The Nitty Gritty - with Sarah Bell

I love Sarah's blog and her instagram feed. Her photos are gorgeous and her recipes are just brilliant!

More importantly, she's one of the kindest and most encouraging people that I've met online.

Head over and have a look for yourself.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Heya! I am a nutritionist turned health food blogger turned food photographer. Phew, what a mouthful!

My husbands name is Ryan, we’ve been together for 9 years and I have three littlies, Dylan is 8, Evie is 4 and Frankie is nearly 2.

How did you get started?

I started my blog Sarah Bell Nutrition, when I was feeling more and more overwhelmed with my high pressure corporate role. It was a way for me to stay in touch with my health knowledge and passion, while working in a job that wasn’t really related.

After a little while of health blogging I realised that I really needed to up my food photography game - I had been posting recipes but I wanted them to look way more drool worthy.

As soon as I discovered food photography I was a convert. I have taught myself everything from reading blogs and watching youtube videos. And of course by practicing a whole lot.

Once I started working as a food photographer I was in a dreamland - I couldn’t believe I could make money doing what I love!

What equipment do you shoot with?

I shoot with a Canon 70D with either a 50mm lens or my new baby, the Canon professional series 24-70mm. I am counting the days until I can upgrade my camera body and buy alllll of the lenses.

Do you prefer studio work or location shoots?

So far everything I have done has been in the studio but I can’t wait to branch out to some location shoots soon.

Describe your style.

I would say that my style is sometimes moody and sometimes bright but always punchy images. If that even makes sense?

Who do you admire?

You! As well as Dearna from @tohercore, Claudia Goedke, Eat This Org, Green Kitchen Stories, gosh there’s so many!

What's your dream food shoot?

I would love to shoot a recipe book, with a mixture of beautiful layered cakes, bright salads and share platters, tables covered in beautiful dishes and blooms with everyone reaching in for their serve. Ahhh, dreamy haha.

What's your "can't live without" prop, tool or piece of equipment?

Beautiful ceramics. They just make a photo. Self confessed ceramics hoarder over here!

Do you have one piece of advice for anyone just starting out?

Be persistent and patient, it takes time for your style to come to you (heck I’m still trying to figure out mine) and time to figure out all the ins and outs of lighting and styling.

Sweet or Savoury?

Sweet and savoury haha. No, I find myself always leaning towards sweet recipes to create and shoot but I am trying to make myself lean more towards savoury to challenge myself more.

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate.

Four favourite instagram accounts?

Ok, so I listed some of my fav Instagramming photographers before but my other fav insta accounts are:

@bevcooks

@georgeats

@twolovesstudio

@localmilk

That was really hard! There are sooo many. [endif]

Three songs to listen to while working?

At the moment I’m loving better together by Jack Johnson, Georgia by Vance Joy and you can never go past a little Johnny Cash Jackson.

Anything old or chilled is my vibe while working.