Savory Shot

About Savory Shot

A bi-weekly show where we talk about the intersection of two passions: food and photography. Every other Wednesday, food photographer, Mica McCook sits down to chat with the best food photographers, food stylists, art directors, and PR peeps in the industry so that you feast on only the best tips and strategies in the business.

Publisher

Mica McCook

Category

arts · business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Apr 2022

Latest episode

15 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

73 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Jul 2026

   073: From Burnout to a Creative Career with Regan Baroni

   In episode 73 of The Savory Shot, host Mica McCook interviews Chicago food photographer Regan Baroni, a former advertising art director who turned weekend iPhone and DSLR practice into a full-time career. Regan shares how burnout pushed her back into creativity, what it felt like to quit after paying off debt and saving, and how freelancing can be unexpectedly lonely. They discuss early portfolio missteps, experimenting without a brief, and a dramatic octopus image that earned recognition from the World Food Photographer of the Year Awards. Regan explains why learning to use artificial light helped her grow, why saying no to misaligned commercial work protects her artistic style, and why diversifying her income beyond client work became essential after COVID canceled jobs. She also describes her Mastering iPhone Food Photography course and an upcoming iPhone Drink Photography course.

2. 

   13 May 2026

   072: Contracts 101: Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Food Photography

   In episode 72 of The Savory Shot, host Mica McCook welcomes lawyer, food photographer, and pastry-school grad Rob Finkelstein to demystify contracts for food photographers. Rob shares how pastry school led him to blogging, photography, and creating his Contract Legalese course after seeing photographers unsure about copyright, licensing, and negotiating. He explains why negotiating won’t scare brands away, how influencer agreements often misfit photographers, and why “boilerplate” clauses like choice of law and jurisdiction can create major risk. Rob urges creatives to act like businesspeople by forming an LLC, keeping finances separate to avoid “piercing the corporate veil,” and using master agreements with statements of work. He also discusses minority-business certifications, how his LGBT-owned certification has opened doors, and how supplier diversity programs can create opportunities.

3. 

   22 Apr 2026

   071: Breaking Barriers: How Rani and Uduak Redefine African Food Photography

   Breaking Barriers in Food Photography What if the opportunity you’re waiting for doesn’t exist yet? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you stopped waiting and started building anyway? In this episode, we meet Rani and Uduak, the creative duo behind 117 Collective, a food and lifestyle photography team based in Lagos, Nigeria. They have worked with global brands like Coca-Cola, Baileys, and Krispy Kreme while carving out a space for African food to be seen, valued, and celebrated. From unseen to undeniable Rani and Uduak share how they built a business in a market that did not fully understand the value of food photography. They walked into restaurants, created demand, and trusted their vision even when confidence felt shaky. As their work grew, they faced imposter syndrome, pricing challenges, and the pressure of commercial expectations. Over time, they discovered something deeper. African cuisine was not being visually honored. That realization shifted everything. They moved from chasing perfection to creating images that feel real, cultural, and alive. Now, they are expanding into storytelling through documentary work, highlighting voices and stories that deserve to be seen. What you can take with you This conversation invites you to trust your instincts, honor your creativity, and step forward even when the path feels unclear. Keep going If this episode speaks to you, share it with someone building something meaningful. Your work matters. Keep showing up. 💬 Join the Conversation Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/ Website: https://micamccook.com/podcast Instagram: www.instragram.com/mica.mccook Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesavoryshotpodcast 📣 Follow Rani & Uduak Website: www.1117collective.com Instagram: @1117collective @uduakbassey Facebook: @1117collective linkedin: @1117collective Would you like to be a guest on the show? Fill out the guest form, and we’ll be in touch soon.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

17 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

73

Social presence

91

YouTube

0

Engagement

77

Contact Savory Shot

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.