Where Every Detail Counts: A Discussion with Food Photographer Sandor Venczel

Q: Your work brilliantly captures the essence of the industry. Can you share a few standout moments or achievements in your career that have significantly shaped your journey and brought you to this role and niche overall?

Thank you very much for your words. I’ve worked as a Chef in the 5 star hotel industry, I’ve built my career in hospitality for over 15 years. I have always had a passion for food and was drawn to the artistic presentation style and fine dining overall. The creativity in ever-evolving culinary is what kept me going.

When I was about to discover my new passion–photography–it was without a doubt that I wanted to stay within the hospitality industry to continue working on the artistic aspect of food. But this time my mission is bringing life to others' art. I aim to capture each Chef's dish the way they want to represent themselves. Every Chef's style is unique and it needs to be translated and delivered accurately. Thanks to my experience I believe I am able to have a good understanding of a Chef’s culinary vision.





Q: Your photography uniquely blends technical skill with artistic vision, especially in capturing the ambiance of hotels and restaurants. Can you walk us through your creative process and explain how your passion for photography translates into the stunning visuals we see in your work?

It is very crucial to understand each hotel and restaurant's identity and what they stand for. Each brand has a vision, and I always visit each of my clients' establishments before the photoshoot and meet them in person to understand that. I observe the style of plating, the colours and style of the interior, the plates and serving dishes before I start to work on the photography style that will reflect their brand.

In some cases I’ll use the best spots of the restaurants to incorporate the interior in the food shots, in others I’ll paint backdrops myself with the restaurant brand or environment colours. My goal is to show off a restaurant's identity, to reflect the ambience of an experience there. My challenge is to create identical visuals that keep me creative and going.

Q: You've had the opportunity to photograph a wide range of settings and subjects within the hospitality industry. Are there any particular shoots or projects that you consider milestones in your career? How have these experiences influenced your approach to photography and contributed to your success?

It is hard to say, since I'm always trying new settings, photography and editing techniques. I continuously study and experiment. So, I would say there are many small milestones in my photography journey that are always bringing me closer to a wider recognition from different clients.

Recently, apart from food photography, I’ve been getting into product photography too, and I had a photoshoot recently for Twistees that I would also consider as one of my milestones. Another one of my milestones would be the Contessa Restaurant; where we had the honour to work on the rebranding and got to develop their new visual identity. I believe that each of my projects is bringing me closer to wider recognition. I strongly focus on branding and quality work that is appreciated by our clientele.

I am always grateful for what Malta has given me and I aim to deliver my best to contribute to all hospitality businesses and to aid them in bringing their visions alive.