About

Kristen Hess The Artful Gourmet

Welcome! I’m Kristen Hess, a New York Food Stylist, Photographer, Food Writer, Recipe Developer, Blogger/Influencer and Author of The Artful Gourmet.

I have over 15 years experience in food styling and photography, creating unique content for social media, advertising, print, TV, video and PR campaigns. I am competent in photographing high quality images, food styling and props/set design for commercial photoshoots and video shoots and experienced with different types of photography including food and beverage, products, still life, tabletop, portraits, travel, restaurants, events and lifestyle. I also offer sponsored blog posts and stories, recipes and articles for food and beverage brands, restaurants + hospitality brands and I am also available as an actor and host for on-camera talent, food and cooking demos, social, live and recorded TV / film and video shoots. 

CHECK OUT MY FOOD STYLING AND PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO

Black Pepper Caramel Chicken Udon

My background is in graphic design and advertising but I made the leap into the food world back in 2010 when i quit my full time job and decided to start my own business and The Artful Gourmet blog.

Kristen Hess, The Artful Gourmet

I always loved food and cooking but I got really serious about it when I  started taking a series of cooking and technique courses at The Institute of Culinary Education back in 2007. I loved it so much I was hooked for life! French, Italian, Spanish, Tuscan, Provencal, Thai, Malaysian, Healthy Cooking, Fine Cooking, Italian Cooking, Southern Cooking – you name it, I studied it (and still do!); fell in love with food and decided this was a serious affair – and never looked back.

I studied food writing at Parsons New SchoolGotham Writers/NY Times Knowledge Network and food photography and styling at the International Center of Photography, The Institute of Culinary Education, Perfect Picture School of Photography and PhotoManhattan.

KristenHess_NYC Food Photographer & Stylist

I moved into my food media career as a natural extension and perfect blend of my culinary training and creative background, and started doing freelance food writing, food styling, photography and recipe development.

I’ve  studied food styling and photography intensively with many top industry culinary and styling/photography professionals in the industry. I have tons of client experience with top food brands, restaurants, catering companies and Chefs such as The NYS Restaurant Association and Downtown Magazine in New York,  Cholula, Chipotle, NYC Health, Castello CheeseUnileverBacardi, The Works CateringStoli, KitchenAid, Nespresso, BuitoniThe National Pork Board, Good Food Ireland, Baci Perugina Chocolate, Colavita, and more. I have also styled and photographed three cookbooks for  Gary Null Whole Foods and Harper Collins/Stonesong Press.

 

The Artful Gourmet is the product of plenty of late nights of planning and dreaming, reading and writing, cooking and eating, and styling and shooting. My purpose is to celebrate the art of food and cooking through colorful stories, recipes, styling and photography of my food creations, culinary adventures, events, experiences and people – and ultimately, all about celebrating the creativity of colorful, healthy, gorgeous FOOD.

There’s so much beauty in a bright red raspberry or a fresh green basil leaf. A dark chocolate brown coffee bean. A luscious orange tangerine. And this is what color can do – inspire, lift us up, ignite imagination and creativity, set a mood – not only in our recipes and on our plates, but in our environments, our homes, our lifestyles, and all around us. Colorful food and creative healthy cooking is an art form, an expression, beauty.

I’ll be updating content weekly, with stories and photos around food and cooking, recipes and cooking techniques, restaurant reviews, chef and local artisan interviews, stories on foodie neighborhoods, local markets and favorite food finds in New York City and other places I have lived in and traveled to around the world that have been a source of inspiration to me. I hope to be that for others by sharing my own culinary experiences, recipes and stories with people as passionate about food as I am.
Dining in Tribeca NYC
Dining in Tribeca NYC

I’m am proud to be a part of an amazing food community and look forward to sharing my recipes, stories, discoveries and photography with you all – Bon Appetit!

Food styling + photography portfolio::: https://artfulgourmetnyc.wixsite.com/kristenhess

Twitter: @artfulgourmet
Facebook: Artful Gourmet
Pinterest: artfulgourmet
Instagram: artfulgourmet

COPYRIGHT © NOTICE

All photos, recipes, styling, design and illustration on this website have been created by Kristen Hess/The Artful Gourmet unless otherwise noted. All content copyrighted © Kristen Hess/The Artful Gourmet 2010-2020, All Rights Reserved.

If you would like to share my content on your blog, website or social media please ask for my express permission first, and please credit me with a link  “Story or Photos by Kristen Hess / The Artful Gourmet”. Please send me a link when you post it, and I’d be happy to share your site with links to my content on social media.

For commercial use, print use, publication and general distribution, please inquire about custom photo licensing rates on my contact form or call 727.256.7162

THE ARTFUL GOURMET
San Antonio/NYC/Florida/Worldwide

4 Replies to “About”

  1. What a stunning site you’ve put together. Your posts really make me miss the energy and sophistication of NYC! (I left in ’98 and now live in Denver.)Best of luck with this career — from the looks of the blog you are extremely talented.

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