camera to buy.

Is this lens worth the cost?

Should I go for flash or continuous lights?

Deciding on which camera equipment to buy is never easy. It almost always comes down to our budget and whether it’s worth the investment. 

Have you ever bought a piece of gear and found that it wasn’t really worth buying, didn't improve your photography or was too inconvenient to use? 

We’ve all spent money on equipment we didn’t really need & we’ve all dreamt of certain equipment we wish we had in our collection. 

Photography is an expensive craft and we need to be extremely careful where we invest.

In this week’s podcast episode, I’ll share one of the best ways to save time and money while investing in photography equipment. 

Sometimes we wish to upgrade our gear, sometimes we need to replace it and sometimes we are intrigued by a new technology in the market.

If we can strengthen our selection process, it can actually save us dollars but also headache, frustration and stress.

Here's a simple practice, no matter which stage of the creative journey you’re in, that can be a huge game-changer in our photography investment and skills improvement.

The photography equipment we own depends a lot on our personal preferences, our workflow and the kind of work we create either for ourselves or for our clients. It takes many factors for a certain equipment to work for us and take our skills to the next level. 

One wrong choice can set us back hundreds and thousands of dollars. It can also set us back in our confidence and in feeling skillful - that’s how important it is to make our equipment choice wisely. 

There is a way for us to make an informed decision which has a 100% guarantee of working for us. If you’re wondering if that's really possible, I want to tell you, it absolutely is.

Spend your money on the right equipment, save the headache of decision-making & become a more skillful photographer in the process.

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at  https://myfoodlens.com/76-how-to-save-time-money-when-investing-in-photography-gear/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

A few weeks ago someone on social media commented on one of my posts saying that in their opinion they didn’t believe that food photography could ever be a full-time career, that it could be profitable or be taken up professionally.

I didn’t say much to this because we are all welcome to have our opinions and unfortunately, this is a common opinion about our industry.

But between you and me, I completely disagree.

In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing in the world that cannot be a full-time profession, it all depends on us. 

And food photography, c’mon, we have so many success stories in front of us who are leading a thriving career in food photography.

But I can also understand why someone might feel that food photography cannot be a full-time profession. I mean, do food photographers make enough money?

Do you? 

The answer is Yes and No. 

I know many successful food photographers who are doing well financially because of the way they’ve shaped their creative career but I also know several who are struggling to make ends meet and questioning whether it was the right choice.

If you fall in the latter category, I have something for you today. 

In this week's podcast episode, I’m sharing 3 simple yet big reasons why you might not be making enough money in your photography business. 

I’ve included immediate actionable steps that you can take today to change the way you might be bringing in revenue in your business.  These might seem obvious but they’re highly overlooked and not applied, resulting in the frustration of pursuing a career that we dearly love but cannot sustain financially. 

The good news is that we can change that. 

This episode is for you if - 

You’re not making as much as you’d like in your photography business

Or

You’d like to make more than what you do right now

Or

You’re curious if you’re missing anything in your business workflow even though you’re pretty happy with what you’re making 

Money is not what got us into food photography so how can it be the reason to take us away from it. At the same time, we need to be practical. We've got to pay rent, our child's school fees, bills,  and we deserve a comfortable life too…

And if food photography is not bringing us that joy both emotionally and financially then it’s time to relook at the way we are driving it. 

Don’t fall for a stranger’s opinion on whether food photography is full-time worthy or not. Your financial freedom is in your hands.Do the work and bask in the success. Here are 3 simple practices to put the rein into your hands. 

​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/75-not-making-enough-money-in-food-photography-3-common-mistakes-to-avoid/


Download free workbook
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Would you like more followers on social media?

More likes?

More engagement?

YES?

Almost everyone wishes they had a larger following on social media. 

Infact, there are courses in the market on “How to get 300k followers in 30 days.”

Sounds tempting, right?

Who wouldn't want a larger community? Why not?

But the question we really need to ask is, why?

Why do we want a larger community?

How does it help us or help them?

Will it make us better photographers?

Will it boom our business?

Will it celebritize us in the industry?

Will it bring more clients?

Truth is, having a large following is very minutely linked to any of these. The celebritize part I would agree with but at the core of being photographers and business owners, social media only solves a certain purpose for us.

This week on the podcast we continue our conversation on this hot topic with the power-duo, husband-wife team, Madhushree and Anindya Basu @pikturenama.

Previously restaurateurs, now food bloggers, food influencers, food photographer & videographer, cookbook authors, food writers, together the duo runs a creative agency in India. 

Madhu and Anindya have a stunning social media presence and are driving a successful food blogging and photography business.

..And in this episode they share how it’s been possible inspite of social media changes. 

We discuss whether algorithm changes impact client work, When do the numbers on social media matter, Mistakes creators make, what it takes to create a robust presence on social media & the absolute needle moving effort that improves skills and brings business

There is no denying that social media numbers are important but we need to have utmost clarity on how they’re working for us and why we should work on them.

It is essential to take a step back and look at our clients or our revenue generators to see how much of it is really linked to social media. 

What would happen if our numbers didn’t grow?

What would fall apart?

This conversation with Madhu & Anindya is an eye opener. They’re practical about the  value of social media but at the same time, they’ve taken steps to build a solid foundation for their business that does not get impacted by algorithm changes. 

If you’ve wondered whether it’s possible to thrive as a food photographer with a smaller following on social media or creating less content or being less present, this episode is for you.

It will tell you exactly where numbers matter and where they don’t 

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/74-how-to-create-a-resilient-food-photography-business-unaffected-by-social-media-changes-with-madhushree-anindya-basu-part-2/


Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Let’s say you have a friend who loves your photography..

..but they don’t really understand the technicalities.

One day you post a moody photo

And they absolutely love it.

So they ask, “how did you create it?”

And you get excited and start telling them all about light and how light creates mood.

But how confident are you about your understanding of light in moody photography?

What if I told you that the most common mistake photographers make while creating moody photography is in the lighting.

And that is majorly because of one huge misconception that has risen from social media. Many photographers teach this technique to create moody photography and those who learn don’t even realize that the technique is not really accurate.

This week’s episode is inspired by that one misleading advice about lighting in moody photography that we see all over the internet.

In this episode I describe the different moods in food photography, what creates mood, lighting basics for creating mood and the biggest lighting mistake we make in moody food photography.

Light is the backbone of photography and it is made up of a ton of subtleties. Having a good hold on these subtleties allows us to take our photography to the next level. 

Understanding brights, highlights, shadows and darks is essential to be able to create a powerful food photo especially, if we want to create a specific mood in that photo. 

When we have a deep understanding of the components of light we can create different moods with exactly the same composition by working on the lighting alone.

And if someone asks “how did you create it?”

We understand lighting for moody photography well enough to be able to answer in the most informed and technically correct way..

… And with full confidence!  

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

 Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/73-the-1-lighting-mistake-in-moody-photography/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Have you ever bought a course, and then left it for some or the other reason without completing it? 

Have you ever bought a course, completed it but it never really gave you results. Didn’t help much.

Most of us have invested in courses in our creative lives and gone through the pain of certain courses not working out for us.

We buy courses but don't always get the results we expect.

What happens when a course doesn’t work out for us?

It feels like a waste of money.

It feels like a waste of time.

We doubt whether we’re the only ones who didn’t quite get it.

We judge the course instructor thinking they didn’t do a good job. 

It makes us hesitant to invest in another course again.

While there are many mediocre courses out there and any of the above can be true about a course, we rarely invest in courses that are truly mediocre.

We buy courses after careful thought & consideration.

But still they don’t work out. 

WHY does that happen and WHEN does that happen? 

Spoiler alert - it has nothing to do with money.

In this week’s podcast episode I share the #1 mistake when buying a course. The top reason why a course doesn’t help us, why we don’t feel motivated to complete it and how it impacts our faith in our skills. 

Quite often it is neither the content of the course nor the course instructor. The mistake has to do with us. I’ll tell you how I wasted 1000s of dollars just because of this one reason  & share how to save money, make the right choice when it comes to investing in a course and get the maximum results from that decision. 



The cost of a course has nothing to do with the results it will bring us.

There’s no guarantee that a $1000 course will work better than a $100 course. It depends on us. If our selection is not based on that one solid criteria, whether it's $1000 or $100, both courses will be a waste of money and time.

We have so much to learn as photographers, it is a time-consuming and energy demanding passion.  We need to make sure that if we spend time and energy on learning something new, it should inch us towards our photography goals. 

If it leaves us confused, frustrated or exactly where we were, that course was definitely not the right choice.

There is a way to always know which course would be the best choice and where to make your investment. Don’t make the same mistake I made for years.

 
Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/72-the-1-mistake-to-avoid-when-investing-in-a-course/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Do your photos spark an action?

Do your photos leave an impact?

Does your photography solve a problem?

And how can photos spark an action in the first place? Is it even possible?

How can you tell if they do?

I can almost hear you saying, "Isn't food photography all about making mouths water?" 

Truth is, creating delicious photos & making a viewer drool is just the first step.

And it's not enough.

The real purpose of a food photo comes into play after making the viewer drool.

It is that next step that determines how impactful our photo is.

And creating impactful photos is critical if we want to take our photography to the next level and work with clients.

It’s almost a non-negotiable in food photography, whether hobby or business.

And to be able to create a photo that influences and warrants action, we need a powerful photography process in place.

This week’s podcast episode is a fun one. I’m sharing my guest interview on the show, The Vine Podcast hosted by Madison Wetherill.

I’m sharing - 

Why you need to create impactful photos

How to streamline your photography process 

When do our photos miss the mark

The exact steps to save time and be efficient in a photoshoot, yet create an impactful photo 

Whether we're passionate food photography hobbyists or seasoned professionals, we want our photos to achieve meaningful results.

We also want to create those meaningful photos without spending endless hours. 

This episode will not only empower you to create purposeful photos in an efficient way, it will also show you how creating impactful photos can help grow your photography business and make photography even more joyful & fulfilling. 

Having a streamlined process that saves you time, enhances your efficiency, and also maximizes the impact of your work, is an absolute win.



 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/70-are-you-missing-a-step-in-your-photography-process/

Download the free guide
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/

Which photography subject is just as interesting and powerful as food? 
What is that one additional service we can add to our food photography business that can bring more income? 
What would be one easy way to scale our business without any additional gear or investment? 

Ok here’s a hint  -

Beverage Photography!

It is just as interesting as food and by including it to the list of subjects we shoot, we can actually start adding it as an additional service we offer to our clients.

When we talk about beverage photography, there’s no way we can't mention Jordan Hughes @highproofpreacher - the ultimate master of beverage photography & videography. 

He’s been featured in Forbes, AskMen, Liquor.com, VinePair & was awarded both the editor’s & reader’s choice for Best Drinks Instagram 2019 by Saveur Magazine. 

In this week’s podcast episode, Jordan talks about everything related to beverage photography, how to improve your drinks photography, how to find clients, the role of social media and how to take up beverage photography professionally.

Oftentimes we get so hung up on only the food aspect of food photography that we forget to explore the other powerful subject this niche offers like beverages.

Shooting drinks  enriches our portfolio, shows versatility, sharpens our skills and allows us to broaden the range of clients we serve and boost our business. We strengthen our potential as a food photographer by exploring subjects that can be a differentiator for us.

What’s not to love about beverage photography! 

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/69-how-to-become-a-beverage-photographer-with-jordan-hughes/

Want to improve your beverage photography skills? 

• Enroll in Jordan’s Cocktail Camera Pro course HERE. 

Don’t forget to use code MYFOODLENS for 20% off.

• Enroll in Jordan’s Cocktail Camera 101 course HERE

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

“There are months when I’ve so much work and then there are months with absolutely no projects.”

“The income is so inconsistent, it’s hard to predict how much money I’ll make in the next 3 months.”

 “Some months it rains dollars, other months are drought.”

"I don’t know if I can really turn to full-time photography, it’s so unpredictable."

Does any of this sound familiar? Do you struggle with irregular patterns of client work & income?

This unpredictability can be nerve wrecking. Not knowing if we’ll be able to make rent next month, is unsettling. 

So unsettling, that it can begin to take a toll on our emotional health and even consider giving up food photography, thinking that it is not a financially viable career.

When that is totally not true!

Food photography is most definitely a full-fledged viable career choice, but just like any other business, it depends a lot on us. 

That’s why in this week’s episode, I want to share a powerful way for you to create consistent income in your food photography business so that you have a regular cycle of client projects. 

I talk about what to change in your business workflow to be able to start tapping into clients and projects that you may already have.

Just one additional step in your trajectory can be a complete game changer.

A little work from your side can lead to years of assured income.

It's time to take control of your photography business and move away from those dreaded zero-dollar months.

Every business has their highs and lows.

And that’s important because a high is not a high without a low. 

Ofcourse, going from high to higher to higher is the best but unrealistic too.

So, it becomes highly important to equip ourselves such that our lows are never too low. And it's a no-brainer when we don’t need any extra gear or investment to be able to do that. 

Oh and also if we don’t need any additional years of experience either.

Never stay guessing whether next month will be a high or a low.

Be a confident photographer, always having a certain level of predictability of your monthly income so you have a secure bank balance, peace of mind and continue making money doing what you love.

 Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/68-how-to-break-free-from-those-zero-dollar-months-in-your-business/

Episode 56 - https://myfoodlens.com/56-top-3-questions-to-ask-a-client-on-a-discovery-call/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch

Do you want to try a new style of photography & videography to keep the romance alive in your craft?

Or maybe you want to start offering more services to your clients so you can make more money in your business?

But also, you don’t have hours to learn a completely new skill or sit through a dozen videos. 

What if there was a style of photography that was fun, bold and absolutely a hot favorite with brands in the current times..

•  it was easy to learn
• could be applied to food and product photography 
• could be applied to videos esp. Stop motion videos..

Imagine the opportunity to learn something cool that could bring in extra or new clients.

In this week’s podcast, we have a special guest, Sean Misa, who has mastered the art of pop art photography and videography in the world of food and product photography. Stop motion expert, Sean, is based in Seattle & tells us all about the hot trend of Pop Art. 

Sean has established himself as a thought leader and specialist in stop motion videos, particularly in creating pop art style content for brands around the world.

He shares everything about this style, how to create it, how to approach clients, become an expert, use this skill to grow your business & emerging photography trends to watch out for.

Photography and videography go hand in hand and when we already know the basics of photography, learning a new style becomes easy and fun. 

If we can create the style of photos and videos that are trending with brands right now, we have a huge opportunity to expand our client base. 

Pop Art is a hot favourite with brands and has gained a lot of popularity because of the way it uses popping colors and light. 

In my experience as a commercial photographer, I have seen brands move massively towards this style because it looks so chic, cutting edge and captures the attention of the viewer in a minute. And boy, am I glad I knew how to create it because it saved my current clients from turning to other photographers and also brought in new clients for me. 

Pop art is definitely a show stopper and it’s pretty awesome to be able to create it.  

Learn all about this trending style and turn it into an opportunity to bring in additional dollars or to build the versatility of your skills. 

​ Read more at https://myfoodlens.com

Follow Dyutima on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dyutima_myfoodlens/

Show notes available at https://myfoodlens.com/67-grow-your-business-with-pop-art-photography-videography-with-sean-misa/

Download free guide and workbook
The 10-step photoshoot https://myfoodlens.com/the-10-step-photoshoot-guide/
Write that pitch https://myfoodlens.ck.page/writethatpitch