Welcome to season 15! In today's episode (173) of the EAT, CAPTURE, SHARE podcast, I'm reconnecting with food photographers and educators Joanie Simon and Lauren Short to take a peek into the New Year. We explore what’s shifting in the food blogging, food photography, and content creation space, share how we’re personally navigating change, and get real about which food photography trends are a total MUST this season! Here's what else you can expect from today's episode:

• I share some exciting announcements to ensure your 2026 is off to a gorgeously creative and successful start!
• Lauren and Joanie introduce themselves and share what’s currently shaping their work.
• We talk about the move away from “perfect” imagery and what 2026 trend is taking its place to create deeper connections with online audiences.
• We discuss which content format continues to dominate and influence the food space well into 2026.
• Lauren, Joanie and I unpack the growing role of AI in food photography and what that might mean moving forward.
• We share behind-the-scenes ways we’ve already experimented with AI in our creative businesses.
• A reminder that authentic storytelling still matters and how to balance it with strong professional standards.
• We identify the colour (and style) trend Pantone overlooked, yet is bang on trend for 2026, that may feel surprisingly familiar.
• We explore what’s happening with lighting trends right now, and whether long-loved approaches are on their way out.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Order my new book HOW TO MAKE YOUR FOOD FAMOUS HERE!
• My first book, Creative Food Photography is available HERE!
• Find out more about my online Reels Course HERE
• Find out more about my in-person workshops HERE
• Recap: London food videography & styling workshop 2025
• Sign up to my Instagram Masterclass wait list HERE
• Joanie's website, Instagram and YouTube
• Lauren's food photography book, YouTube and Food Photography Academy
• Tech Tiff mentioned by Joanie 
• Chef's Table on Netflix (see full show notes)
• AI & food photography: All you need to know – episode 130 (see full show notes)
• Re-release: Thoughts on Instagram, Beth Kirby and mental health – episode 84 (see full show notes)
• The biggest food photography and Instagram trends: 2023 episode 105, 2022 episode 77, 2021 episode 57 (see full show notes)
• See full show notes HERE
• Find my Instagram HERE