654: Food Styling Like a Pro - Tools, Composition & Creative Tricks with Ashley Freeman

In episode 656, Alicia Wolf shares how to transform personal struggles into a thriving niche blog that supports others facing similar challenges, just as she has done with her own medical journey. Alicia Wolf created a food blog after being diagnosed with chronic vestibular migraine and losing her career in design. Her blog is seen as a very small niche and not widely understood by companies, but 10% of the world population lives with migraine attacks. Alicia has been able to grow a small website that was focused on helping people with a migraine diet into 400K sessions a month with multiple sources of revenue outside of ad income as well as 2 published cookbooks. In this episode, you’ll learn tips for diversifying income outside of ad revenue, how to deal with blogging setbacks and the importance of community in a chronic-illness focused blog. Key points discussed include: - Community is key: Building a strong, engaged audience is essential for niche blogs, especially those focused on chronic illness. - Diversify your income: Relying solely on ad revenue can be risky—explore brand partnerships, consulting, books, and affiliate marketing. - Leverage your expertise: Alicia collaborates with medical professionals to add credibility to her content, making her blog a trusted resource. - Be adaptable in blogging: Google updates and social media shifts can impact traffic, so diversifying content distribution is crucial. - Consistency and patience pay off: Growing a niche blog takes time, but staying committed to quality content and engagement leads to success. - Your story is your strength: Sharing personal experiences builds trust and authenticity, helping you connect deeply with your audience. - Keep learning and evolving: Whether through domain research, audience feedback, or SEO strategies, continuous learning is key to staying relevant. Connect with Alicia Wolf Website | Instagram  

In this episode, we're going to talk five key replacements you can make in your life and business to help you achieve entrepreneurial success. Ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut, spinning on an endless hamster wheel, or trapped in an out-of-control wash cycle? I’ve been there, and I know how hard it can be to break free. That’s why I’d like to share these five powerful replacements you can make in your life and business to help you reset, refocus, and find success. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just a little lost, these shifts might be exactly what you need. Action Plan: 1 - Replace fear with courage. 2 - Replace comparison with community. 3 - Replace scarcity with abundance. 4 - Replace perfection with progress. 5 - Replace overwhelm with clarity. Get in touch with Megan below. Website | Instagram

In episode 654, Megan chats with Ashley Freeman about professional food styling, including how to embrace ‘mess’ and other key elements that make food images visually appealing and unique. Ashley Strickland Freeman is the creator of the blog Little Black Skillet. Just like a "Little Black Dress," she strives to create approachable, everyday recipes her audience can trust and turn to again and again. With over 19 years of experience as a food stylist, cookbook author, recipe developer and tester, and culinary producer (culinary content creator for short), Ashley offers a unique perspective having worked on all sides of culinary publishing. In addition to developing recipes and food styling for some of her favorite brands, she's currently working on her fourth cookbook. In this episode, you’ll discover the essential equipment for capturing mouthwatering food photos, how props can make or break your shots, and the role of color theory in food photography. Key points discussed include: - Invest in a quality camera and lens: Having the right equipment, such as a DSLR camera and a versatile zoom lens, can make a significant difference in your food photography. - Use a sturdy tripod: A geared tripod, like the Manfrotto, allows you to achieve precise angles and compositions for your shots. - Experiment with budget-friendly props: Look for unique items at thrift stores, fabric shops, and even your own home to create visually appealing scenes. - Embrace color theory: Understand how complementary colors can enhance the visual appeal of your food photos. - Prioritize composition: Use odd numbers, multiples, and strategic placement to guide the viewer's eye through your images. - Enhance food appearance: Techniques like brushing cheese with oil or using thickened syrups can help make your food look fresh and irresistible. - Embrace the "mess": Don't be afraid to capture the natural imperfections and realistic details that make your food photos more approachable. - Practice and trust your intuition: Continuous practice, studying other photographers' work, and having confidence in your own style are key to improving your food photography. If You Loved This Episode… You'll also love Episode 492: Exquisite Food Photography – How to Tell a Story with Lighting, Props, Food and Textures with Murielle Banackissa. 20% Discount code for Southern Ash Surfaces: Littleblackskillet20 Connect with Ashley Freeman Website | Instagram

In episode 653, Meggen Wilson teaches us how to create our own product line to become a profitable business without relying on ad revenue. Meggen Wilson is the founder of Pine and Palm Kitchen, a specialty food company based in Northwest Montana that creates premium, small-batch vanilla and vinegar products using organic, locally sourced ingredients like honey, apples, and spirits. A retired real estate investor and dedicated advocate for Montana’s natural habitats, Meggen combines her entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for exceptional culinary craftsmanship. Her products celebrate the land she loves, inspiring home cooks and bakers to create with care and intention. you'll discover how to choose the perfect product for your audience, along with the most effective strategies for manufacturing and selling it. Key points discussed include: - Identify your signature product: Look at your most popular recipes and consider creating a complementary product, like a spice blend or specialty ingredient, to offer your audience. - Test the market first: Start with a cottage license to validate your product idea and gather customer feedback before investing in a commercial license and scaling up. - Leverage your community: Use farmers markets, pop-ups, and local partnerships to test your product and build relationships with your target customers. - Prioritize quality and sourcing: Invest in high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients to create a premium product that reflects your brand's values. - Seek support from local resources: Reach out to your county health department and extension offices - they want to help you succeed as a small food manufacturer. - Control your distribution: Selling directly through your own online store gives you more control over pricing, branding, and the customer experience. - Have a long-term vision: Develop a 5-year plan for your product line and be patient as you build the business - it takes time to get the formula right. Connect with Meggen Wilson Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about five powerful antidotes that can help you navigate mental blocks and entrepreneurial challenges as a food blogger. I recently heard someone use the word antidote to describe how they dealt with mental blocks as an entrepreneur, and it stuck with me. I love the idea that there’s a remedy—a way to counteract the “poison” of things like overwhelm, self-doubt, and confusion that can suck the life out of us as business owners. In this episode, I’m diving into five powerful antidotes that can help you break free from those struggles that feel impossible to escape. You don’t have to stay stuck. If you can identify the “poison” and apply the right antidote, you can move forward with clarity and purpose. Let’s talk about how to do just that. Action Plan: 1 -Physical movement is the antidote for rumination. 2 - Air, water, and words is the antidote for confusion. 3 - Gratitude for people is the antidote for feeling underappreciated, undervalued, and unworthy. 4 - Doing one thing is the antidote for a lack of motivation. 5 - Setting boundaries is the antidote for overwhelm. Get in touch with Megan below. Website | Instagram

In episode 650, Megan chats to Amy Roskelley about how a no-spend year changed her life and how we can implement the same strategy to reduce business costs and ultimately make more money. Amy Roskelley is the owner of the online nutrition resource, Health Beet. Health Beet is a resource for nutrition educators and families with a goal to improve their health through diet and exercise. Amy has a bachelor's degree in Community health from BYU and a Masters degree in Business from the University of Utah. Amy’s a certified personal trainer, published cookbook author, certified personal chef, NPC Competitor, and marathon runner. In this episode, you’ll learn how to identify which tools and services are essential for your business and why saving money now can improve the your life later. Key points discussed include: - Review your expenses regularly: Closely examine your monthly and annual business expenses to identify areas where you can cut costs without negatively impacting your operations. - Prioritize essential tools and services: Determine which software, platforms, and contractors are truly essential to your business, and eliminate or reduce the rest. - Automate and streamline processes: Look for ways to directly integrate tools and eliminate the need for expensive third-party integrations or workarounds. - Focus on content creation first: Before investing in optimization tools or services, ensure you have a solid foundation of high-quality content that resonates with your audience. - Embrace a minimalist mindset: Adopt a simplified approach to your business and personal life, focusing on the essentials and eliminating unnecessary expenses. - Diversify your income streams: Explore opportunities to generate passive income through investments or additional revenue sources, reducing your reliance on a single income stream. - Manage emotional burnout: Recognize the emotional toll that fluctuations in traffic and revenue can have, and develop strategies to maintain a positive mindset. Connect with Amy Roskelley Website | Instagram

In episode 650, Cathy Yoder teaches us how to grow a successful YouTube channel, including why having a niche expertise is essential and how to build a loyal following. Cathy Yoder is a well-regarded figure in the air fryer community, known as "The REAL Air Fryer Queen." She transformed from a reluctant cook, seeking quick ways to feed her large family of eight, into an air fryer expert and successful entrepreneur. Her business, Empowered Cooks, offers practical cooking tips, recipes, and accessories, helping busy families create nutritious meals with ease. Cathy’s journey has resonated with countless individuals, with her best-selling cookbook (over 35k copies sold) and YouTube channel (700k+ subscribers), making her a trusted voice in the kitchen. In addition to her air fryer expertise, Cathy also founded Pine & Pepper, a product line of air fryer accessories. Her story, rooted in practicality and family life, has empowered many home cooks. Whether discussing easy meal prep, building a brand, or balancing family and career, Cathy’s insights can inspire and provide actionable advice for busy parents and aspiring entrepreneurs. In this episode, you’ll learn why you should create a YouTube channel for your food blog, how to film relatable content and the importance of evaluating your content strategy regularly. Key points discussed include: - Start creating YouTube content even if it's not perfect: Don't wait for perfection, just get started and your content will improve over time. - Repurpose existing blog content into YouTube videos: Build a backlog of content by repurposing recipes, tips, and other resources you've already created. - Engage with your audience by responding to comments: Connecting with your viewers, especially when starting out, helps build a strong relationship. - Experiment with different video lengths and formats: Try out various video lengths and styles to see what resonates best with your audience. - Consider live streaming or premiering videos: These interactive features can create a more engaging experience for your viewers. - Continuously evaluate and refine your content strategy: Pay attention to what's working and adjust your approach to better align with your audience's needs. - Patience and commitment are crucial: Growing a successful YouTube channel is a long-term process, so be prepared to invest time and effort consistently. - Leverage your existing expertise and personal journey: Sharing your unique experiences and knowledge can provide valuable and relatable content for your viewers. Guest Details Connect with Cathy Yoder Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about five steps to designing a future version of yourself that is energetic, fulfilled, and happy. What does 'Future You' look like? I love this concept of being able to implement new habits and improve the quality of my life, year by year. We probably don’t realize how much control we have over our future selves. In fact, we’re all constantly shaping our lives through our thoughts, beliefs, habits, and emotions. So what is the problem? We get complacent and stop trying to change. We end up not reaching our potential, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can shake off complacency, step into intentionality, and take control of creating a future version of ourselves that’s happy, fulfilled, and thriving. That’s what I intend to do in 2025 and here are five easy steps you can follow too. Action Plan: 1 - Design future you on paper. 2 - Display the details of your future self where you can see them daily. 3 - Start allowing the details of your future self to guide your decisions. 4 - Surround yourself with people who support your future you. 5 - Track your progress and adjust as needed. Get in touch with Megan below. Website | Instagram

In episode 648, Megan chats to Jules Grasekamp about how to reframe failure as an opportunity for growth and refining your food blogging business, especially in light of Google traffic loss. Jules Grasekamp is the sweet-toothed Scot behind Bonni Bakery, a dessert blog showing you how to easily create impressive desserts at home. She uses her experience from 10 years of running her own bakery to give detailed recipes packed with expert tips for success to make showstopping desserts and grow your confidence in the kitchen. In this episode, you’ll learn how stay positive and embrace unpredictability while overcoming severe challenges, like revenue loss, in your business, as this may lead to new opportunities. Key points discussed include: - Failure is not the end, but a stepping stone: Embrace failures as opportunities to learn, grow, and refine your business. - Be brutally honest with yourself: Critically examine your business to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement. - Have a long-term plan for delegation: Strategize how you can eventually offload tasks you don't enjoy to free up time for what you love. - Consume positive, motivational content: Start your day or week with uplifting podcasts, books, or speakers to maintain a growth mindset. - Actively participate in a supportive community: Attend events and connect with other bloggers to find inspiration, advice, and a sense of belonging. - Embrace the unpredictability of entrepreneurship: Understand that volatility in income and traffic is part of the journey, and focus on the opportunities it presents. - Persist with enthusiasm: Maintain your drive and determination, even when facing failure, as success often comes from stumbling forward with unwavering passion. If You Loved This Episode… You’ll love Episode 402: Reach 85k Page Views in 7 Months After 7 Years of Failure with Maren Epstein. Resources Mentioned The Brendon Burchard Podcast: Hosted by Brendon Burchard, this motivational podcast offers personal growth advice and life coaching. Good Work with Barrett Brooks: Hosted by Barrett Brooks, this podcast features interviews with founders, scientists, authors, and adventurers, discussing impactful work and leadership. Connect with Jules Grasekamp Website | Instagram

In episode 647, Lisa Steele teaches us how to make a drastic change to our niche and online presence like she did by going from lifestyle blogging to food content creation. Lisa Steele is an author, blogger and 5th generation chicken keeper living in Maine. She started her business more than 10 years ago and grew a successful "chicken lifestyle" blog called Fresh Eggs Daily. In 2022, Lisa got a cookbook deal with HarperCollins and that started her pivot to egg recipes and cooking. In this episode, you’ll learn about the challenges to expect when you start a new food blog, positioning yourself as an expert in your niche and how to successfully build a multifaceted online presence Key points discussed include: - Focus on your goals, not what others are doing: Determine your unique objectives and align your activities accordingly, rather than comparing yourself to other bloggers. - Streamline your activities ruthlessly: Regularly evaluate your tasks and drop anything that doesn't directly contribute to your goals, even if it's popular with others. - Develop a thick skin for criticism: Expect and be prepared to handle negative feedback, as it often comes with success. Don't take it personally. - Leverage your expertise and authority: Position yourself as the go-to expert in your niche, which can open up opportunities like media appearances and partnerships. - Prioritize engagement over follower count: Publishers are more interested in your ability to connect with and influence your audience than just the size of your following. - Recognize the long-term benefits of cookbooks: While the initial monetary rewards may not be as immediate as your blog, cookbooks can provide passive income and increased credibility over time. - Be prepared for the challenges: Understand that both food blogging and cookbook writing require significant time, effort, and resilience, but the rewards can be worth it if aligned with your goals. Guest Details Connect with Lisa Steele Website | Instagram