Food Styling: The Art of Preparing Food for the Camera

Whether you are a veteran chef, photographer etc or novice 'wanna be', this is an essential "must have" for your collection. At nearly 400 pages, this is a comprehensive undertaking that doesn't compromise quality or clarity. Here is why this is a "MUST HAVE" for anyone remotely interested in the culinary arts, food styling, photography or related trends.1. Comprehensive. As mentioned, this is nearly 400 pages packed FULL of information. There is a balanced blend of photographs and text without one dominating the other. Instead, each enhances the other with ample detail/discussion and pertinent photos. Tone is conversational yet complete providing veteran and novice readers sufficient information to achieve desired results.2. Beautiful Big Book. Not only is the book 400 pages but it's a large book. This is the hard cover with a clear dust jacket...complete with a "peel away" safety sheeting! Organized for ease of use, no detail is missed. Lovely Headings are bold/brightly colored for quick reference, ample charts/other make for simple comparison, excellent resource/glossary and index section. It is obvious a great deal of care went into the creation of this resource!3. Content. Of course, any food styling book wouldn't be worth much without superb content and this is where Custer really excels. Tips and excellent information abound...from basic tidbits to in-depth discussion that can only come from years of experience, it's obvious the author is an expert in every sense of the word. I am absolutely smitten by the level of detail - combined with clarity - provided throughout. Chapter highlights include:-Food Styling Overview-The Medium is Everything-Your Food Styling Teammates-You Got the Job...Now What?-Prepping the Assignment-At the Shoot-About Photography-The Basics of Propping-The Basics of Tv & Film Production Work-The Food Stylists Tools of the Trade-Working with the Food-The Business of Food Styling-Beyond Food Styling-Tips for Chefs, Caterers, and Others who want to Style their Food-Reviewing the Last Fifty/sixty years of Food styling and photographyHowever, within each of the above chapter are numerous sub=sections, tips, pertinent photographs, charts and much more. For example, a seemingly "mundane" topic related to the tools of the trade, we get a quick peak into the kit and set tray. We see actual examples of a simple kit set-up, the set tray, a listed photograph of each individual tool plus tips of the trade that make all the difference in a day to day setting. For example, how do you know which type of rice to cook and when? Find out on page 145!How do you make a panini look enticing...rather than that big flat floppy thing you create in your own kitchen? Find out on page 207!What is available when and how do you locate out of season fruits/vegies? Find out on pages 171-173!This is just a very short sample of the incredible amount of information contained in this book. It is NOT fluff or filler...rather page after page of great information!For those that are comparing this to the other available options, this wins hands down.I also own Food Styling for Photographers: A Guide to Creating Your Own Appetizing Art by Linda Bellingham and Jean Ann Bybee...an excellent resource but not nearly as comprehensive or detailed as this book.Digital Food Photography by Lou Manna is another book I own/use but it tends to focus much more on the basics of digital photography. Many of the techniques and tricks/tips are duplicates from the comprehensive book "Food Styling" by Delores Custer.Without a doubt, this is an absolute "must have" that will be used repeatedly. A perfect companion for anyone wanting to enter the field of food styling. It assumes nothing yet provides depth and details to inspire and inform even veteran styling professionals.Exceptional!

For anyone that is even remotely interested in food styling or photography, this book is an incredible piece of work. Though it is much more entertaining than a textbook, the sheer amount of information in this book really gives it the feel of a textbook for a master class on food styling that you could pay tens of thousands of dollars to participate in.I am already well on my way in the business, but have never had the opportunity to stop and actually learn the tricks of the trade... instead, the trade just kind of swept me up and took me for a ride. While food styling is just one aspect of my work (I am also the photographer, as well as the art director/designer/illustrator/etc. of entire cookbooks for clients) there is so much information in this book that I've found plenty of tips on the non-food styling aspects of my business as well.I have to give a huge thank you to Delores Custer for writing this book. Compiling such an impressive book about such a specific topic is a gift to those of us that it will truly benefit.If you work in the business, there is no question that you should own this book... even if you think you know it all, you will still find many of the anecdotal stories hilarious. (Like the time she and her team spent an entire day prepping 80 bowls of salad for 1 massive photograph, only for the client to crop out most of the bowls in the final ad.)If you don't work in the business, but just enjoy looking through cookbooks, food magazines, or even watching food television shows... you may even enjoy this book more than the professionals, as you read all of the secrets and tricks that make the food you see in print look so darn good.This is the only book on my coffee table at the moment. It's beautiful and it proves to all my guests that I don't just play with food all day!

OK, I'm sure many others will love this book as much as I do, but if Delores Custer had studied my business and written a book just for me, she couldn't have done more.It is massive, thorough and comprehensive, yes. But so beautiful, well-organized and entertaining, you'll want to jump right in.I am constantly striving to improve performance as a food photographer for the menus of independent restaurants. I may have to purchase a second copy, so other food photographers and designers at Menu Works can pass it around. Because this copy will not leave my side for many years to come.For me, the heart of the book, comprising more than 150 pages, is chapter 11, "Working with the food: Overcoming Challenges."Food styling is detail work, and this section deals with specific food items in extraordinary detail. Cakes for instance. How to adjust baking temperature to achieve a dome or a flatter top. How to cut a perfect wedge. How to match the slice to the plate size. How to mount the slice on the plate for easy adjustment. How to frost the two-layer slice after it's cut. (A surprising trick here.) How to patch unwanted bubbles in the surface of the cake. (Warning, you won't be eating the cake after you do this.) Mixes versus scratch. How many ounces of batter Custer uses per layer. 9-inch versus 8-inch pans.The author brings this level of detail to soup, pies, beverages, salads, etc., etc.There are other books out there. But to learn more about styling food for the camera, this is the book you'll want to keep close at hand.

If you are into food photography or thinking about becoming a food stylist....This IS your BIBLE. An indispensible reference and a must have for anyone involved with food photography or food styling for commercial level work. Honestly, will probably buy another copy to have one at my home studio and keep a copy in my Remote Gear set-up. If want to shoot or style food, read this book before you do anything else.