Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Zilber
Emma, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always found myself drawn to create with a camera. As an adolescent I loved to capture landscapes and close-ups in nature. Often I would take myself on an adventure and let my camera dictate the route. Sometimes this was as close as the front yard, and other times I would get in the car and drive. These kinds of expeditions fuel my creativity and I still try to practice them.
Later in my career, I was pursuing portrait photography when I began to learn more about the current state of the food industry and the need for change in how our food is made. This was a pivoting moment for me and I switched my focus to food photography. I wanted to be a part of the companies that are trying to make a change in the food industry. My goal as a photographer is to help the people making a positive impact stand out with their imagery.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Can I say the amount of dishes I do on a daily basis as a food photographer?! Haha!
More seriously, I think with all artists and creative pursuits, creative burnout and a work/life balance is the greatest struggle. When you need to be creative on-demand and in order to make a living, it’s important to take time away from creating so that you can recharge and refuel. This can be difficult when there’s a constant pressure to create and share things online. Figuring out what kind of boundaries to set in place to make sure I’m not drained is something I’m constantly working on and revisiting.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in food photography. This ranges from capturing and developing recipes, creating hero images of menu items (or as I like to think of them, glamour shots), and creating images for food products. I also love to create stop-motion videos and bring a dish to life!
The majority of the time, I create from my home studio and work with clients remotely; although I do occasionally do work on location, especially if we’re capturing images of the space.
This year I had an image commended for a Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year award which was exciting! This was part of a project for Lucca Delicatessen, based in San Francisco. Their sandwiches are not only incredibly delicious, but quite impressive to look at! Mariana Swedelson, the food stylist that joined me on this project, did an amazing job!
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I loved anything that got my imagination working! I explored outside, often had my nose in book and enjoyed getting involved in local acting groups.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emmazphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmazphoto
