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Commercial Food Photography & Styling

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Chelsea Loren is a commercial food photographer and creative director specializing in lifestyle-driven imagery for hospitality, restaurant, and food & beverage brands. Her work captures food in real, intentional moments—designed to feel elevated, approachable, and brand-forward without feeling over-styled.

She collaborates with marketing teams and founders to create visuals that translate seamlessly across digital, print, and in-person touchpoints, from websites and menus to paid campaigns and press.

With an editorial background and a strategic approach to content creation, Chelsea produces food imagery that is visually compelling, versatile, and built to perform—keeping the food at the center while the styling and environment support the story.

Lifestyle commercial food photography & creative direction for hospitality, restaurant, and CPG brands.

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  • Multi-restaurant hospitality launch for a large-scale resort property
  • Led creative direction and styled food photography across a two-day production, capturing over 50 menu items in thoughtfully designed, brand-specific environments
  • Developed custom vignettes for nine distinct restaurants, each styled to reflect the unique aesthetic, concept, and dining experience of the space prior to opening
  • Result: A comprehensive image library used across Marriott’s website, restaurant menus, digital marketing, social media launches, brand storytelling, and press / PR; along with an ongoing partnership

Commercial lifestyle photography

GAYLORD PACIFIC:
MULTIPLE RESTAURANT LAUNCHES
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Multi-day hospitality and food photography campaign in partnership with city tourism board
  • Designed to elevate Ruby’s Bakery as a destination business and highlight it as a standout local brand
  • Developed a comprehensive shot list and creative direction to strengthen the bakery’s online presence, working closely with the owner and staff to capture hospitality moments, behind-the-scenes bread and pastry production, and styled food and experience-driven imagery
  • Result: A high-performing image library used across tourism marketing and digital platforms—helping position Ruby’s Bakery as a must-visit, with multiple images from the campaign going viral.

Commercial lifestyle photography

RUBY'S BAKERY - LODI
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Styled product photography for the launch of Feals’ limited edition Groovy Green Apple CBD gummies
  • Developing multiple visual setups to capture both fresh, fruit-forward energy and a playful 1970s-inspired aesthetic
  • Created a cohesive mix of styled product imagery and UGC-style video clips designed for flexibility across digital platforms
  • Result: A versatile asset library used across Feals’ website and social media channels, supporting the flavor launch with both polished imagery and short-form video content optimized for social engagement.

Commercial lifestyle photography

FEALS:CBD GUMMIES
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Restaurant food and experience-driven photography for a destination dining concept
  • Provided full-service production and creative direction in collaboration with the Estancia La Jolla marketing team, overseeing concept development, visual direction, and on-set execution
  • Led casting, wardrobe styling, and scene planning to capture the complete dining experience—from food and cocktails to outdoor ambiance, live music, and guest interaction
  • Result: A cohesive image library used across website, social media, paid ads, and PR—supporting brand storytelling and ongoing marketing efforts, with a continued partnership as a repeat client.

Commercial lifestyle photography

MUSTANG & BURROS - 
LA JOLLA
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Full-service photography across multiple campaigns, collaborating with an international (Finland-based) team
  • Photography captured across food lab environments, styled product scenes, team headshots, and facility imagery
  • On-site food styling and prop styling to support brand aesthetics 
  • Prop selection and backdrop contribution to elevate imagery
  • Extensive post-production, including detailed retouching and object alignment to optimize imagery for paid ads
  • Result: Strong visual storytelling, consistent brand presence, and a long-term repeat client relationship

Commercial lifestyle photography

ONEGO BIO:
FOOD-TECH COMPANY
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Styled food photography for a multi-flavor, boutique CPG brand
  • Collaborated closely with the brand’s owner to identify complementary food pairings, props, and visual cues that helped differentiate flavors while maintaining a cohesive brand aesthetic
  • Captured a mix of styled lifestyle imagery and clean e-commerce assets to support both brand storytelling and retail needs
  • Result: A versatile image library used across the brand’s website, social media, and third-party retailers and boutiques—elevating the visual presence of a San Diego–based family brand, and supporting an ongoing partnership as a repeat client.

Commercial lifestyle photography

CALIFORNIA HONEY CO.

PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Lifestyle food photography and e-commerce photography for a national CPG launch
  • Multi-day production across San Diego, working from the brand’s shot list to create cohesive visuals 
  • Produced imagery across diverse environments—including hiking trails, residential settings, beach, van-life scenarios, gym moments, and studio e-commerce—to position the product as an everyday, on-the-go lifestyle staple
  • Coordinating lighting strategies for varied conditions, managing a large cast of adult models, children, and a dog, and directing real-use moments that showcased the product in motion
  • Result: A versatile image library used across Artemis’ website, social media, digital marketing, and launch campaigns—reinforcing the brand’s positioning as an active, lifestyle-driven food product.

Commercial lifestyle photography

ARTEMIS - MEAT STICKS
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Lifestyle food photography for a destination brunch restaurant
  • Led full-service production and creative direction in collaboration with the hotel’s marketing team, shaping a visual approach that highlighted Greenfinch’s al fresco setting 
  • Cast and directed a diverse group of models, coordinated wardrobe, and styled food and beverage moments to showcase brunch, champagne, coffee, and outdoor dining
  • Result: A polished image library used across the hotel and restaurant’s website, social media, paid advertising, and press / PR—supporting ongoing campaigns and reinforcing a repeat partnership.

Commercial lifestyle photography

GREENFINCH - LA JOLLA 
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Ongoing CPG food photography across multiple SKUs supporting a national brand refresh and retail expansion
  • Created a cohesive visual system through clean e-commerce photography and styled food imagery, ensuring consistency, uniformity, and flexibility across platforms
  • Led strategic lighting and styling to maintain visual continuity across SKUs—supporting plug-and-play usage for paid ads, social media, website updates, and A/B testing
  • Result: A versatile image library used across website refresh, social and paid advertising, and retail marketing—supporting Natural Catch’s expansion into national retailers including Whole Foods and Target, while positioning the brand alongside contemporary, elevated tinned seafood brands.

Commercial lifestyle photography

NATURAL CATCH SEAFOODS
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
  • Ongoing restaurant photography capturing seasonal menus and the full dining experience
  • Captured both food and hospitality-driven moments, showcasing the restaurant experience across brunch, lunch, cocktails, and dinner service
  • Led full-service production, including casting a diverse group of models and styling wardrobe to reflect Adelaide’s elevated, coastal Del Mar aesthetic
  • Result: A continually refreshed image library used across website updates, social media, digital marketing, and brand storytelling—supporting both menu launches and long-term visual consistency.

Commercial lifestyle photography

ADELAIDE - DEL MAR 
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
"We worked with Chelsea to launch our baby product brand Babba. I spoke with and interviewed many brand photographers, and ultimately decided to work with Chelsea due to her amazing portfolio and felt she best understood the brand we were trying to create. As a company selling a premium baby product we knew she could elevate the brand so that the photos portrayed to customers that everything about the company is high-quality. As an early startup, we were looking for a professional with experience so we loved her full-service creative direction which allowed us to communicate our thoughts and she put it all together. 100% worth the investment as we wouldn't be where we are today if it weren't for her amazing work!"
- DAN, FOUNDER OF BABBA CARE

Commercial lifestyle photography

BABBA CARE:
BOTTLE COOLER & WARMER

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
  • 14+ years of photography experience, working with over 500 brands
  • Trusted by lifestyle brands like Marriott and Philz Coffee
  • Lifestyle-meets-commercial style that speaks to modern consumers
  • Strategic understanding of how content performs on ads, websites, and social media
  • Full-service production support: creative direction, casting, location sourcing, styling, and more

WHY BRANDS CHOOSE ME

Photographer, creative director, product stylist

and analytics to produce imagery that resonates and converts. My roots run deep in photography, too—my mom is an award-winning family photographer, and I got my start assisting her. After studying art history and fashion, I moved to Paris, where I worked as a travel journalist (while chasing the perfect croissant). All of that influences how I see the world—and how I help brands tell their stories with style, strategy, and heart. I now live in San Diego with my husband, pup, and our twin babies.

Before launching my business, I worked behind the scenes at a leading wedding editorial brand, ran the photo and social department for an e-commerce boutique, and directed content for a Forbes-listed travel and family influencer. That experience gave me a unique perspective: I didn’t just create content—I got to see how it performed across platforms. It taught me how to blend art

THE BACKSTORY

INQUIRE HERE

Images will be delivered 3 weeks after your selections have been made from our session; photoshoots are typically scheduled anywhere from 1-3 months in advance. For projects that have a quick turnaround time, let me know and we can see if it can be accommodated.

When Will I receive my images?

I'll deliver a cohesive online gallery brimming with images that pack a punch! You can download the High-Resolution files straight from there and start using them right away to make your website and social media sparkle.

How Will I receive my images?

Yes. While I’m based in San Diego, I work with food, beverage, hospitality, and CPG brands nationwide.

Do you work with food and hospitality brands outside of San Diego?

Commercial food and lifestyle imagery is commonly used across:
Paid advertising (Meta, Google, Amazon, Pinterest, etc.)
Brand and product websites
Amazon listings and PDPs
Email marketing and campaigns
Packaging and point-of-sale materials
Menus, hospitality collateral, and sales decks
Press, PR, and editorial placements
Every project includes a clear licensing and usage discussion so imagery is created with your intended placements in mind.

Where are food and lifestyle images typically used?

Yes. I regularly create a mix of clean e-commerce imagery and lifestyle food photography in a single production.
This allows brands to walk away with:
  • White or clean-background images for PDPs
  • Styled food photography for websites and ads
  • Lifestyle imagery for social and brand storytelling
Everything is planned strategically so assets work across multiple platforms and campaigns.

Do you shoot both e-commerce and lifestyle food content?

Commercial lifestyle food photography showcases food, beverages, and products in real, elevated, brand-appropriate environments — rather than static or overly sterile setups. The goal is to create imagery that:
  • Communicates flavor, quality, and experience
  • Aligns with your brand identity and audience
  • Performs across ads, web, social, and retail
  • Feels editorial, intentional, and conversion-ready
This approach is ideal for CPG brands, restaurants, hospitality groups, and food startups looking to stand out visually.

What is commercial lifestyle food photography?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you help cast families or source models?

Absolutely. I coordinate talent that aligns with your audience and brand identity.

What kind of prices can I expect?

Each project is custom and based on scope, creative direction, production needs, and usage. During our consultation, we’ll cover:
  • Campaign goals and deliverables
  • Platforms where images will be used
  • Creative direction and styling needs
  • Licensing and usage requirements

As a general guideline, commercial food photography projects typically range from $5,000–$30,000+, depending on complexity and usage.

how do you make sure i get the photos i need?

For most sessions, I make a very detailed Creative Directive to streamline ideas, shot list, inspiration, and usage, that way we are on the same page. The Creative Directive is part of my proven process to ensure you get the shots you need of either you or your product, with on-brand colors, and photographed with placement in mind (like hero header vs Instagram).

Do you offer creative direction in addition to photography?

Yes. I provide full-service creative direction alongside photography, which may include:
  • Casting models
  • Location scouting
  • Wardrobe and prop styling
  • Shot list collaboration and refinement
This helps ensure imagery supports both brand goals and marketing performance, not just aesthetics.

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© Chelsea loren photography