Jennifer Janz is the owner of A Fabulous Food Stylist & Co. and the creator or The Food Styling School. Jennifer has been in the food styling industry for 23 years and her work has appeared on thousands of local and national food packages, magazines, cookbooks, menus, television commercials, cooking shows, and advertisements.
Jennifer grew up loving art. She learned early on that working with her hands and creating objects of beauty were things that compelled her. Art, like many creative endeavors is a calling. And Jennifer answered. In college she took classes in fine art and photography as well as graphic design. She loved working with all mediums. When she graduated, she chose a path of graphic design because, well, she wasn’t sure that being a fine artist would support her. After two years in the graphic design field she was unsatisfied with sitting at a desk working on a computer. She knew there had to be something more fulfilling which would be a more physically active job, a hands-on artistic job. So she decided to go into photography. Jennifer spent a few years assisting photographers and building her photography business when she was at a photo shoot where there was a food stylist hired to make a turkey for the photo shoot. Upon seeing the food stylist work her magic to make that turkey look beautiful that day, she had decided. That was the field she wanted to be in. You might call it love at first sight.
Jennifer spent the next few years improving her cooking skills. She always had a love for food and cooking so the interest was there, but she had to really work on the skills that it took to do magazine and cookbook work since you needed excellent culinary skills for that work. She also drew from her extensive background in art and photography. Knowing how light effects a subject and understanding design and composition were keys to her early success. And, Jennifer is quite skilled at working with food like a sculptor works with clay. Thinking about how the viewer may feel or what they may think upon seeing the photo of her food. Will they be drawn in? Will they get hungry? Will it make them happy? Basically, will it motivate them to do something? Make the recipe? Go and buy the food? Desire to learn more?
The Food Styling School was born out of Jennifer’s love for food styling and photography. Her desire to help others make a career from their passion for food, food styling and photography is part of the legacy she wants to leave, so that others may enjoy the same happiness and fulfillment that she has. Jennifer has learned so much over the years, and now she is ready to share it. As Jennifer knows, starting out in the food styling, food photography or food blogging industries is very challenging. There has never been a time with more competition and the need for excellence to stand out from the crowd. There are not many places to learn the art food styling or food blogging. Jennifer has perfected her techniques and tools over many many years and wants to share that knowledge with the public. It is time for this information to be easily accessible to all.
