Photography Assistant – Food Styling

Freelance Photography Assistant – Food Styling · Flexible hours · Half-day and full-day rates · Occasional paid travel

Our story so far

At Tjarks and Tjarks, creativity meets craft. For over 35 years, we’ve been shaping bold, distinctive brands that don’t just sit on the shelf, they stand out and get chosen.

Trusted partners to our clients across decades, we help navigate the ever-evolving world of shoppers and retail, designing packaging that connects, competes, and converts. From big ideas to flawless execution, we deliver a true 360° design-to-artwork approach. Efficient, precise, and globally consistent. We don’t just collaborate, we create as one. Our team of experts blend imagination with technical excellence to bring brands to life in a seamless, truly integrated way.

About the role

We're looking for a hands-on photography assistant to support our product photography shoots. The role is a mix of food preparation, food styling and shooting: getting each product cooked and presented at its very best, then helping capture it in our custom light boxes.

It suits someone who enjoys cooking, takes pride in how food looks, and likes practical, varied work with flexible hours.

Hours: Flexible; varies with the shoot schedule and vary per week

Travel: Occasionally required. Travel days paid at the day rate, plus all travel expenses covered

Half day rate: $500

Full day rate: Up to $1,000

Shoots are booked as either a half day or a full day, agreed in advance.

What you'll be doing

Product preparation: sourcing or collecting the products for each shoot and getting them ready to cook.Cooking: preparing items exactly as they would be served. For example, taking a pizza from pack to oven and making sure it comes out evenly cooked, golden and not burnt.Food styling: arranging and finishing each product so it looks its best on camera, with the key ingredients clearly visible (toppings spread well, sauces and textures showing, nothing hidden or overcooked).Shooting: placing products in our custom light boxes and helping capture the images, adjusting position and presentation between shots.Quality checks: spotting small issues (crumbs, smudges, uneven toppings) and fixing them before each shot.Set and kitchen care: keeping the prep and shoot areas clean, safe and organised, and packing down at the end of the day.

A typical shoot day

Arive, set up the prep area and check the shot list for the day.Prepare and cook the first product, timing it so it's at its best as it reaches the light box.Syle the product, shoot it, then review and adjust as needed.Repeat for each item on the list, keeping the workflow moving.Cean down and pack away.

What we're looking for

Some cooking, kitchen or food-styling experience. Product photography experience is a bonus, not a requirement.A sharp eye for detail and a real sense of what makes food look appealing.Reliable, punctual and comfortable working to a shot list.Calm, tidy and practical in a hands-on environment.Flexible availability, including the occasional travel day.

Travel and expenses

Most shoots take place at our own setup, but some will require travel to another location. When travel is needed:

The travel day is paid at the full day rate.All travel expenses are covered on top of the day rate, such as transport, and accommodation if an overnight stay is needed.Travel is always agreed with you in advance, with the details confirmed before you book.

Our team & our values

We’re a vibrant, creative crew who care as much about our culture as the work we make. Our values aren’t just posters on the wall, they were crafted by our team and guide everything we do.

Be Innovative – Think Ahead

Be collaborative – Succeed together

Be Supportive – Lift each other up

Be All In – Show up with purpose

We’re always looking for talented, passionate people to join our growing squad in our Purley studio. If you’re ready to collaborate, create, and be part of something truly awesome, this is your playground.