Commercial lifestyle food photography for a CPG meat stick brand, featuring styled product storytelling in an outdoor dining setting for use across websites, social media, and digital marketing campaignsCommercial lifestyle food and beverage photography for Feals CBD gummies, featuring a styled green apple flavor product setup created for CPG website product pages, paid ads, and social media campaignsCommercial lifestyle food photography showcasing an elevated hotel restaurant dining experience at Adelaide Del Mar, created for boutique hospitality brands and hotel marketing teams for website and social media useCommercial lifestyle food photography of a holiday smoked ham product for a premium CPG meat brand, created for website PDPs, paid ads, PR, and seasonal marketing campaignsCommercial food photography of a sushi roll for a luxury Marriott hotel restaurant, styled for hospitality marketing across website, social media, in-room dining menus, and press

Commercial Food Photography & Styling

Trusted by brands like

Travel and Leisure adventure photographer California
lifestyle coffee photographer for Philz Coffee
Self Magazine Photographer Chelsea Loren
San Diego fashion photographer Chelsea Loren
lifestyle coffee photographer for Philz Coffee

send an inquiry here

Chelsea Loren branding and product photographer process behind the scenes
Lifestyle commercial food photography & creative direction for hospitality, restaurant, and CPG brands.

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.

WHO I WORK WITH
I partner with food, hospitality, and beverage brands, including:

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • Hotels, restaurants, and hospitality groups
  • Food & beverage CPG brands across retail and DTC
  • Beverage brands in wine, spirits, and specialty drinks
  • Restaurant groups launching new menus or concepts
  • Brand and marketing teams producing content for digital, print, and paid campaigns
Chelsea Loren commercial lifestyle fashion photographer for women and maternity based in Southern California — serving San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County and beyond.
Bright, styled food photography showcasing a branded resort dining concept, created for hotel websites, social media, and hospitality brand campaigns.
Styled cocktail photography featuring an espresso martini, created for luxury hotel beverage menus, social media, and hospitality brand marketing.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
GAYLORD PACIFIC:
MULTIPLE RESTAURANT LAUNCHES

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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
Lifestyle food photography highlighting hands-on dining moments and fresh ingredients, designed to showcase restaurant atmosphere for hotel and hospitality marketing teams.
Styled overhead food photography showcasing multiple dishes for a luxury resort restaurant launch, created for hospitality marketing, menus, and brand storytelling.
Bright, lifestyle bakery photography showcasing a croissant and coffee moment, created for food and beverage brands focused on social-first and digital marketing.
Lifestyle food photography featuring bakery brunch dishes in a natural dining setting, created for website content, social media, and digital food brand marketing.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
RUBY'S BAKERY - LODI

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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.
Lifestyle bakery photography capturing a baker serving fresh pastries, designed to showcase craftsmanship, hospitality, and brand personality for food marketing teams.
Styled overhead bakery photography featuring cookies and pastries, created for food brand marketing, social media campaigns, and elevated brand storytelling.
Commercial lifestyle photography of Feals CBD gummies styled for social media, paid ads, and digital campaigns targeting modern wellness and lifestyle consumers.
Clean, minimal product photography featuring green apple CBD gummies, created for CPG brands focused on conversion-ready website imagery and paid advertising.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
FEALS:CBD GUMMIES

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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.
Styled product photography of Feals Groovy Green Apple CBD gummies, designed for website product pages, digital marketing, and lifestyle CPG brand storytelling.
Lifestyle product photography of Feals CBD gummies styled in a retro tabletop setting, created for CPG brand launches, paid ads, and social media marketing.
Lifestyle hospitality photography capturing a guest enjoying a signature cocktail at a La Jolla restaurant in San Diego, used for website content, social media, and restaurant branding.
Overhead hospitality food photography showcasing a shared dining experience, created for a La Jolla restaurant in San Diego for brand storytelling, digital marketing, and social media.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
MUSTANG & BURROS - 
LA JOLLA

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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 cocktail photography featuring handcrafted margaritas, styled for a San Diego restaurant’s website, social media, and beverage marketing campaigns.
Lifestyle food photography of plated tacos with fresh garnishes, created for a La Jolla restaurant in San Diego to support website imagery, social media, and hospitality marketing.
Modern lifestyle food photography capturing a syrup pour over stacked pancakes, created for a food biotech brand to support elevated CPG marketing, digital campaigns, and brand storytelling.
Scandinavian-inspired food styling showcasing baked cookies and ingredients in a neutral flat lay, designed for a food biotech company’s CPG marketing, website, and brand visuals.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
ONEGO BIO:
FOOD-TECH COMPANY

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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
Clean commercial food photography of a frosted baked dessert, styled to reflect a modern, design-forward food biotech brand focused on clarity, simplicity, and premium presentation.
Minimalist food photography featuring baked goods styled in a clean, Scandinavian-inspired flat lay, created for a modern food biotech brand’s website and product storytelling.
Premium lifestyle honey photography styled for a boutique CPG brand, capturing a bright, elevated food moment designed for social media, paid ads, and brand storytelling.
Clean e-commerce honey photography featuring an artisanal honey jar on a minimal backdrop, created to support premium CPG product pages, retail listings, and consistent brand presentation.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
CALIFORNIA HONEY CO.

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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.
Lifestyle food photography showcasing artisanal honey paired with gourmet snacks and seasonal produce, designed for boutique CPG brands using imagery across websites, social media, and digital marketing.
Boutique CPG honey product photography featuring an artisanal honey jar styled in an editorial still life, created for premium food brand websites, product pages, and marketing campaigns.
Lifestyle product photography highlighting a CPG meat stick snack in an everyday moment, designed for food brands seeking versatile imagery for websites, social content, and digital advertising.
On-the-go lifestyle photography featuring a CPG meat stick snack during an outdoor adventure, created for food brands marketing active lifestyles through paid ads, social media, and brand campaigns.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
ARTEMIS - MEAT STICKS

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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.
Authentic lifestyle photography showing a CPG meat stick snack in a real-life family moment, created to help food brands connect with consumers through relatable, high-performing visual storytelling.
Lifestyle food photography featuring a CPG meat stick brand styled in an outdoor family gathering, designed for premium snack brands using imagery across websites, social media, and digital marketing.
Restaurant lifestyle photography featuring a champagne toast at a La Jolla brunch spot in San Diego, created for hospitality groups, boutique hotels, and upscale dining marketing.
Luxury brunch photography showing pancakes served at a high-end La Jolla restaurant, designed for hotel dining, social media marketing, and hospitality brand storytelling.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
GREENFINCH - LA JOLLA 

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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.
Brunch food photography featuring an elevated omelet and fresh juice at a La Jolla restaurant in San Diego, styled for hospitality brands, hotel dining concepts, and luxury restaurant marketing.
Lifestyle hospitality photography capturing a quiet coffee moment at a La Jolla brunch restaurant, created for hotels and restaurants showcasing elevated dining experiences in San Diego.
Styled canned seafood photography featuring tinned fish paired with crackers, shot for CPG brands needing clean, versatile imagery for paid ads, websites, and product detail pages.
Premium canned seafood product photography featuring sustainably sourced fish in olive oil, styled for modern CPG food brands, retail packaging, and grocery launch campaigns.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL CATCH SEAFOODS

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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.
Illustrated packaging food photography showcasing a modern canned seafood brand, created for CPG marketing teams launching design-forward products in retail and direct-to-consumer channels.
Modern CPG seafood photography highlighting sustainably sourced tinned fish with bold branding, created for national retail launches, social media campaigns, and e-commerce marketing.
Hotel cocktail photography featuring a handcrafted drink, styled for upscale hospitality brands, resort marketing, and destination dining promotions in San Diego.
Luxury hotel food photography showcasing a shared dining experience, styled for hospitality marketing teams, hotel websites, and high-end social media campaigns.
PORTFOLIO HIGHLIGHT
ADELAIDE - DEL MAR 

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • 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.
Hospitality lifestyle photography capturing guests enjoying a hotel restaurant brunch, designed for luxury resorts, destination hotels, and marketing-driven brand storytelling.
Hotel restaurant food photography featuring an elevated brunch dish, created for luxury hospitality brands and resort dining experiences in Del Mar and San Diego.
Lifestyle restaurant food photography featuring handmade pasta and wine serviceVenetianFall2021Cocktail and beverage photography for a restaurant or hospitality brandEditorial food photography featuring handmade pasta and artisanal ingredients in ItalyLifestyle wine photography for a beverage brand with natural light and outdoor styling
MY PROCESS
From Creative Direction to Campaign-Ready Content

Commercial lifestyle photography

  • Moodboarding and creative concepting
  • Model and family casting
  • Location and prop sourcing
  • Shoot day(s): e-commerce, lifestyle, or studio
  • Post-production: editing & delivery of assets for multi-channel use

Each step is collaborative and customized to your brand's unique tone, goals, and audience.
Lifestyle beverage photography for a wine brand in a natural outdoor setting
Commercial product photography for a coffee brand styled for website and marketing
Chelsea Loren commercial lifestyle fashion photographer for women and maternity based in Southern California — serving San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County and beyond.
Chelsea Loren commercial lifestyle fashion photographer for women and maternity based in Southern California — serving San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County and beyond.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
BABBA CARE:
BOTTLE COOLER & WARMER

Commercial lifestyle photography

"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
Chelsea Loren commercial lifestyle fashion photographer for women and maternity based in Southern California — serving San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County and beyond.

INQUIRE HERE

THE BACKSTORY

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

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.

Girl with small white dog maltipoo terrier poodle mix

Photographer, creative director, product stylist

WHY BRANDS CHOOSE ME

  • 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

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.

Do you offer creative direction in addition to photography?

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).

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

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.

What kind of prices can I expect?

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

Can you help cast families or source models?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is commercial lifestyle food photography?

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.

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

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.

Where are food and lifestyle images typically used?

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.

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

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

How 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.

When Will I receive my images?

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.

From luxury hospitality to CPG and lifestyle — creative partnerships with brands and marketing teams that need
 imagery and assets that travel across platforms.

Brand photographer working for philz coffee

BRAND PARTNERS

Back to Portfolio

Overhead commercial food photography of assorted pastries and cookies for a brand campaign, photographed by San Diego commercial photographer Chelsea LorenLifestyle brand photography of a woman at a café styled for a commercial campaign, photographed by California commercial lifestyle photographer Chelsea LorenSan Diego commercial lifestyle photographer Chelsea Loren on set with a film cameraLifestyle product photography of a home fragrance reed diffuser styled for a brand campaign, photographed by San Diego commercial photographer Chelsea LorenCommercial lifestyle fashion photography of a model in a white tee against a pink wall for a brand campaign, photographed by California commercial photographer Chelsea Loren

Chelsea Loren Photography

Chelsea Loren is a San Diego-based commercial lifestyle photographer specializing in luxury hospitality, brand campaigns, and editorial content for premium consumer brands.

© Chelsea loren photography