Foodtography School was the first food-specific photography course that I took, and it set me on the path that I am on today. I am now a full-time food photographer, and have taken many classes since this one, and it is a wonderful foundational course for anyone looking to get started in food photography.
To note, this post includes affiliate links for Foodtography School. This just means that if you make a purchase after clicking one of those links, I'll earn a little money (at no cost to you) to keep the kitchen up and running! If you have any questions about affiliates, please reach out!
If you're interested in Foodtography School - even joining one of the FREE Masterclasses - you can sign up here. Use code JESS at checkout for 15% off everything on the site!
In my Foodtography School review, I'm also sharing a few "before and after" shots which are always fun! There is nothing "bad" about the before photos, but you can really see the progression, particularly in some of the finer details. I think it's also really interesting to see that even before, I had a sense of the style that I wanted. You can see some interesting compositional elements (repetition, for example), but it's just captured in such a better way in the "after" photo!
How did you get started?
I've always been into cooking and baking, spending hours in the kitchen with (or without) my parents as a young kid. I did a whole research paper in high school about baking (can't believe my teacher let me do that!). Somewhere along the way, I started snapping pictures of what I was making as a way to share with friends and family. Soon enough, that progressed to getting my first DSLR camera, and then it really began to escalate!
Once I started digging into food photography, there was no turning back! I am now a full-time food photographer after spending the first 10 years of my career in PR and communications. Foodtography School was the first food photography course that I took and I would recommend it as a great foundational course to anyone with an interest in food photography.
What is a Foodtography School Masterclass?
Foodtography School offers free masterclass sessions a few times per year as a way to get a sneak peek at the program offerings. They are live, 90-minute sessions taught by Sarah Crawford of Broma Bakery that include immediately actionable tips and advice to improve your food photography. You will genuinely leave the session feeling like you have learned something you can do immediately to improve your work. I'm not even kidding! This is not one of those Masterclasses that is just a sales pitch the whole time!
Also, did I mention... it's FREE! Literally zero commitment. These are the topics that were covered in the last Foodtography School Masterclass:
- Nine ways to diversify your photography income and make money (um, yes!)
- Social media content geared specifically toward growth
- How the content you create dictates your pricing (so true)
- Advanced food photography techniques to take your photos from great to AMAZING
- You'll even get a little freebie (ahem, it's a pricing matrix - so helpful!), for joining
What kind of classes does Foodtography School offer?
Foodtography School offers several different courses for different levels and interests:
- Foodtography School is for people who want to treat their photography as an art form, create a standout online presence, and turn their photography into a business. This is the program I took to get started and it's a great foundational course.
- Advanced Foodtography School takes the first course a step further. The course helps you learn subtleties in editing, how to develop a more complex grasp on composition, and teaches intricacies of food styling to elevate your photos immediately.
- iFoodtography School is for anyone who wants to learn to take better pictures of food specifically with their iPhone.
- Restaurant Foodtography School is focused specifically on food photography for restaurants. This is a way to improve your portfolio, establish yourself in your community, and diversify your income.
I took the first Foodtography School and loved it, so this Foodtography School review focuses specifically on that course. I also took Advanced Foodtography School, which is a great way to dive deeper into advanced topics, but I do not think it's essential to getting started in food photography.
Who teaches Foodtography School?
Foodtography School was created by Sarah Crawford of Broma Bakery. She has taught over 6,000 students how to improve their photography through her info-packed online courses. All Foodtography School sessions are taught by her!
What do you learn in Foodtography School?
Foodtography School offers 7 units:
- Fundamentals of Food Photography
- Composition
- Light
- Branding
- Editing
- Social Media
- Marketing
Each unit includes video sessions, workbooks, and an assignment.
You also receive several bonuses, including 4 styling sections, 3 editing sessions, an editable workbook, and new with the last offering: a section on mastering Instagram Reels!
You also get access to the Foodtography School private Facebook group, which has been such a wonderful resource for me. In this group, students will share their work and you'll provide critiques. It also becomes a community that supports each other long after you've finished the sessions. You'll make some great connections here too!
Do you need a fancy camera to join?
You do not need a fancy camera to join Foodtography School. But you will get the most out of the program if you have a DSLR or other manual operated camera. If you intend to only shoot photos with your iPhone, then I would recommend iFoodtography School!
I shoot with a Canon EOS R, which I highly recommend. You can check out some of my other favorite gear here if you want to see what I'm shooting with!
Do you have to stick to a schedule?
No! The course is online and is set up to be a go-at-your-own-pace program. There are weekly assignments and critiques, and you'll see others going through the program at that pace, but you don't have to. For me, I went through the program very slowly over several months (there was other stuff going on!). It was still great to see others sharing their work for critique, and then when I did share mine, everyone still shared great feedback and was very engaged. I think everyone really goes through it at whatever pace is best for them!
You also have lifetime access to all of the sessions, so you can revisit as many times as you want, which is really great if you want a refresher on certain areas.
What did you learn in Foodtography School?
I came into Foodtography School as a hobbyist, and I left Foodtography School with a food photography side gig. Since then, I've become a full-time food photographer and wouldn't change it for the world.
Immediately following the course, I felt more confident in my photography and my style and had a much clearer vision of where I wanted to continue growing. Remember: learning is a lifelong process!
I credit Foodtography School with opening my eyes to what the possibilities are with food photography and how to turn a nice hobby into a true business. Food photography is a new field and that's part of what makes it so exciting. Can you have a successful, fulfilling, and financially stable career in food photography? Yes, absolutely you can.
How do I sign up for Foodtography School?
If you're interested in joining Foodtography School (any of the programs) or signing up to join a free Masterclass, you can sign up with my link here. Use code JESS to receive 15% off everything on the site, including courses, templates, presets and more.
If you have any other questions, feel free to drop a comment below, or send me a DM on Instagram. Good luck with your food photography journey!
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