Finger-Lickin' Food Photography, with Mica McCook, the Austin Food Guide

Finger-Lickin' Food Photography, with Mica McCook, the Austin Food Guide

Author: B&H Photo & Video August 31, 2023 Duration: 1:08:20

According to food photographer Mica McCook, the secret sauce is more than simply visual appeal, it's connecting to how the images make you feel. As McCook likes to say, she creates cravings, one photo at a time. 
McCook's photos are dramatic like telenovelas, embracing the magic of a chef's palate, and delighting in the vibrant flavors that bring dishes to life. Her approach is theatrical and bold, akin to setting the stage for a grand performance. Each element, from the decadent chocolate drizzle to the vibrant pop of a fresh herb, contributes to the culinary drama. For McCook, food is not just about sustenance, it's an experience. 
In a world where fast food and quick meals are often the norm, McCook is here to remind us of the richness and pleasure of a well-composed dish, and to celebrate the chefs who create, the farmers who cultivate, and the diners who savor. As an extension of her photography business, McCook launched her biweekly podcast, The Savory Shot, in June 2022, because she is perpetually curious about the food industry and those who dwell within it.  

Listen in to hear how a life-altering trip to the Reading Terminal Market, in Pennsylvania, laid the groundwork for McCook's career transition from people to food, and even inspired her unique business name of Austin Food Guide. We also discuss how her background in theater influences her flavorful photographic approach, the dramatic lighting she favors, as well as her collaborative, community-oriented outlook. McCook was recently accepted into an innovative mentorship program for BIPOC photographers led by Apostrophe Reps. Don't miss the juicy details about how to apply!

Above photograph © Mica McCook

Guest: Mica McCook of The Austin Food Guide

For more information on our guest and the gear she uses, see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/finger-lickin-food-photography-with-mica-mccook-the-austin-food-guide

Stay Connected:

Mica McCook Website: https://micamccook.com
Mica McCook Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mica.mccook
Mica McCook LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micamccook
Austin Food Guide Website: https://austinfoodguide.com
Austin Food Guide Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinfoodguide
Austin Food Guide Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/austinfoodguide
Austin Food Guide Twitter: https://twitter.com/ austinfoodguide
Austin Food Guide TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@austinfoodguide
The Savory Shot Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/savory-shot/id1618801583


There's a conversation happening about photography that goes far beyond the latest camera review, and you can find it on the B&H Photography Podcast. Hosted by the team at B&H Photo & Video, this series sits down with a wide range of insightful and genuinely entertaining guests from across the photographic world. Every other week, these discussions delve into the practical realities of gear and technique, but they also wander into the richer territory of visual history, the surprising science behind an image, and the personal philosophies that drive artistic expression. What you'll hear feels less like a formal interview and more like eavesdropping on a passionate chat between experts, unpacking the ideas that actually matter to anyone making pictures today. Whether you're a seasoned professional curious about a colleague's process or an enthusiastic amateur looking to deepen your understanding, this podcast provides a thoughtful, accessible space to explore the entire ecosystem of photography. The result is a consistently engaging listen that reminds you why you picked up a camera in the first place, while giving you the concrete knowledge to use it better tomorrow. Tune in for a fresh perspective that connects the technical dots with the creative spark.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

B&H Photography Podcast
Podcast Episodes
2023 Photo Gear of the Year with Kevin Rickert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:29
2023 has certainly come and gone in a flash, meaning it's time once again for us to reflect on new photo offerings in our ninth annual Cameras of the Year episode, now renamed Photo Gear of the Year. We'll be talking wit…
Adobe's First Evangelist: Russell Preston Brown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:42
It's likely that everyone reading this has used, or at the very least heard of Adobe's ubiquitous piece of software called Photoshop. But are you familiar with the very first—and perhaps the most eccentric—of the evangel…
Picturing World Cultures: Wayne Quilliam - Australia/Tasmania [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:56
"The eye should learn to listen before it looks." – Robert Frank Australian photographer Wayne Quilliam used to consider his camera as a tool, but today it's become his "companion." This is just one of the inspiring take…
A History of Hip-Hop Photography: Encore Episode from November 2017 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:30
This episode of the B&H Photography Podcast was originally released on November 10, 2017. We revisit it today in honor of Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary, and the holiday of Thanksgiving. With great thanks to Vikki Tobak and…
Connecting the Creator Community: B&H Bild Ambush Interviews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:21
B&H recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary, hosting a spectacular two-day celebration for the creator community, Bild Expo 2023, at New York's Jacob Javits Center. The podcast's past three episodes have featured in-dep…
Why Oceans Matter: Underwater Photographer Brian Skerry at Bild [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:12
Water is essential to life on Earth. The health of our oceans—and its inhabitants—is equally crucial to maintaining Earth's delicate balance. This is an apt takeaway from our exclusive chat with renowned underwater photo…