The Challenge
Seasonal food photography had to deliver high-impact visuals fast - across holiday, deli, bakery, produce and Hispanic market - while juggling limited budgets, sample availability and multiple stakeholder approvals. We needed a repeatable way to plan shoots, secure the right product, direct on set and deliver consistent assets without churn.

Snapshot
• Role: Creative lead (planning, direction, approvals, partner coordination)
• Scope: Seasonal and lifestyle food photography + category priorities
• Categories: Bakery, Deli, Hispanic Market, Holiday, Ready Meals, Packaged Goods, Produce
• Operating Model: Intake → shot list → sample coordination → on-set direction → approvals → delivery
• Partners: Merchandising, Vendors, Marketing/Brand, Photographer/Studio, Legal, Sourcing
• Outputs: Shot lists, on-set direction, approved selects, retouched finals, delivery-ready assets

What I Led
• Built shot lists and run-of-show plans to keep shoots efficient and on strategy
• Directed on set, managed approvals, and ensured the right story and styling for each category
• Acted as go-between for merchants, vendors and photographer to secure correct samples and timing
• Created intake forms to standardize requests, reduce confusion and protect deadlines
• Solved budget constraints creatively (including store-based shoots to preserve product use)
• Partnered with Legal and Sourcing to review and approve contracts when required

Results
• Improved stakeholder alignment and reduced back-and-forth through standardized intake and clear shot lists
• Kept shoots on schedule despite budget and sample constraints by planning alternates and store-based solutions
• Delivered consistent, brand-right lifestyle and product imagery across priority categories (bakery, deli, Hispanic market, holiday, ready meals
• Increased confidence in “what shoppers see is what they get,” especially for eCommerce-ready product photography