https://www.tomdahm.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-01-25 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/why-personal-food-projects-still-matter-in-commercial-food-photography monthly 0.5 2026-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/8cb940b5-7186-4c9d-b3d5-a6dcef8ba003/commercial-food-photography-personal-chicken-sandwich.jpg Blog - Why Personal Food Projects Still Matter in Commercial Food Photography - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/7cf3a967-a552-4755-ae0d-6d8be2dac91b/editorial-food-photography-chicken-sandwich-detail.jpg Blog - Why Personal Food Projects Still Matter in Commercial Food Photography - The sandwich as a working exercise The concept was simple: a Chick-fil-A–inspired chicken sandwich, built from scratch. But simplicity is deceptive. The fewer elements you have, the less room there is to hide. Every decision mattered: The thickness and texture of the fried chicken The balance of sweetness and acidity in the pickles The way steam escaped the bun How oil sheen caught the light without becoming greasy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/ca63f7c4-065a-46bf-a105-415f1988b6c8/commercial-food-photography-fried-chicken-process.jpg Blog - Why Personal Food Projects Still Matter in Commercial Food Photography - Presence over production There’s also something harder to quantify but just as important: presence. Without a production schedule, the focus shifts from output to attention. You notice things you’d otherwise rush past. You allow the food to tell you when it’s ready instead of forcing it into a pre-planned frame. That mindset doesn’t disappear on paid assignments. It carries over as calm, decisiveness, and trust in the process — qualities clients feel even if they can’t name them. https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/choosing-a-commercial-food-photographer monthly 0.5 2026-01-25 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/chicago-food-photography/back-at-the-table monthly 0.5 2026-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/7224cd4f-f5b9-4315-985f-fedef4118d5c/chicago-food-photographer-behind-the-scenes-restaurant-shoot Blog - Back At The Table — A Return To Food Photography Quiet moments before the frame matters. https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/category/Editorial+%26+Restaurant+Work monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/category/Behind+the+Scenes monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/food+photographer+for+restaurants monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/chicago+food+photographer monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/personal+food+projects monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/professional+food+photographer monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/restaurant+photography monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/editorial+food+photography monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/restaurant+food+photography monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/choosing+a+food+photographer monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/commercial+food+photography monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/on+location+food+photography monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/food+photography+for+brands monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/brand+food+photography monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/food+photography+process monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/blog/tag/food+photography+behind+the+scenes monthly 0.5 https://www.tomdahm.com/home daily 1.0 2026-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/bef37c2f-f215-4479-9023-8b91978cecf3/Hot+Honey+Pepperoni+Smashburger.jpeg Home Hot honey pepperoni smashburger with melted cheese photographed for commercial food use. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/8d627474-c025-4535-abf1-faac38097a12/candycorn+copy.jpg Home Close-up of candy corn photographed as a graphic food texture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/9a84cb8e-6642-4a6f-a18e-8a3b0996e9c7/themac.jpg Home Bottle of The Macallan Gold Double Cask Highland single malt Scotch whisky photographed for product use. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/18e7d042-1a4a-46f1-abf8-17a4dc2ed5fa/tomato+2+punched+in.jpg Home Heirloom tomatoes sliced and topped with grated parmesan on a wooden cutting board. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/5bcfb38c-9f77-459e-a693-107d01778a54/brickburger.jpg Home Hackney’s Brick Burger with melted cheese and fried onions photographed for restaurant use. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/80a1feec-64a7-452b-af75-4dd5f8aeb1b0/IMG_4391.jpeg Home Taco Bell Mild sauce packets arranged in a repeating pattern on a yellow background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/49ad5deb-4dcc-4c6e-b491-65ecd41baf8b/Sweet+Sausage+Ravioli+Lasagna-1.jpg Home Sweet sausage ravioli lasagna baked in a loaf pan and photographed from above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/e7342df1-f8fd-49d0-80e7-952b46261dbb/Oranges.jpg Home Sliced oranges arranged on a dark surface photographed from above. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/1768678888607-I834M9TAZ8B6Q5RHVZDS/chicago-food-photography-behind-the-scenes-tom-dahm.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/8dda7865-3e25-4a8c-92a0-48ad3a434f00/pad+thai+full.jpg https://www.tomdahm.com/abstractions daily 0.75 2025-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/db61cfaf-b5e8-4f4d-a6d6-b62b14e0f9d0/A6409973.jpg abstractions Abstract image with blue and white blurred shapes and shadows https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/7a3da265-4ad1-44ce-b104-969887d2f8b6/A6409978-Exposure.jpg abstractions Abstract image of flower with orange and yellow hues, blurred effect https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/0caa57bc-b115-4201-802e-e770c4b7f997/PXL_20240501_221415069.RAW-02.ORIGINAL.jpg abstractions Close-up of a metal grate with a honeycomb pattern https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/531b2e85-e865-415d-bfb2-98ae30e0cfa5/A6409969.jpg abstractions Abstract image with blurred lights and bokeh effects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/3303382b-7d33-4ec1-a009-68b8b9520e9b/A6409951.JPG abstractions close-up of woven fabric texture https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/d6f61eed-25fb-4844-bcbe-3b453f418276/A6409942.jpg abstractions Abstract texture with swirling patterns and a central dark area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/f256da63-66a0-4d50-a8bc-3d6fa323df82/A6409939.jpg abstractions Abstract close-up of textured surface with red and black hues. https://www.tomdahm.com/editorial-restaurant-food-photography daily 0.75 2026-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/930adcd9-e25a-4960-b270-0a0d32bfca37/Basil+1+web.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography A bunch of fresh basil leaves tied with twine against a dark textured background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/5bcfb38c-9f77-459e-a693-107d01778a54/brickburger.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography Close-up of a cheeseburger with melted cheddar cheese, fried onion rings, and a beef patty on a bun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/8d627474-c025-4535-abf1-faac38097a12/candycorn+copy.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography A pile of candy corn with yellow, orange, and white colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/e7342df1-f8fd-49d0-80e7-952b46261dbb/Oranges.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography Slices of fresh oranges on a dark surface with a baking tray corner visible https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/d2f642ac-627e-40d9-8e87-c6cd6f4c2e6d/frosted+mini+cookie+2.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography Close-up of a cookie or doughnut topped with colorful sprinkles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/0ef1c1c8-6dbf-4f29-818f-98e529d5f9fc/spaghetEO.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography Close-up of Spaghettios with hot dogs in tomato sauce https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/18e7d042-1a4a-46f1-abf8-17a4dc2ed5fa/tomato+2+punched+in.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography Heirloom tomatoes on a wooden cutting board, with one sliced and sprinkled with grated cheese, surrounded by forks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/8dda7865-3e25-4a8c-92a0-48ad3a434f00/pad+thai+full.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography Person holding a blue patterned bowl filled with colorful dish, garnished with cilantro, against a dark background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/15898924-9401-4916-96a6-d7f8be411175/Habaneros.jpg Editorial & Restaurant Food Photography Pile of bright orange habanero peppers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/8dda7865-3e25-4a8c-92a0-48ad3a434f00/pad+thai+full.jpg https://www.tomdahm.com/about daily 0.75 2026-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/f5e5f0c7-4ed5-4582-9ae0-e981b6590f3f/master+of+the+dark+arts.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/8dda7865-3e25-4a8c-92a0-48ad3a434f00/pad+thai+full.jpg https://www.tomdahm.com/faq daily 0.75 2026-01-24 https://www.tomdahm.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-02-04 https://www.tomdahm.com/food-product-photography-for-brands daily 0.75 2026-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/ecd111c8-0f3b-493a-a568-cd9ed31f1ebb/Tullamore+Dew+-2.jpg Food Product Photography for Brands Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey bottle photographed on a bar surface with accessories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/80a1feec-64a7-452b-af75-4dd5f8aeb1b0/IMG_4391.jpeg Food Product Photography for Brands Taco Bell Mild sauce packets arranged in a repeating pattern on a yellow background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/f0a93f37-855f-433d-971d-3b391ed364b9/Kona+Ice.jpg Food Product Photography for Brands Kona Ice shaved ice cup held outdoors against a blurred background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/db977881-82f5-4e8d-b5e4-28434be91eaf/Monster+Energy.jpg Food Product Photography for Brands Monster Ultra Gold energy drink can covered in condensation droplets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/9a84cb8e-6642-4a6f-a18e-8a3b0996e9c7/themac.jpg Food Product Photography for Brands Bottle of The Macallan Gold Double Cask Highland single malt Scotch whisky photographed for product use. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/664d27dc4e1b170862f532c1/8dda7865-3e25-4a8c-92a0-48ad3a434f00/pad+thai+full.jpg