I was just flipping through the new digital issue of Rue magazine (August 2013) and came upon two great features that I wanted to share with you since one has to do with photo styling with a focus on food and the other, a small Paris apartment owned by an American expat. And we all know that Paris is always a good idea. First, photo styling.

Ok so lets talk about styling. Secrets of a Food Stylist: Aiala Hernando is the first article that caught my eye and appears on pages 32-39 - though truthfully I could have easily read an entire magazine on this topic alone. I'm not so interested in food styling for my own work (I'm definitely fixed on interiors) yet many of these tips can still be applied interiors so I had to share them with you being the decor enthusiasts that you are! Aiala Hernando - the woman behind these words - runs creative direction for a luxury Spanish gastronomic tourism firm based in San Sebastián, Spain called San Sebastián Food. She also teaches food styling and photography workshops. You can learn more about those here. I love how she talks about food styling, "A food stylist makes you want to eat a dish just by looking at it..." That's SO the truth! Here are some of her top tips below for working with food for the perfect photo.

Here are tips from Aialia Hernando below, taken straight from RUE magazine.

You can view her photography and the complete article HERE.

HOW TO STYLE YOUR FOOD FOR A PHOTO SHOOT

1. USE NATURAL LIGHT - The play of light and shadows gives food a magical feeling
2. BALANCE THE COMPOSITION - If there are several elements in the photo, keep the arrangements in the photo, keep the arrangement smart, clean and captivating. Consider angle, position and frame.
3. OVERHEAD SHOTS ARE THE MOST GRATIFYING. They show food at the same angle, the colors and shapes will look crisp and clean.
4. MOST OF THE TIME, SURFACE AND FOOD ARE NOT ENOUGH. Consider the overall scene! Include ingredients, tools and any other props that may complement the shot.

HOW TO STYLE YOUR FOOD FOR A PARTY

1. AGAIN, CONSIDER LIGHT AND SHADOWS. Great lighting is key to showcase the color of the food. In addition to natural or overhead light, use candles to add light at eye level.
2. CHOOSE A THEME. If you're hosting an event where the food plays an important role, a theme will help you coordinate the food, tablescape, and furniture.
3. TAKE PICTURES IN ADVANCE. Photos show a different version of the scene, which helps you to edit and ensure you're hosting a beautiful event.

The next article, La Vie En Bleu, explores the life of 25-year-old California expat Haleigh Walsworth (her blog is called Making Magique) and her 40 square meter Paris apartment located in Le Marais district. Haleigh is a freelance digital strategist and content producer for large brands like Condé Nast, Lancôme, Perrier-Jouët, Nina Ricci and Hermès and since moving to Paris when she was in college, she's managed to learn the language and buy an apartment all by the time she turned 25-years-old! What an inspiration to young women to get your life started at an early age and not waste time.

Being an American expat in Germany, I always love reading stories about how Americans make their life in another culture - it's fascinating to me as I know that behind the curtain there is a lot of work and many challenges that go into the process of starting anew in a foreign country. Haleigh seems to be in it for the long term too - though she does find herself frequently traveling between LA and Paris for work. Below are some glimpses of her lovely space (more are found in Rue magazine on pages 116-1129). As you can see, she has a real affinity for Tiffany blue!

So! Those are my two numero uno inspirations from Rue - anything seen or heard above resonate with you? Any favorite articles you'd like to share?

(images: rue magazine)