The lessons you learn the hard way are always the ones that stick…

All along, and ever since I was first exposed to commercial food styling shoots, it really hit me to think that how smooth my transition would have been had there been someone to guide me through the nitty gritty of food styling.

Back then, I was fairly new to the commercial world of food styling and had no mentor whom I could observe or assist. I had to jump off the cliff and learn how to make wings on the way down 🙂

The year 2016 has been a whirlwind.

I met so many amazing people, ventured into a couple of projects involving uncertainty, yet successfully completed all and learned so much last year. With all the ups and downs of last year, the one thing I always remember is to smile and look up at what I got in life.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” ~ Confucius

I was like a headless chicken the whole of last month, when no amount of work was ever enough. And the pressure to keep up with the deadlines and managing home at the same time was making me lose sleep.

I finally decided to slow down a bit and also to spend less time on my social media accounts. Not a wise decision for a food blogger, you say..but then there is a feel-good factor which is a reason good enough to continue the same for some more time.

So, life is moving at its own pace for me and I find lot of time to do many other things which were put on hold.

When you believe in someone you profoundly increase their ability to have faith in themselves and achieve. ~ Jason Versey

“Sanjeeta, are you free today..we want to discuss with you about an innovative product launching video. More later, when we meet in person, bye” said Arabbhi and disconnected the phone.

I have been very fortunate to have worked with some of the very talented and creative persons in the industry and Avinash Hariharan  &  Arabbhi of Happy Unicorn production house is one such couple.

I was excited and a little anxious at the same time to meet them and to know about the new venture. When someone believes in you, it gives you a sense of accountability to prove them right.

“What keeps me motivated is not the food itself but all the bonds and memories the food represents.” ~ M.Chiarello

Running around with cousins from one terrace to another, attending family weddings and eating simple home cooked food on wood fire…childhood was so much fun at granny’s home.

Summer vacations were always welcomed, when extended families and cousins would all come over to our large joint family house for holidays in Bhilwara, Rajasthan.

I was immersed in a flurry of vivid memory the moment I stepped inside that large kitchen area at a photo shoot recently. The heady smell of sweets wafting out of the kitchen instantly transported me back into time, to the family weddings conducted at my granny’s place.

Long forgotten memories of my childhood came flooding back as I watched traditional Halwais work in the giant assembly line at Bombay Sweets in Thanjavur during a food photo-shoot last week.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” ~ Jack Canfield

I’ve been doing commercial food styling projects for over 5 years now, and it’s been an amazing journey so far.

The assignments that come my way are freelance projects, Ad shoots, magazine tie ups and television commercials of various brands and companies. I absolutely love my job, as every new project brings in the opportunity to meet new people and acquire different skill sets.

“Sometimes what you’re looking for comes when you’re not looking at all.”

With couple of television commercials, Ad shoots and the ongoing project at home, things have been a bit frenzied last few weeks.

So hectic, that at times I started to feel the pinch of physical exhaustion and insomnia on the sets. But in all, I have had some great time meeting people, cooking and styling food products for new brands and companies.

The power to make food look mouth-watering on print and media is so inspiring and rewarding. As a food lover I feel fortunate to have worked with some of the best photographers and production houses in Chennai.

Last month was crazy as my shooting schedule went haywire with food styling projects pouring in from every possible media in the town..television media, magazines, packaging and You tube channels.

After a lot of filtering, here are some candid shots from the photo shoot which I accepted & executed for various medias in Chennai some time back.

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” Marcus Aurelius.

“Ah…excuse me, I didn’t get your name.”

“Sanjeeta”

I turned around and looked at the representative from client’s office standing behind me. We would have spoken at length on topics ranging from food to Indian culture on the sets for last two days, but forgot to exchange our names.