Introduction to the Business of Food Styling
A course by Espacio CrudoDesign & Photography Studio
A course by Espacio Crudo, Design & Photography Studio
Learn to develop a culinary styling project from start to finish
Looking for a way to get your customers asking for seconds before they even take the first bite? The key may be food styling, a modern staple for visually promoting your delectable delights. Espacio Crudo is a food-focused photography studio that has worked with some of the heaviest hitters in the industry, including Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Pyrex, and Juan Valdéz. Natalia Londoño, Paola Sánchez, and Andrés Caicedo—the team behind the project—place special emphasis on making gastronomy a feast for all the senses, transforming each ingredient into the main character of every photo.
In this online course, follow them behind closed kitchen doors as they show you the ins and outs of the business of food styling, from the first conversation with the client to the set design, necessary ingredients, and the final photo.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 18 downloads
The client
3 minutes, 34 seconds
The first meeting, schedule and budget
10 minutes, 35 seconds
The brand
9 minutes, 15 seconds
How do I imagine the photo?
11 minutes, 13 seconds
How do I imagine the photo? Part 2
14 minutes, 46 seconds
Casting and purchase of ingredients
7 minutes, 51 seconds
What's included in this course?
Get started by taking an in-depth look at Espacio Crudo's work and their main influences.
Next, learn about the different types of clients they work with and choose one to develop your final project.
Hear their advice for preparing your first meeting with a client, develop a realistic schedule with all the necessary steps for your project, and create a budget.
After drawing a sketch and designing the set, Paola, Andrés, and Natalia offer some practical tips for finding the perfect ingredients for your mouth-watering image.
Lastly, prepare the set and lighting before plating up your culinary star for the final photo. Once your photo is ready, explore the process of developing and digital retouching.
What is this course's project?
Follow a real client brief to organize a food styling photography project from beginning to end. In this course, Espacio Crudo's photo project is based on a granola recipe, but you can choose any project you like.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Photographers, filmmakers, art directors, foodies, and anyone interested in learning more about the business of food styling.
Requirements and materials
A basic understanding of photography is recommended.
In terms of materials, you need a camera, a suitable light source, backgrounds with different colors and textures, dishes, kitchen utensils, and the ingredients for your recipe.
Reviews
- 1 year ago
Recomendado, buena forma de aprender
- 1 year ago
el curso me ayudo a poder ver las dimensiones de los espacios entre los productos, me encanto
- 2 years ago
Inspiracional y potente. 100 % recomendable!
- 2 years ago
me gusto, me sirvio pero no mucho. me gustaria que fuera un poco mas rapido mas dinamico, a vees siento que solo leen algo
- 2 years ago
El curso me encanto , muy bien explicado todo lo único la parte del boceto no se ve muy claro ,pero en general le doy un 9
From their base in Colombia, Natalia, Paola and Andrés have collaborated with a variety of brands, large and small, creating projects that transcend the ordinary. Their approach to food as a means of expression has allowed them to explore the cultural, social and political intersections that converge in each dish. This deep and multifaceted focus on food as communication has led them to be recognized both in the advertising industry and in renowned international publications.
With innovative personal projects, such as "Balanced Diet", where they transform food into unique visual creations, and collaborations with influential brands such as Cola and Pola Colombia, Espacio Crudo demonstrates how food can be a powerful vehicle for telling stories and challenging creative boundaries. Her approach not only highlights her artistic prowess, but also her deep understanding of how food becomes a powerful visual language that transcends borders and connects with audiences around the world.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
Not everything can be love to art
- The client
- The first meeting, schedule and budget
- The brand
- U3
Creative Process (Inspiration + tuning)
- How do I imagine the photo?
- How do I imagine the photo? Part 2
- Casting and purchase of ingredients
- The checklist
- U4
The photo
- Lighting and camera
- The set
- Install
- U5
Post (no) I trust
- Revealed RAW and Photoshop
- Completion and Delivery
- The Ok, conclusions and final advice.
- FP
Final project
- Food photography
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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FAQs
You’ll learn how to conceptualize, plan, and execute food photography shoots, apply food styling and plating techniques, manage lighting, art direction, visual composition, and digital retouching, as well as handle budgeting and client management for creative projects.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those who already have basic knowledge of photography or gastronomy and want to deepen their skills in food styling, art direction, and professional visual production.
You’ll need a camera (DSLR or mirrorless), light sources (natural or artificial), backdrops, props, fresh ingredients, and access to editing software like Lightroom or Photoshop.
Food styling is the art of preparing and presenting food in an appealing way for photography, highlighting its visual beauty to make the images look delicious and professional.
Yes, the course covers lighting setups, use of softboxes, color balancing, and shadow control to create attractive, professional food images.
Yes, you’ll learn editing techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop, including RAW processing, color correction, localized retouching, and image enhancement for commercial use.
The course walks you through planning, pre-production, ingredient selection, set building, composition, lighting, shooting, and post-production, all following an efficient schedule.