The 8 Best Food Photographers in Charleston

As a cultural hub of the South and the state of South Carolina, Charleston is an exciting place to be if you are a business looking to make something new! The Holy City has it all, from famous world-class restaurants to food trucks looking to share Caribbean and Mexican tidbits for folks on a budget. But if you’re looking to get the word out on a juicy kitchen creation of yours, you’ll need images that convey the excitement you feel for your work. That’s where these top 8 Charleston food photographers come in! By partnering with one of them, potential customers will experience what’s on offer well before they ever set foot in your restaurant.

1. Stacy Howell

Stacy Howell is one of our favorite Charleston food photographers and a talented food stylist. She spends her time working both in the Lowcountry as well as in NYC on collaborations with brands! From small local businesses to major companies, she’s in demand for her elegant, detail-rich food images.

Stacy’s food photography features all of the visual aspects that speak to us at an emotional level. The rich colors of fresh vegetables, the textures of a dish, and even the steam that suggests aroma are all represented. In this way, you are already experiencing what is on offer before you’ve even stepped into the restaurant!

2. Michelle of Vision Balm

Michelle is the lead photographer behind Vision Balm, a Charleston commercial studio centered around food, product, and branding images. She knows that professional images are essential for businesses serious about their work. After all, these are the first encounters folks will have with what you have to offer them! As she shares with us: “My superpower is turning your vision into joyful, clean, and vibrant images that speak to your ideal clients and customers.”

Michelle, therefore, maximizes the engagement potential of her food photography using punchy pop art and contemporary interior backgrounds. These work to craft distinctive moods and stories for viewers. What’s more, she styles each dish or item in such a way that we are free to appreciate the beauty of it through hero angles, textures, and colors.

3. Brie Ross

Originally from Zurich, Brie Ross moved to Charleston in 2020. That said, she has been working as a food photographer and stylist for six years prior. And in total, she brings nearly two decades of photography and lighting know-how to her projects!

Brie’s approach is deceptively simple, using compositions that come across as natural. Then, she highlights items through well-directed lighting, color grading, and compositions that feature particular dishes. As a result, Brie’s food photography is perfect for editorial, advertising, and lifestyle storytelling in particular!

4. Libby Williams

Libby Williams is an especially versatile artist whose portfolio is a delightful journey into the world of photography/ Besides being a Charleston food photographer, she also documents weddings, families, babies, architecture, and much more.

And when telling stories about food. she often takes viewers past the table to the farms and fields where produce and meat are raised. The people behind each dish, farmers, chefs, and more, also play a role in her documentary food photography

5. Lowcountry Food Photography

James Stefiuk is the creative mastermind behind Lowcountry Food Photography, the partner of choice for hundreds of local restaurants and advertising agencies. Few Charleston food photographers offer as much diversity as James does. Besides crafting images specifically for restaurants, he also offers stock images from a personal library if you need illustration images for books or advertising.

What’s more, James brings more to the collaboration than his visual art talents. His team of specialists includes food stylists, executive chefs, pastry chefs, and other people who breathe life into written recipes and ensure dishes are arranged in an eye-catching fashion.

6. Stephen Blackmon

If you’re looking for someone whose work has a dynamic and engaging quality to it, we recommend exploring the portfolio of Stephen Blackmon! Especially where beverage photography is concerned, which can sometimes feel quite plain compared to the ways people feature food.

Stephen’s beverage images go beyond drinks to include the people behind brands and folks enjoying what’s on offer. This makes him a favorite of major name brands like Tequila Patron, Charleston Wine + Food, and Banks Fine Rums. Stephen’s images are also strongly people-centric, highlighting the smiles and effort that goes behind bringing a dish in front of you. From waitstaff to bartenders, no one goes unnoticed by him.

7. Au Jus Creative

As a Charleston commercial photographer, Julia Sanders of Au Jus Creative is the partner of choice for brands across several genres. She features not just food and drinks in her portfolio but also products, portraits, lifestyle, boudoir, and more.

Her food and drink images often convey lifestyle narratives themselves, using the background and lighting to suggest stories that go beyond the item. A dish looks good and tells us more about a fine dining establishment thanks to Julia’s creative talents!

8. Jonathan Boncek

From vibrant culinary images to authentic portraits, Jonathan Boncek is a visual storyteller and commercial artist of repute. He describes himself as a culinary and lifestyle brand photographer, someone who marketing firms and ad agencies contact to create mouthwatering images. And as a lifestyle shooter, Jonathan helps put a face behind the services of businesses and influencers alike!

His photography often feels celebratory in a sense. We see his love for color, detail, texture, and form very often in his food images. Jonathan arranges the items within the frame so effectively that it gives his photos the appearance of a still life presentation in many cases.

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