Appetite of a Food Photographer: From Glutton to Entrepreneur
April 14, 2015
How do you move from being an ardent fan of food to becoming an acclaimed food photographer? Through a bit of serendipity and a lot of elbow grease. At least that's how Huge Galdones has melded his interests in photography and food (both eating and cooking) into a thriving career:
“I had a passion for food (eating AND cooking) and would photograph back-of-house action while I was working for a restaurant kitchen. I really only put two and two together when I moved to Chicago (from Montreal) and started shooting for a major food publication (New York magazine/Grub-Street).”
Since then, Huge has shot events for COCHON 555 and Food & Wine magazine. Most recently, Huge traveled with chef Stephanie Izard to China while she researched for her newest offering Duck Duck Goat, set to open in the next year.
Huge will be at Skokie Public Library on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 pm to talk about his path from amateur to professional photographer, and how he draws so much inspiration from collaborators such as food stylist Johanna Lowe, chefs Lee Wolen (BOKA) and Abe Conlon (Fat Rice), and designer Kristin Miaso to craft delectable images and indelibly brand emerging talents in the restaurant industry. Indeed, it’s one thing to take a photo, but it’s quite another to shoot an entire sequence of a dish’s formation, from the kitchen to its final plating at the table.
What feedback would Huge give someone who wants to break into the world of photography? Basically, “shoot as much as you can” and to never underestimate your time and skill level. “I honed my craft shooting for the school newspaper, sports, various concerts and large festivals.”
Meanwhile, Huge continues to cultivate the next generation of food enthusiasts at home. “These days, I just like cooking with the kids, and cooking what they like: pizza, cookies, mac and cheese.” But not with the infamous blue box synonymous with American childhood: “From scratch, of course.”