The 8 Best Food Photographers in Ann Arbor, MI

Looking to work with one of the top Ann Arbor food photographers? Then you’ve come to the right place! Ann Arbor is a city with a ton of culture, from its sprawling University of Michigan campus to its numerous art and science museums, and 161 beautiful public parks. It also boasts some of the best food in all of the Great Lakes State. The area’s home to wonderful diversity and creativity.

Thankfully for Ann Arbor foodies, the city’s also home to some first-class food photographers. The best Ann Arbor food photographers come from various backgrounds and are involved in various projects, from commercial photography to journalism and food blogging. So let’s dig in!

1. Taylor Higgins

Taylor Higgins is a graphic designer, and marketing director turned Ann Arbor food photographer. Higgins primarily works on retainer with a list of Ann Arbor-area restaurants, and his work is nothing short of stunning. Check out his portfolio or Instagram feed, then you’ll see exactly what we mean. He’s a world-class talent, and Michigan should consider itself lucky to have him.

Higgins is deeply creative, and his photos show genuine thoughtfulness. It’s clear that he approaches every project as a new challenge, bringing fresh ideas to the table with every shoot. We also love the ways he incorporates action into his shots, highlighting the artistic flourishes and creative processes that go into creating these beautiful dishes. 

2. Nicole Haley

Nicole Haley made the decision to take the leap into professional photography while hiking the Appalachian Trail and hasn’t looked back since. She’s now an accomplished pro photographer whose career spans several niches, from wedding photography to food photography and beyond.

Her work in the restaurant industry shows a keen awareness of branding and a commercial sensibility. There’s also an editorial quality to her food photography. It’s as if every shot is ready to grace the pages of a magazine. 

3. Aparna Bankston

Aparna Bankston runs the Instagram food account @notaleafeats, and her food photography is some of the prettiest you’ll ever see. Perusing Bankston’s Instagram feed is a visual showcase of Ann Arbor’s best vegetarian and vegan food, from vegan chick’n and waffles to the best ice creams and desserts in Michigan. She also shares many gorgeous home dishes. In fact, these are sure to fuel your inspiration for what’s possible in your own kitchen. 

4. Hannah’s Eats

Hannah’s Eats is the pseudonym of a foodie photographer and University of Michigan student who also happens to be a prolific Ann Arbor eater. She’s a regular contributor to the Best Food Feed for Ann Arbor.  Along the way, she’s picked up some solid food photography skills!

Keeping up with Hannah’s Eats offers candid insight into Ann Arbor’s food scene in all its forms, from high-end pasta to coffee joints and charming brunches. We’re excited to see where her food journey takes her in the coming years. We’ve got a feeling there are many more delicious food photos in her future.  

5. Adrienne Brady 

Adrienne Brady wears a lot of creative hats for Appetites Anonymous, another mouth-watering food blog. Brady’s a recipe developer, writer, and Ann Arbor food photographer with a knack for lovely natural light and soft, colorful editing. Her food photos are wonderfully styled, and viewing them on her blog is like getting a crash course in transforming your home kitchen into a world-class food photography studio. 

6. Andy Greenwell

There’s no replacement for experience, and Andy Greenwell has boatloads of it. Greenwell has been a highly-awarded commercial photographer for over 25 years and has worked with clients worldwide to deliver their creative needs. His food photography is some of the best you’ll find in Ann Arbor, especially when it comes to shooting in the studio. His high-end, crisp studio food photos are also flawlessly lit and styled. He’s a valuable ally for any food project needing a veteran photographer’s deep expertise.

7. J. Adrian Wylie

If you’ve ever seen J. Adrian Wylie’s work, then the odds are good that it was for the ever-popular Ann Arbor Observer. He’s been the Senior Photographer there for over 20 years. Savvy photographers will also immediately notice the profound impact of analog film photography on Wylie’s style. It began with darkroom classes decades ago and has carried forward into the present.

Most of Wylie’s food and beverage work consists of editorial photography to accompany restaurants’ profiles and the culinary minds behind them. Through Wylie’s lens, we also see the people whose hard work and innovative thinking go into crafting the food that brightens our lives and helps shape Ann Arbor’s culture. You’ll drool over J. Adrian Wylie’s body of work if you love human-forward photography with a vintage flavor.

8. Diane Kim

Diane Kim is a freelance Ann Arbor food photographer (and product photographer) with a brilliant eye for color and texture. Her product photography for the food industry is immaculately lit and demonstrates a versatility in style that you don’t see every day.

For our money, our favorite Diane Kim photos are the ones she shoots for the Bao Boys food truck. They range from semi-candid shots of happy eaters holding drippy bao buns to slick overhead studio shots. When shooting food product photography, Kim makes sure there’s an excellent balance between the food product itself and its packaging, lighting both in stylish, bright ways. She’s an excellent partner for any food brand looking to level up its branding game, especially when it comes to social media. 

Tree Town has good taste!

As a thriving college town that’s not too big and not too small, Ann Arbor’s a dynamic city with a lot to offer for those who love good food. The best Ann Arbor food photographers combine a strong technical background with an understanding of visual art fundamentals, as well as an appreciation for good food and drink. Whatever your food photography needs may be, the talented photographers on this list can bring great skill and creativity to the table. 

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