Nils Grapentin is a foodstyling artist based in Hamburg, with more than 20 years of experience on shoots around the world. He works with food brands, agencies, production houses and photographers, many of whom have been coming back for years. Whether it’s packaging, a campaign or a commercial, they trust his experience and the unmistakable touch he brings to the food.
That trust has led to long-standing relationships with Nestlé and its brands Maggi, Thomy and Nescafé, as well as Fuchs Gruppe, European Pizza Group, Storck, Ritter Sport, Hochland, Karwendel, McCormick, RUF and Melitta.
For Nils, it all starts with a good conversation. He wants to understand what the client has in mind, share ideas and work things out with the team. He’s easy to talk to, focused on finding solutions and happy to keep trying until the details feel right. Clients value his expertise and the way he thinks ahead, keeping an eye on the whole production as well as the food in front of him.
Foodstyling takes experience and patience. Nils brings plenty of both, knowing when to try a different approach and when to give the details a little more time. After so many years on set, he knows how to get the best out of food in front of a camera. Along the way, he’s picked up a wide range of techniques and come up with a few of his own. Tabletop food filming is a big part of that experience, including work on projects that have pushed the craft in new directions. He enjoys a challenge and does his homework before the shoot, testing ideas and thinking through the tricky bits. His approach? There’s always a way to make it happen.
Packaging is another area he knows inside out. Agencies around the world value his feel for how food, design and brand come together on a pack. He looks at the whole picture, so the food fits the design and looks as tempting as it should.
And when a project needs something out of the ordinary, he can call on a trusted network of experienced special effects artists and model makers to help bring the idea to life.