Rising Stars: Meet Callie Blount

Today we’d like to introduce you to Callie Blount.

Hi Callie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My journey to food styling began with a blog! In 2010 I was working in full-time ministry but loved to cook, so I started a blog to share that “luv” of food with others (luv-cooks.com). Looking back on that now, oh my word, my first post was awful! I think it was an egg envelope sandwich with cheese in the middle. Bless!

I also met my soon-to-be husband in the same season, who connected me with his great friend Stephen Devries- a well-known food photographer in Birmingham. Stephen offered to do a shoot for my blog, and once we wrapped, said “You know, Callie, this can be a career.” “A what?!” I responded. I had no idea that making food look good for a camera could be a job! What a dream. He connected me to an accomplished food stylist in Birmingham, and I began apprenticing with her on the weekends. I loved it so much that I ended up leaving my full-time job to pursue styling.

Here we are 10 years later!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hahaha HECK NO. Gosh in the beginning- it was so, so hard. I remember showing up for one of my first assisting jobs wearing high-heeled boots. I thought I was cute! About two hours in, after lugging heavy kitchen trash in and out of the house we were shooting, and chopping veggies on my feet like a mad woman, I was exhausted and my feet felt like lead. Learned that lesson the hard way. I think I also set a dish towel on fire!

But it got easier- and harder at the same time. Y’all know, as you grow in your skill, you get connected to bigger jobs and clients. I’ve learned to accept that I’m always learning, I’ve never arrived. The truth is you can never know it all, and one of my favorite sayings about styling is that “Food is like children- they never want to show up when company arrives.” So you really have to take every day, and project, with grace and a sense of humor!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love the more creative side of food styling- some of my favorite projects have been free-form. I’ve built a grocery cart out of purple produce, styled various people’s heads out of salad, and built food made to fly in the air. Those shoots are my favorite because I get to express my passion for food and how wildly beautiful it is.

I would say, though, I’m most known for precision work, like building hamburgers and sandwiches for fast food chains. It’s so, so important that food looks natural, yet believable, to the consumer. I love thinking about what makes a certain food delicious, and then building the food to reflect those traits.

What I’m most proud of, though, is all I’ve learned about managing anxiety and truly operating in peace on set. Through the school of hard knocks, and with lots of prayers and internal work. I’ve learned the skill of staying calm despite what may be going on around me. That is 100% the best lesson, and biggest gift, food styling has taught me.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
By far the most important lesson I’ve learned in my food styling career is how to stay calm when everything around you may be extremely chaotic. Sets can be wild places, hurried, with lots of moving parts, and the pace of food styling work is so dependent on timing. If I put a burger on set, for example, with the cheese melted, but the shot isn’t ready for another five minutes, then the cheese will get cold and look dry. That requires a whole other build.

A close second to that lesson is one of persistence. Never, ever, ever give up. You never know when a solution to the problem in front of you will come to you! The tide will turn, the situation will flip in your favor, and a good outcome is on its way!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.callieblount.com
• Instagram: @luvcooks
• Facebook: luvcooks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFMi3mGDBDqH0kMimT_8huQ

Image Credits
Kyle Dreier Photography and Crystal K. Martel Photography