Photographers, stylists and bloggers who live and breathe food photography, take note: Food Photo Affair is back. And this year, the food photography exhibition—the first and only contest created, run and juried exclusively by food photographers, food stylists and other food photography pros—has added a three-day professional development conference to the mix. Registration is now open for the 2020 event, which will take place Nov. 5-8 in Napa, Calif. Visit FoodPhotoAffair.com to register for the conference and enter the photo competition.
Food Photo Affair offers professional development, educational resources and recognition for best-in-class food photographers, food stylists, food bloggers and other food industry professionals.
The newly added professional development conference provides nearly 60 interactive workshops and demonstrations, lively food photography discussions, engaging speaker panels and a host of networking opportunities with some of the most respected names in the industry. Keynote speakers include:
Author and acclaimed food stylist, Denise Vivaldo, will be featured in two presentations: tips for building a strong portfolio of corporate clients and how photographers and stylists market themselves, document their talent and grow their careers
Lisa Golden Schroeder—a food stylist, award-winning author and finalist in last year's Food Photo Affair competition—will share her secrets to commercial packaging photography, from logistics to enhancing a product's appetite appeal
Award-winning Stephen Hamilton, whose work has appeared in national magazines, cookbooks, packaging and seven seasons of the hit TV show, Top Chef, will share his keys to developing a winning creative treatment and a second session on bringing food trends to life.
Informative, hands-on workshops will cover everything from how to use artificial light and whether to work with an agent to styling for TV and video. Workshop presenters include Christina Peters, Patti Schumann, Julie Hettiger and Jamie Tiampo, among others.
Like the 2019 competition, the exhibition allows food photographers and stylists a chance to showcase and gain accolades for their work from an esteemed panel of 14 internationally acclaimed judges. Among the judges: James Beard Award-nominated Jeff Kauck, James Beard Award finalist Victoria Granof, and food packaging and design expert Chris Chong, CEO of New Zealand's Redcactus Design Limited.
With 15 categories—ranging from "Food in the Field" to "Splishes and Splashes"—and up to $13,000 in cash prizes, the exhibition and contest will be the culmination of the three-day affair.
Food Photo Affair will also do its part for the non-profit community. Inspired by its mission to eradicate global huger, Food Photo Affair has selected The Hunger Project as its 2020 charitable partner. In addition to a $14,000 contribution, the event will donate all proceeds from a weekend-long silent auction that features items such as dinner for two at the French Laundry, a food stylist kit full of useful tools and must-have supplies and a CIA bootcamp of the winner's choice.
"The problem of poverty and hunger cannot be solved through just food, clothing or shelter," said Jeffrey Martin, professional food stylist and Food Photo Affair founder. "Instead, we know that people are the solution, and we believe in The Hunger Project's principles of transformative leadership, gender equality, sustainability and empowered social transformation to combat these global challenges."
Food Photo Affair is made possible through the generosity of sponsors: Ferrari-Carano, Lodge Cast Iron, and The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Copia.
Hosted at the Meritage Resort and Spa, the weekend-long Food Photo Affair begins with optional excursions around the Napa Valley on Thursday, Nov. 5 and opening ceremonies on Friday, Nov. 6. The conference continues with keynotes, workshops, demonstrations and networking through Sunday, Nov. 8, when it concludes with a grand awards ceremony.
Early bird registrants who purchase their three-day conference pass before Jan. 10 will pay just $750, with the first 150 attendees receiving access to a complimentary three-course wine dinner in the resort's Estate Wine Cave. Photography exhibition entries range from $20 for one entry to $25 for five entries. (Yes, you read that right: $25 for five entries.)
Food Photo Affair Competition Categories
Food in the Field
Spicy
Oooey Gooey
Plated, presented by Fortessa
Freeze Frame
Food on Film Shorts
Drips and Dollops
The Hunger Project - Feeding the World
Wine Your Way, presented by Ferrari-Carano
Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
Food for Bloggers
Celebrating Food
Splishes and Splashes
Published Work
Cast Iron Cooked, presented by Lodge Cast Iron