Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Hess.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am originally from New York City – I used to work in Advertising as an Art Director/Creative Producer on several food accounts. Back in 2007, I decided to start taking cooking classes at the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC just for fun. I’ve always loved food, but never considered getting into it as a career, until I started these classes and took a Food Styling/Photography workshop in 2010, and fell in love. It was my “aha” moment! I decided to start my food blog (The Artful Gourmet), and built up my following on social media while I was still working in Advertising on Kraft Foods at 360i. I decided to finally jump ship in January 2012, and officially opened my freelance business doing food styling and photography, recipe development and blogging/social media for several food and beverage clients including KitchenAid, Arnold Bread, Eggland’s Best, Newman’s Own, Cholula, Chipotle, Captain Morgan, Bacardi, Food Network, Publix, HSN, and many more. I built up my business in NYC and then did a short stint in Tampa/St Pete Florida area before moving to San Antonio in 2011 for a job as a full-time Food Photography Stylist for H-E-B, where I did food and prop styling, cooking, art direction, set styling, product styling for all of their advertising and marketing materials, digital ads, social media, signage, print and OOH creative. I just recently left the position to pursue my freelance business again; and I am working with/pursuing clients in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, as well as building relationships with agencies and clients in LA and NYC and remote opportunities in my home photography kitchen studio.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business is never easy and there are almost always bumps and obstacles to overcome. When I first started my business in NYC, I relied heavily on in-person and social media networking, referrals, and prioritized creating content and getting my name out there on a daily basis, and hustled, hustled, hustled! Of course in the beginning there were times I didn’t know if I could make it work freelancing full-time, especially in a food media saturated city like New York. I was suddenly competing with some of the top food stylists, photographers and bloggers out there on the market which was a little intimidating, but I kept going, and kept getting more projects and photoshoots, more new and repeat clients, and more confidence to push my business to the next level.
There is so much competition in the food media industry now, so it’s important to really define your brand, and build relationships with current and new customers, followers, and to do really great work consistently, so that your brand speaks for itself through your passion, creativity and voice. And don’t be afraid to sell yourself and connect with peers in your industry so that you can support eachother along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a freelance Food Stylist, Photographer, Content Creator and Food Blogger/Writer with many amazing clients in the food and beverage, restaurant and hospitality industries in NYC, TX, FL, ATL, and worldwide. I style and shoot food and beverages, products, lifestyle and portraits for social media, video, TV, web, print, editorial, packaging, traditional and digital marketing campaigns. I am also the Author/Publisher of my food blog, The Artful Gourmet, where I create custom content around food and cooking, recipes, restaurants, travel, lifestyle, product and cookbook reviews, food styling and photography.
Client Experience: H-E-B, USDA, National Peanut Board, Harry and David, KitchenAid, Ronzoni, Galbani Cheese, Wegman’s, Publix, HSN, Peroni, Tillamook, Potato Wonder, Mahana Fresh, The Laughing Cow, Downtown Magazine NYC, NYS Restaurant Association, NYC Health, Captain Morgan, Bacardi, Ketel One, Stella Artois, Stoli, Baskin Robbins, PDQ, Cholula, Chipotle, Baked by Melissa, Lilly Pulitzer, Arnold Bread, Eggland’s Best, Ketologic/FBOMB, and many more.
You can view my work online at:
PORTFOLIO: https://www.kristen-hess.com
SOCIAL: @artfulgourmet (IG/FB/TW/PI)
BLOG https://www.theartfulgourmet.com
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I have always considered myself a risk taker! I believe you can’t achieve the highest success in life or business unless you take risks, even if you fail.. which is really just an opportunity to learn from mistakes and grow to a higher level.
When I lived in Atlanta, I was a freelance graphic designer at The Home Depot Advertising for several years. I decided I wanted to study abroad and packed up my things, threw everything in storage, and moved to Melbourne Australia for 2 years to attain my Masters Degree in Advertising. Then, back in 2005, I moved to NYC with only a few leads for a job and ended up getting an Advertising job at a small firm to start, then ended up working at some of the top advertising, digital and branding agencies in NYC such as Interbrand, JWT, Digitas and 360i.
After several years of working in Advertising, I decided to pursue my love of food and combine it with my background in Creative design, writing and branding experience and started my freelance food styling/photography business and Artful Gourmet food blog and had several successful years with amazing clients in NYC and all over the country.
I truly believe that it’s scary to take big risks such as these without knowing the outcome, but having faith in yourself and your talent , you will always come out on top with the biggest rewards. And I never looked back!
Pricing:
- Food Styling $1500 day rate
- Photography $2000/day + (custom pricing)
- Blogging/Content Creation $150/hour
- Social Media $150/hour
- Art Direction $150/hour
Contact Info:
- Website:
- Portfolio: https://www.kristen-hess.com
- Blog: https://www.theartfulgourmet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artfulgourmet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artfulgourmet
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klhinnyc
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/artfulgourmet
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theartfulgourmet
