Despite earning the moniker of Beantown, Boston does far more than serve an appetizing dish of slow-baked beans. Across its many bars, pubs, bakeries, and restaurants, patrons can devour dishes both iconic and unknown, from a creamy concoction of clam chowder to apple pie with cheddar cheese. If you’re looking to explore the city’s culinary landscape for your next commercial or editorial campaign, you better be accompanied by one of the best Boston food photographers. We have some recommendations right below, with many more to be discovered in our directory.
At Wonderful Machine, food photography presents food as “a product or an experience, showing it being grown, prepared, served, or consumed.” Through seven talented individuals, we plan to portray the many facets of the specialty, helping you find the right match for your upcoming assignment.
We have Douglas Levy (though he prefers to go by Doug) starting our list of the best Boston food photographers. Soaking up warm colors, Doug’s photos lean toward a bird’s eye view of various treats and dishes in neat and tidy presentations. Even if it’s an assortment of donuts resting on a crumpled piece of paper, the frame holds onto a sense of orderliness with ease. So, in addition to his skill with the camera, Doug’s eye for food styling deserves plenty of recognition.
On the commercial front, Doug has worked with the likes of Mass Farmers Markets, Wayfair, Dunkin’ Brands, Amazon, and Radius Health. His editorial clients include Boston Magazine, Global Coffee Report, Forbes, and Der Spiegel, among others.
After studying art history and film, Michael Piazza found his groove in photography when he moved to New York City. Today, he’s based in Boston, serving as Chief Photographer and Creative Director of Edible Boston Magazine, forming a harmonious marriage between his loves of food and photography. Outside his primary occupation, he contributes to Food&Wine, Down East, Yankee Magazine, and Martha Stewart Living. Additionally, he has collaborated on numerous cookbooks, most recently on “Two If By Sea” with Barton Seaver and “Maple Syrup Cookbook” and “Pure Skin Care” with Storey Publishing.
A glance through Michael’s portfolio reveals a variety of shooting styles, showing his flexibility to suit different commercial and editorial campaigns. In addition, his images explore more than just the final dish on the table, indicating an appreciation for food from the time it’s grown to the last bite a diner consumes.
With a full-service studio in Allston, Adam DeTour pays particular attention to the specialties of food and portraiture. He’s a Boston food photographer interested in a broad spectrum of stories, highlighting the growers and makers of food in addition to the delectable dishes that end up on the dining table. His portfolio gives plenty to munch on, with some compositions relying on sizzling presentations ideal for commercial use while others take a more artful approach to suit editorial assignments. In short, Adam’s nothing if not versatile.
Adam’s client list covers the New York Times, Boston Magazine, Culture Magazine, Improper Bostonian, and Seven Elm.
Based in the Boston and New York City metropolitan areas, Joe St. Pierre is a self-taught photographer specializing in food and drink, hospitality, lifestyle, and portraiture. His portfolio is bright and warm without reservation, largely relying on a contrast of colors to highlight his subjects. Joe’s philosophy in life and on set focuses on “keeping things simple,” ensuring that he tackles each project, no matter how large or small, with the same passion, dedication, and commitment to satisfy his clients.
In the food and beverage space, Joe has worked for Bolthouse Farms, Hello Fresh, Peroni Beer, Bon Appetit, Wine Spectator, Whisky Advocate, Eating Well, Health Magazine, and Mind Body Green.
With her Canon R5 and Profoto Lighting equipment as her sidekicks, Linda Campos tackles the specialties of food, travel, and lifestyle in light and airy fashion. Her photos have the feel of spring or early autumn, achieved by holding back color through the most minute of degrees. Linda pays equal attention to the final product of the cooking process and the activities taking place behind the scenes, making her more than qualified for a range of commercial and editorial assignments, no matter the scope or scale.
A select list of Linda’s clients includes Boston Magazine, Edible Boston, Yankee Magazine, Primefish Seafood Co., Curio Spice Co., Louis Jadot Wine, Taittinger Champagne, Flatbread Pizza Brighton, Allagash Brewing Company, and Scribe Winery.
Having immersed himself in the advertising industry, Heath Robbins is exceptionally qualified to capture the stories of various brands. Being a lifelong foodie is a bonus, adding Heath to our list of Boston food photographers with a heartfelt passion for the specialty. Heath’s food photos showcase different angles and spatial relationships, while highlighting the numerous textural elements at play with our food, from syrup running down a tower of fluffy pancakes to the specks of crumbs lying around a freshly baked cake. Combine this with his manipulation of depth of field, and you have a photographer who’s masterful at directing our eye to the right spots.
Heath’s client list features Friendly’s, McDonald’s, Ocean Spray, BJ’s, Nasoya, Maine Lobster, Caskata, and many others.
Dave Bradley is a Boston food photographer who has taken the words of Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Eames to heart: realizing that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” and finding “the uncommon beauty of common things.” With an education from the Art Institute of Boston and more than three decades of experience, while operating his studio, Dave brings a compelling artistic vision to his photography. By paying attention to shapes, forms, and textures, he showcases food in uncomplicated terms, sometimes by the book and sometimes in a conceptual format. Whatever the case may be, he’s unabashed in his utilization of color, celebrating food and drink in the boldest and brightest terms imaginable.
For campaigns that require striking and arresting visuals, commercial or editorial, Dave would be a more than worthy candidate.
We’ve served you a menu of seven Boston food photographers, each showcasing distinct approaches with the many elements of composition. Depending on the aesthetic requirements of your commercial or editorial campaign, we’re confident that any one of the individuals above can get the job done.
Further Reading
See more food photographers in Boston on our Find Photographers page.
Learn more about other types of photography on our Specialties page.