Sarah Talbot started building her portfolio of food photography after taking part in Emma Dunham’s Food Photography Academy. Since then, she has been building her very own business, First Taste Photography, with the hopes of going full-time. She tells me more about how she started out, her inspirations and shares her advice for those getting into photography…
Our emerging photographer series aims to shed a light on up-and-coming talent. Photographers are offered a platform to share their work with a wider audience through the AP channels, with the scope of furthering their careers. We also get an insight into their inspirations, the camera gear used and future aspirations, as well as the journey taken into photography – which doesn’t have to be the most traditional route!
We’ll be sharing the work of photographers on our website and social media and even in the magazine. If you have recently started your photography journey or are a student / graduate, share your work with us at [email protected]
Which genre do you tend to work mostly in?
I focus on food photography and I am building a portfolio with a view to doing it full time. In my down time I love shooting animals and with the occasional stab at the night sky and aurora chasing – though living in the South of England so it often doesn’t reach us.
What draws you towards your favoured genre?
I have always loved cooking and eating so food was a natural choice for me.
Tell us a little bit more about your photographic training (if any)?
I did the first year of a photography A level – interrupted by the arrival of my twins – hence no second year. I should have known there was something off about my chosen study route though when the prospectus said that you didn’t really need a camera to take part. The course was heavy on looking at what other photographers and artists had done and light on how to get the best of my camera, use lights etc. It was when l opened the exam paper and it said Art & Design (photography) that I realised why I hadn’t learnt many techniques. It was still a great experience with some really interesting themed project work to ignite creativity.
Photography holidays have been part of my ongoing photography education – Venice Carnival and what turned out to be an eating tour of Abruzzo (with photography stops!) were the most memorable. I think I have been on one photography course or another throughout my adult life but especially love Camversation – great group of like minded people.
I shoot with an OM System camera so the Olympus and then OM courses and videos are always great and I have my favourite camera experts that I follow on YouTube.
Tell us more about your work?
For the last year I have been setting up First Taste Photography. Ahead of this I joined Emma Dunham’s Food Photography Academy and under her expert guidance I have been building a portfolio of food photographs. This has involved a lot of prop shopping and my children have enjoyed the increased amount of goodies entering the house. Although they have had to learn quite a lot of patience until the item in question has had its moment of fame.
What kind of reaction has it had?
Some people have been a little sceptical about the need for dedicated food photography when AI images are on the rise. But fortunately when talking to food businesses the opposite seems to be the case. The rise in AI means that you can no longer trust what is in front of your eyes. As trust reduces, the need to have real images of your actual food has become vitally important.
What has been your biggest photographic obstacle to date?
One of the biggest challenges when photographing food is photographing it in such a way that will make people want to buy the product or book the table when they can’t smell or taste it. This is where a lot of brands fail and the the ability to tell stories is needed. Adding props, using composition techniques such as rule of thirds, leading lines etc and using props to fork delicately placed to draw your eye to the food, and shape the image are key to that buying decision.
Who are your biggest influences?
Francesco Tonelli is awesome. He’s a chef turned photographer and it shows. The precision in his work is a thing to behold. Beyond that I quite like a bit of the unexpected or surrealism so Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali are high up on my list.
What equipment do you use?
I use a OM System OM-1 and prime lenses – generally a 45mm lens, 60mm macro for detail shots and a 22mm for flat lays. I treated myself to the Manfrotto Carbon Fibre Tripod with geared head as you are pretty much always on a tripod for food. Other than that reflectors to bounce light in and shape the food and black card to battle reflections with are used almost every time.
What would be your dream equipment to work with?
I started out with Nikon before moving to mirrorless (back when Nikon didn’t have an affordable mirrorless option) so if I won the lottery I would love to go back to Nikon. I can’t be bothered to build up my kit a lens at a time again though so I would want all the right lenses, triggers etc so we are definitely talking a lottery win for this to happen. I love my OM-1 though so I’m happy.
What has been the highlight of your photography career so far?
I have won a few awards within the Food Photography Academy which are a buzz but I’d say the best is yet to come in career goals so watch this space. The pictures from my very first shoot will be going into a cookbook later in the year so looking forward to that.
What are your hopes for your photography career in the future?
I intend to be doing this full time so my hope is this will be a success and I can reach the right businesses. My previous day job and qualifications are in marketing so I want to find and work with businesses where I can help them with this too and become an extension of their team. This feels important for small artisan food businesses.
Do you have a dream assignment?
My dream assignment would have to be in the Lindor factory with free samples at the end! Or maybe in a large John Lewis at Christmas where I could raid homewares and have every prop I’d ever want and some lovely Christmassy food to shoot.
What piece of advice would you give to other aspiring photographers?
My first tip is to find something you can access. I love astro photography but a busy lifestyle with family to look after and living in a town make this a frustrating genre to pursue. There is always something to photograph near to home you just have to look for it. I found it in the kitchen!
And the second piece of advice is never stop learning – there are so many opportunities – sources like Amateur Photographer, local camera clubs, city walking groups, social media, paid courses, qualifications, YouTube, manufacturers websites and YouTube channels. There is always another viewpoint to photograph from and a different technique to try. And failing that I’ll bet your camera has a million functions you never use that you could explore.
Instagram: @firsttastephotography
Website: www.firsttastephotography.co.uk
Success stories
At the 2026 AP Awards, Nick Teo was announced as our Emerging Talent winner for this documentary-fashion work. Previous emerging photographer award winners include Ethan Parker, Aliz Kovacs-Zoldi and Tariq Sadu. Si Jubb and Ethan Parker spoke at our Festival of Photography: Documentary event in 2025.
More reading:
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- “Personal images are the most powerful” These stunning self-portraits will make you reflect on your own identity
- I’ve photographed celebs and found you don’t have to be extroverted to take amazing portrait photos
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