Some Food for Thought: Let Your Phone Eat First

This article is part of our Spring/Summer 2020 print issue. See the full, digital version of the issue here.

Illustration by Seton Swiderski.

We believe that in order to have a balanced Instagram feed, half of your feed is of people and the other half is of food. Whether it’s food fan pages, restaurant how-to videos or the masterpieces of chefs, we think an attractive feed is pretty much devoted to cuisine. We know firsthand what it’s like to get sucked into the Instagram black hole of post after post, of one food page leading to the next; a streamline of cooking videos and photos from chefs sharing recipes that are very mesmerizing. 

So what’s the appeal? It seems like every other person either has a food Instagram or uses one as inspiration for their meals. Our theory? Food has become something bigger than food. Thanks to platforms such as Instagram, it’s easy to get sucked in for hours scrolling through beautifully designed meals and artfully crafted dishes. Maybe this is because a well-crafted food post isn’t just your everyday bowl of pasta—it’s art.

Naturally, we are infatuated with food that not only tastes good, but also looks the part. In order to get a better understanding we chatted with Seeley Lutz, creator of the food Instagram account @seeleyeats. Lutz has an eye for design for most things in her life, so it’s no wonder that translated into her food, photography and editing. The Edge inquired how Lutz has managed to portray art through her page and asked her perspective on the impact of food “artists” on Instagram.

The Edge: What was your initial purpose of making a food Instagram? What inspired you to create the aesthetic that you did?

Lutz: “I’ve always been extremely passionate about food. As I’ve gotten older, more freedoms inevitably came along with that and I spent more and more time going out to eat with my friends.  Regardless of the type of cuisine or dish, my food was always presented to me in a creative way.  I began to see food as more than something we just need to survive and as a form of art. I’ve also always considered myself to be a colorful person. I try to emulate that quality through my food photography by using bright colors to make the dishes pop.”

E: When taking and editing your photos, do you have a specific artistic approach in mind?

L: “I definitely take a very specific approach when I take and edit my photos. I try to think of angles that will allow the dish to be represented in a show stopping and powerful way. My goal for a photo is to not have someone say, “Oh, that's a picture of a sandwich,” but instead, have them say, “OH! Now THAT’S a picture of a sandwich.” I think about lighting and where I want the shadows and highlights to have the most stark contrast. After I finally capture the perfect shot I enter editing mode. I am a huge fan of increasing saturation in photos to make the colors stand out.  

E: What impact have food influencers had on Instagram in your opinion?

L: I think that Instagram has evolved beyond just a social platform and into a way of life. Especially when it comes to the food industry. Influencers have massive armies of cult followers that eat up just about everything they say. They also help to bridge the gap between consumers and brands and create an experiential experience and a quality of life to aspire to for their followers. With the rise of social media and influencers, so many new kinds of recipes, dishes, tips and tricks can be shared with the world.  

E: During a worldwide pandemic, do you think seeing beautiful photos of food on your feed has impacted or influenced followers?

L: The global pandemic has absolutely taken over television, internet, radio broadcast and social content discussions. And at a certain point, it can become too much and allows us to forget the little joys in life. Food is one of them. Not only the action of physically enjoying the food, but the overarching experience of eating. Gathering around a table with loved ones, laughing, sharing dishes and living in the moment. Sharing photos of beautiful food may simply just brighten someone’s day, or inspire them to create a homemade meal with their family. I think now more than ever we all have a duty to share little beauties with the world and remind everyone that it will all be okay.

E: Do you consider yourself a food artist?

L: The majority of my posts are secondary postings of dishes I ordered from a restaurant. Maybe I did set the scene, photograph and edit the photo, or “piece of art” but I normally don’t create the dish itself. I would consider the chefs to be the true food artists. I do believe, though, that I contribute to the food artist community through sharing my passion of beautiful food with others.