6 Food Photographers You Should be Following on Instagram
At its best, Instagram helps us discover people and places we might never get to know otherwise. Here, TPG Contributor Adam Erace shares the users that should be filling your feed.
Twenty years ago, 'food photographer' wasn't a job. Sure, there were pictures of food in magazines and newspapers, but by and large they were taken by regular photographers, not ones with any special designation. Today, that couldn't be further from the truth as food and restaurants have become so central to our pop culture and social lives. As a result, photographers have responded to the zeitgeist to capture each dish, often better than we can on our iPhones. Here are six you should follow immediately on Instagram.
@danielkrieger >> Name: Daniel Krieger >> Followers: 153,000 >> Lives: Brooklyn >> Known for: being one of New York's most in-demand food photographers; honest shots of restaurant characters, from chefs to pit masters to diner waitresses >> How he got started: "Photographing for small local publications and honed my craft until I eventually moved up to larger [ones]." >> Where you can find his work: The New York Times, Eater, Punch >> Last trip: Colombia, "doing photography for their restaurants and tourism board." >> Next trip: "I'm doing some work in Nantucket and will probably make a stop in Martha's Vineyard."
@dennistheprescott >> Name: Dennis Prescott >> Followers: 302,000 >> Lives: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada >> Known for: Overhead spreads of burgers, barbecues, sushi and more, rendering in bright lighting and saturated colors >> How he got started: "I started photographing food with my iPhone several years ago as a way to remember the recipes I was learning as a self-taught cook." >> Where you can find his work: Food & Wine's FWx brand, Frigidaire "and a long list of campaign partners on Instagram." >> Last trip: "Traveling around Kenya, cooking with families and photographing the local food culture as part of the Hunger Free initiative. >> Next trip: Somaliland, an autonomous region of Somalia.
@NealSantos >> Name: Neal Santos >> Followers: 49,700 >> Lives: Philadelphia >> Known for: intense, vivid pictures of restaurants, plants and urban farm milieu, with a smattering of Santos and his partner's adorable pack of rescue dogs >> How he got started: "The initial dive into food photography is two-fold: from my interest in growing vegetables in a highly urban area and photographing food reviews for the Philadelphia City Paper." >> Where you can find his work: Lucky Peach, Saveur, Food & Wine >> Last trip: Haiti, "where I spent time visiting orphanages through rural areas on behalf of a non-profit business." >> Next trip: Road-tripping through New England. "I imagine lots of ice cream, lobster rolls, camping, visiting farms, bike rides and hopefully swimming in a lake or watering hole."
@andreagentl >> Name: Andrea Gentl; along with her husband, Martin Hyers, she makes up the photography duo Gentl & Hyers >> Followers: 60,900 >> Known for: Rich, deep, dark photos that reveal razor-sharp details; the Hartwood Tulum cookbook >> Lives: New York City and upstate in Delaware County, New York >> How she got started: "I was obsessed with cookbooks and food magazines as a kid. I grew up cooking so when I started [doing] photography, food seemed like a natural path. I love travel, and it really inspires everything I do. I love exploring a new place and food culture is always a part of that exploration." >> Where you can find her work: Conde Nast Traveler, Bon Appetit, Gather Journal, Anthropologie >> Last trip: The Q'eros Nation, high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. "We taught a travel photography workshop. It was a life-changing expedition." >> Next trip: Oaxaca.
@lucialitman >> Name: Lucy Litman >> Followers: 31,900 >> Lives: San Francisco >> Known for: Vibrant, poppy shots of raw ingredients and composites with things like Scrabble tiles and Pantone paint swatches >> How she got started: "I grew up growing vegetables with my Grandpa and was always fascinated by the process of farming. I find food, especially food that comes from plants, to be beautiful and knew that I always wanted to work with it and make it the star of my art and photography." >> Where you can find her work: Design Milk, Civil Eats "and I regularly photograph for Allbirds, the company I work for. We make shoes from premium natural materials." >> Last trip: Big Sur, "my favorite place in the US. I love that there's no cell phone reception and you can truly relax." >> Next trip: "I'm actually headed back home to Minnesota, where I grew up, for the annual State Fair. My mom and I have a tradition and go every year, mainly to eat cheese curds and onion rings."
@ulteriorepicure >> Name: Bonjwing Lee >> Followers: 21,800 >> Lives: Kansas City >> Known for: Overhead shots of food in far-flung destinations >> How he got started: "In law school, I missed using my creative faculties so I started documenting what I ate by photographing it and writing about it on my blog, The Ulterior Epicure, which I wrote anonymously for seven years. I never imagined it would lead to my current career as a photographer and writer." >> Where you can find his work: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, bluestem cookbook >> Last trip: Australia >> Next trip: "I have a photo shoot in Paris, followed by a Friends of Lysverket weekend in Bergen, Norway. While in Europe, I'm going to take advantage of the exchange rate and also stop in London and Copenhagen, two of my favorite cities."
Who are your favorite foodies to follow on Instagram? Let us know, below.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.