How I Built a Thriving Food & Beverage Photography Business (Starting with a Plate of Ribs)
When you’re trying to break into commercial food and drink photography, one of the first questions you face is, “ How do I get restaurants and bars to pay me when I don’t yet have a portfolio of their kind of work?” The usual advice goes something like, “Build a portfolio, pitch your services, and wait for clients to come around.” But here’s the truth: restaurants and bars are fast-paced, margin-sensitive businesses. They don’t often take risks on new photographers unless they’ve already seen what you can do—specifically with their food and drinks . That’s where my approach comes in. It’s not about working for free forever. It’s about investing strategically —sometimes just $20 or $30 on a plate of food—to build the kind of credibility that turns into repeat, paying business. I call it the “Buy, Shoot, Thank, Repeat” method . Let me walk you through exactly how it works, and why it’s been so effective in helping me build a reliable stream of food and beverage clients. Step 1:...
