Meet Elise Wine | Food Photographer | Recipe Developer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elise Wine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elise, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Being a food photographer and creating my own recipes is incredibly time-consuming and costly. Many people outside this industry assume that developing a recipe is quick, but that’s far from the truth. The same goes for photography — setting up a scene and taking a few pictures might seem simple, but it’s actually quite taxing.

When it comes to recipes, you often need to make them 5 to 10 times to make sure they’re correct, then another 5 times to guarantee consistent results (and it still may not come out perfect for everyone for reasons like gas or electric oven, elevation, etc.). This process can take days or even weeks, and with recent food price increases, the cost of ingredients adds up quickly.

The photoshoot process can be just as challenging. There are times I completely scrap a setup because it doesn’t look right, experimenting with different lighting or props. For shots like a milk splash or falling cocoa powder, each take requires a cleanup and reset of the scene. Sometimes, it can take hours just to capture one photo.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart is my love for the entire process, from start to finish. I enjoy everything — from cooking and photographing to creating recipes and sharing content on social media. I also love gifting my food to others and seeing them truly enjoy what I’ve made.

I take pride in making, baking, and creating dishes that are both delicious and unique. I strive to photograph food in a way that makes it look as good as it tastes — capturing that essence on camera.

Turning this passion into a career hasn’t been easy. I’ve been making and baking since I was a kid and have had my Instagram page for almost 10 years, hoping to make something of it. Even when I was getting only 10 likes or less, I pushed myself to keep creating and posting content. Eventually, my efforts paid off — I landed a job as a food photographer and content manager for a catering company in LA, followed by another role as a photographer and content strategist for an agency. I’ve also catered for weddings, baby showers, birthdays, and more.

While I’m not quite where I want to be yet, I’m making progress. I constantly push myself and remind myself of my love for this work. It can be tough not to get lost in the business side of things (like the money!) , but no matter what, I’ll keep doing this — whether it’s my job or not…because I love it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is one of my favorite things about Los Angeles, there is always something to do, any season, any time of day. Some of my favorite restaurants in LA:
Breakfast:
Tartine for some croissants, morning buns, and their amazing breakfast sandwich.
Republique for a stunning sit-down breakfast – dynamite food.
Sidecar Doughnut for their Butter & Salt or Eggs Benedict doughnut.

Lunch:
Laurel Tavern for a great outdoor space, solid food, and great beer selection. Their El Chapo cocktail is one of my favs in the city.
Matu for the best steak and cheese sandwich you’ll ever have.
Saltie Girl for their Lobster and Waffles or amazing tinned fish.

Dinner:
Anajak Thai or Night + Market for some of the best thai food.
Din Tai Fung for to die for soup dumplings and green beans (but everything is delicious)
Sugarfish for a night-in — the best sushi delivery in the city, presented in a beautiful bento box.

Activities:
Cinespia is an absolute go-to for anyone visitng from May – October. It’s an outdoor movie theater in the Hollywood Cemetary. It’s BYOB and food so you bring a picnic, chairs, games, and enjoy a live DJ because watching an old movie under the stars.
Definitely go on a hike. The hiking trails are amazing — from views of the entire pacific coast to waterfalls deep in the valley, and even getting right next to the hollywood sign, there’s a hike for everyone.
Comedy shows! Get a $20 ticket to the Comedy Store and see the biggest names in the world.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been fortunate to have several people guide me, both personally and professionally. I owe a lot to my entire family, especially my mother; I consider myself a self-taught and mom-taught cook. My love for food and its diverse cultural roots runs deep. My mom’s work took her to places like Hong Kong, France, Portugal, and Thailand, exposing me to a world of flavors from a young age. Every time she returned, we’d experiment in the kitchen, recreating the dishes she had fallen in love with in each country. That definitely fueled my passion for flavor, variety in food, and my love for the art of cooking.

My husband has also been a relentless supporter of my passion. As an animator, he and I are both creative people, and he’s always encouraged me to push myself, learn more, and expect more. It can be hard to challenge yourself when you think you have limits, but he’s always helped me see that I can go beyond them.

And a shoutout to my friends who keep eating everything I make!

Website: https://www.loyaloliveoil.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loyal.oliveoil/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisewine/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loyaloliveoil