Savory Shot

In this podcast interview, writer Addie Broyles and I talk about food writing, the best advice she got from Gary Vaynerchuk, and leaving Austin American-Statesman to pursue a freelance career. We also dive into how to find your passion, how to make change happen in your life, why it's important to be multi-faceted as a person (and in your career), what tarot cards can teach us about change, perfect timing, and more!

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/addie-broyles/

From the moment you start taking pictures and sharing them with the world, you will begin to compare yourself to other photographers. You might feel that they are better at shooting food than you. Or that their images sell more than yours because they look like they belong on a magazine cover. But comparing yourself to other photographers is pointless because everyone has a unique perspective on the world around them and uses that unique perspective to tell their story.

It's easy to feel like your work is never good enough. In this episode, we talk about why comparing yourself to other food photographers is pointless, and why that belief can keep you from growing as a photographer.

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/comparing-yourself/

When you're a food stylist, the pressure is on.

You have to make the food look delicious and appetizing, but also make sure it's not too overdone. It's a fine line to walk—and one that Olivia Caminiti has walked time and time again.

Caminiti began her career as an assistant food stylist, working for six years before taking on more responsibility as a lead stylist. After the pandemic rocked her world (like so many freelancers), she decided it was time to make the leap as a food stylist.

In this episode, we sit down with food stylist Olivia Caminiti to learn how she became a lead food stylist and what it takes to have a successful career as one. After sharing some of her personal stories, she talks about the importance of having an important mentor in your life. We also get an inside look into the challenges of being a food stylist, such as coordinating with photographers, figuring out how much time is needed for set-up and shoot prep, and navigating client expectations.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/olivia-caminiti/

Do you ever have a feeling that you're doing something wrong? That you should be taking more risks, but aren't sure what those risks are? Do you ever feel like you're not being true to yourself? That there's something bubbling under the surface that needs to be explored, but you're not sure what it is?

In this episode, we talk to Joanie Simon, founder of The Bite Shot, about taking leaps of faith. She shares her story of how she built her company from scratch by taking risks and following her gut. Joanie also talks about when it's best to take a risk and when it's better to play it safe. Joanie's story is a reminder of how important it is to take risks and be confident in your abilities. Her advice: be the best version of yourself, not the best version of someone else.

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/joaniesimon/

In this episode, I tell you guys a true story about the time I quit my job for Harry Potter.

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/harry-potter/

Kristina has been a food stylist since 2009, and she's learned some hard truths about the industry. She's here to tell you that competition will only make you bitter, but community will help you grow.

She'll show you how being a team player will get you more work and how to become indispensable to the people around you.

For Kristina, working as a food stylist isn't just a job—it's an opportunity to create beautiful things with people who care about making their work better. She knows that it takes a lot of hard work to get there, but if you're willing to put in the effort and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, success isn't out of reach!

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/007-show-up-stay-humble-and-make-a-difference/

In this episode, Amy V. Cooper shares her insights as a photographer, mentor, and consultant on how to market yourself as a commercial photographer. She talks about how female photographers can be as loud as possible and why food photographers should market themselves differently than other types of commercial photographers. She also shares her many consulting services, including the Marketing for Commercial Photographers masterclass course.

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/amyvcooper/

In this episode of the Savory Shot podcast, Mica interviews food, portrait, and lifestyle photographer Meika Ejiasi. They discuss the importance of allies in the food industry and how to be an effective one. Meika also shares her journey as a black woman in the food photography industry and how, through Black Women Photographers, she's worked to create inclusive spaces for all.

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/meika/

In this episode, Dani Colombatto talks about how to live a more colorful life by bringing color to your surroundings whenever and wherever you can. She discusses the importance of being your own champion and trusting your intuition. We talk about cultivating your own personal style rather than simply following trends.

Dani's childhood influenced her career as an author, food stylist, and food blogger. We chat about it in this episode of the podcast. We also talk about how her first two cookbooks came to be and what she has planned for her third. 

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/004-trusting-your-instincts-and-owning-your-brilliance/

Aaron is passionate about helping artists and other creatives to take control of their bank accounts and learn the basics of accounting.

Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/003-bookkeeping-is-not-as-hard-as-you-think/