The 7 Best Food Photographers in Reno

Food photographers tend to congregate in much larger cities, but you’ll be surprised by what Reno has to offer! Commercial and food talent abounds here in the Biggest Little City in the World. Many of the creatives we’ve found use unique approaches to the genre that impacts how viewers engage with their work. So, why not consider working with one of the most outstanding Reno food photographers on your next project?

1. Lou Manna

When looking for top Reno food photographers to partner up with, few have the experience and talent that Lou Manna does! Over his 30 years of honing his art form, Lou has had his work published in over 40 different cookbooks. He spent the first 15 years of his career working for The New York Times, working side by side with Craig Claiborne, a world-famous food writer, on collaborative food essays and reviews.

Lou also partners regularly not only with local brands and publications but also world-renowned ones, such as Kraft Foods, Wine Enthusiast, and the Culinary Institute of America. His photography is warm and savory, capturing the essence of not only each dish but also the promise behind a particular brand. Being a commercial photographer, Lou also creates more than luscious food photography. His portfolio includes product images, business headshots, interior shots of fine dining establishments, and more collaborations with various partners.

2. Emilee Mason

Recipe creator, blogger, Whole30 coach, and Reno food photographer Emilee Mason of Cate & Co. Media is a champion of healthy eating and education! Her work goes beyond artistic and impactful food images to help people realize that they don’t have to choose between good flavors and sustainable, healthy meals. Meals with whole ingredients feature prominently in her portfolio, most of which have vibrant colors, intricate textures, and distinctive flavors that captivate our senses.

Emilee is also a graduate of both Sarah Crawfords’s Foodtography School as well as the Restaurant Foodtography School. At these institutions, she learned the art of food styling, composition, and editing in order to magnify the magnetic appeal of the dishes in front of us. Emilee also works with restaurants and local brands to help tell the story behind each dish, from the venue and the people behind the scenes to preparation and more.

3. Cindy Rahe

While many food photographers go dark and moody, Cindy Rahe is here to demonstrate an entirely different approach! Minimalist, sun-kissed, and vibrant is her preference, often subduing shadows entirely in order to bathe her subjects in pleasant lighting. We especially love her overhead shots, which use intentional compositions to highlight complementary and contrasting shapes and colors. Each background is carefully chosen to accentuate the subject, add contexts like “contemporary kitchen,” or both!

In some of her projects, Cindy features many items at once in a busy way that invites us to explore all that’s on offer. And in other photoshoots, she instead uses a single subject shot from a hero angle. This approach highlights the most interesting elements of a dish from an ideal perspective.

4. Arunava Nag

Looking to work with a single photographer on much more than just food? Arunava Nag is our top pick for this thanks to the sheer diversity of his talents. After all, food, fashion, portraiture, fitness, products, and much more can be found in his extensive portfolio. Arunava’s food photography is vibrant and punchy, using pop art, editorial, or interior fine dining background as needed to highlight what’s on offer.

His portrait talents are especially remarkable, leading him to regularly partner with chefs and the other folks behind the scenes that bring dishes to life. As well as a commercial photographer, Arunava is an avid educator of creatives looking to improve their skills. He often partners with corporate clients not only for culinary collaborations but also to document events, products, and portraiture.

5. Eunice of Euco Design

Food photography often goes beyond portraits of delightful dishes to include food and beverages for advertising needs. Eunice of Euco Design leverages her product, brand photography, and graphic design skills to great effect here! Her prior experience includes seven years as an in-house graphic designer, a freelance designer, and a partner in a marketing and design agency.

Besides food and drink photography, Eunice also offers package designs, illustrations, and other graphic arts that are highly complementary to the culinary world! When showcasing an item her use of color, composition, and graphic design all heighten our desire to engage with the product.

6. Asa Gilmore

“We Don’t Simply Capture Images. We Create Them.” This working ethos is what drives the commercial photography of Asa Gilmore! He takes the essence of what your brand has to offer, whether it’s a cozy residential space or a luxurious fine dining experience, and uses photography to tap the emotional elements of the subject. When browsing Asa’s portfolio, we get a sense of this thanks to his preference for direct, closely cropped compositions that place all of your attention on the culinary creations on offer!

This approach often suggests a love for the fine artistry of a dish as well. While Asa’s images focus powerfully on his food and beverage subjects, there is the opportunity to explore the textures, colors, and other elements inherent to the subject. The way glaze was drizzled across a cake, the inviting colors of a salad or soup… His eye for fine details is precisely what you’d expect from among the top commercial artists and Reno food photographers like him!

7. Mabble Media

If you’re looking for a clean, distinctive, and modern approach to food and branding photography, there are few better choices in Reno than Mabble Media! “Mabble” is a well-chosen word for their brand, meaning “to finish with excellence, beauty, and purpose.” And the talent behind the brand, storytellers, and artists all, know that you don’t have to choose between creativity and impactful, successful media.

Mabble Media uses a highly intentional approach, from lighting and background to color and composition, in order to craft precisely the right emotional tone for a subject or brand. Their colors are rich without feeling overly saturated or vibrant. And if you’re looking for something besides food, they regularly partner up with businesses for brand photography, videography, product images, and much more!

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