The publishing industry has struggled with the rise of the internet, except for the cookbook market. Sales of physical cookbooks have remained strong, likely due to people cooking more at home during economic downturns. While ebooks and tablets are popular, physical cookbooks remain practical for cooking as they can be written and marked in. Food photography is in demand to illustrate cookbooks, with the key skills being portraits, architectural shots, and still life photos. Aspiring food photographers should build a portfolio, search freelance boards, research publishers, seek out restaurants and bakeries for shoots, and enter competitions.

1. Professional Studies BA (HONS) L5
Employability skills
Food Photography
By Ian Meeson

2. Industries struggling in the wake of the internet:
• Music
• The Post Office
• Film
• Public Sector
• Publishing (has arguably been hardest hit, including the book
market)
People aren't buying as many books as they used to. According to The Bookseller,
physical book sales in the first three months of 2013 were down 11 per cent, or £39m,
compared with the same period in 2012.

3. The Future
So it's interesting to learn that sales of cookery books have never been better. "Basically, the food
and drink sector has been one of the most reliable sectors of the book market in recent years,"
says Philip Stone, charts editor at The Bookseller.
It's impossible to look at cookery books' continuing popularity without factoring in the economy.
Eating out is one of the first luxuries to go in tough times.
The emergence of: The IPad, smart phones and tablets?
Many would argue that eBook’s are not particularly practical when it comes to cooking. Who
wants buttery fingers pawing their iPad? Where can you make the notes or note down seasoning
adjustments that scatter & batter, much-loved recipe books?
The cookery book is an escapist experience. “A more; personal experience”.
It has been suggested by food writers that Britain has experienced a food renaissance over the
last ten years?
Recent evidence suggests that we are finally catching up with the rest of our European
neighbours. In hindsight the past decade has perhaps marked less of a renaissance and more a
belated but successful coming of age. (Orr, G. 2012, [online]
The demand for colourful images from professionals remains high.
James Winter: (Yes Chef! 2009). BBC Saturday Kitchen

4. How to develop as a Food Photographer
Three Key specialist skills of a food photographer
1) Portraitists
2) Architectural
3) Still Life

5. Steps to Consider
• Step 1 – Prepare Portfolio
• Step 2 - Check Freelance Job Boards
• Step 3 - Research Cookbook Publishers
• Step 4 - Seek out Local Restaurants
• Step 5 - Find a Local Cake Decorator
• Step 6 - Competition
• Final thought: Get an Agent

6. Bibliography
http://www.thebookseller.com
http://helengraceventurathompson.com
http://www.independent.co.uk
http://www.lovereading.co.uk
www.olivemagazine.com
http://www.theguardian.com
[All accessed 16/03/2014]