Name: Hee Youn Kim

Age: 33

City of residence: Alhambra, CA

Job title: Freelance food photographer/food stylist

Time at your present job: 8 months

 

Describe what you do.

I photograph food and people in food service establishments. As a food stylist, I shop, cook and prepare food, then arrange it for the camera.

What do you find most fulfilling about your work?

I love both food and photography. They are my favorite art forms. I’m happy when I see the beautiful food photography that I created. I also enjoy utilizing my knife skills. I am quite confident in preparing the smallest dice or thinnest slice for close-up.

Describe your path here.

After getting an M.F.A. in photography at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, I drove to L.A. and got a job as a sportswriter for a Korean newspaper. Eventually I quit and decided to go back to school. I enrolled in the Le Cordon Bleu program at California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena. I did my internship at Food Fanatics, a business that specializes in food styling, and I learned basic knowledge about the industry.  

What other jobs have you held?

I used to write and direct short films and worked as crew for low-budget films in college. It wasn’t much money but I grew comfortable with working on a set.

What are some challenges that you might not have expected?

Throwing out food was hard in the beginning. When we do a shoot we make three versions of each food. The first for lighting adjustment for the photographer, the next for the real shoot and the last one we use as a backup. We usually undercook food and often put inedible stuff on it. And then we keep it at room temperature until all shots are approved by the end of the day. Obviously, eating it or giving the food away is not an option. I came from a society that has respect for food and my culinary education strengthened it even more. Wasting a lot of food made me feel guilty. The feeling has diminished gradually. But I try not to waste anything when I cook for myself.

What are the perks?

The job allows me to visit different studios, locations and houses. I love going somewhere new. Meeting new people is a perk, too.

The challenges?

Shopping is the most crucial part of the job. I need to get the most perfect, beautiful looking fruits, vegetables, meat and fish out there. It’s harder than it sounds because food that looks good enough to eat does not always look good enough for the camera. Having the nicest, freshest ingredients can save a lot of time and work. They do not need heavy styling. Multi-tasking with limited time is a challenge, too. I must keep the ingredients fresh, cook and style the food for the camera, prepare food for the next shot and keep my work place clean and organized.