I'm a content creator and advertising professional with extensive experience producing food, product, and lifestyle content for leading brands across digital, social media, broadcast, and advertising campaigns. I founded The Artful Gourmet, a multi-platform media brand featuring a blog, podcast, and YouTube series focused on culinary storytelling, restaurants, travel, and lifestyle.

Kristen Hess

I'm a content creator and advertising professional with extensive experience producing food, product, and lifestyle content for leading brands across digital, social media, broadcast, and advertising campaigns. I founded The Artful Gourmet, a multi-platform media brand featuring a blog, podcast, and YouTube series focused on culinary storytelling, restaurants, travel, and lifestyle.

Available to hire

I’m a content creator and advertising professional with extensive experience producing food, product, and lifestyle content for leading brands across digital, social media, broadcast, and advertising campaigns.

I founded The Artful Gourmet, a multi-platform media brand featuring a blog, podcast, and YouTube series focused on culinary storytelling, restaurants, travel, and lifestyle.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance Food Stylist, Photographer + Creator at Self-employed – The Artful Gourmet / NYC
January 1, 2012 - Present
Freelance photographer, food and prop stylist, and content creator for restaurants, CPG brands, PR firms, and advertising agencies with core clients in NYC, as well as FL, ATL, CHI, and LA. Styled and photographed food, restaurants, travel, lifestyle, products, and portraits for client advertising and PR campaigns across print, web, editorial, packaging, digital, social, packaging, and OOH. Led pre-production planning, shot lists, styling concepts, and coordination with post-production teams.
Owner/CCO/Creator at The Artful Gourmet
January 1, 2010 - Present
Created custom recipes, food styling + photography, videos, and wrote culinary travel/restaurant features for her blog, www.theartfulgourmet.com, and for freelance clients. Published content for food & beverage brands, chefs, restaurants, hotels, cookbook authors, magazines, and Advertising/PR agencies. Host and voice behind The Artful Gourmet Podcast and The Artful Gourmet YouTube channel, crafting stories around food, travel, creativity, business, and food styling/photography.
Sr. Food / Photography Stylist at H-E-B Advertising, Quad Graphics
October 1, 2021 - July 1, 2025
Lead food and prop stylist for H-E-B Advertising – providing food and prop styling for photography across digital, web, video, print, social media, OOH, and in-store promotional materials and campaigns. Partnered with creative directors and photographers to create original concepts, styling, props, lighting, and layouts. Managed assistants, junior stylists, and vendors while directing pre-production planning.
Freelance Food Stylist, Photographer + Creator at Self-employed / The Artful Gourmet
January 1, 2012 - Present
Freelance photographer, food and prop stylist, and content creator for restaurants, CPG food and beverage brands, PR firms, and advertising agencies with core clients in NYC, as well as FL + ATL + CHI and LA. Styled and photographed food, restaurants, travel, lifestyle, products, and portraits, for client advertising and PR campaigns across print, web, editorial, packaging, digital, social, packaging, and OOH.
Senior Photography Stylist at H-E-B Advertising | Quad Graphics Photography Studio
October 1, 2021 - July 1, 2025
Collaborated with creative directors, producers, and photographers to concept, style, and produce food and product imagery and video for multi-platform advertising campaigns. Styled and produced imagery for advertising, social media, television, website, packaging, and in-store campaigns. Partnered with creative teams to develop visual concepts that aligned with brand strategy. Supported production of high-volume commercial shoots for one of the nation’s leading grocery retailers. Ensured visual quality, brand consistency, and efficiency during fast-paced studio productions.
Founder & Content Creator at The Artful Gourmet
January 1, 2012 - Present
Creator and producer of a multi-platform food and lifestyle brand focused on culinary storytelling, recipe development, travel, restaurants, and lifestyle content. Responsibilities include producing original photography, video, recipes and editorial content; hosting and producing a podcast and YouTube cooking series; writing blog articles, product reviews, and lifestyle features; managing brand partnerships, collaborations, and sponsored content.
Freelance Content Creator | Food Stylist | Photographer at Various Clients
January 1, 2012 - Present
Work with major food, beverage, hospitality and lifestyle brands to create visual and editorial content for marketing campaigns, media platforms, and advertising initiatives. Select Clients: Food Network, Tastemade, TV KitchenAid, Harry & David, Wegmans, Publix, Tillamook, Galbani Cheese, Chipotle, BEEF! It’s What’s for Dinner, DairyMAX, National Peanut Board, Bacardi, Stella Artois, Captain Morgan, and others.
Sr. Digital / Creative Producer at Various Agencies (360i NY, Digitas NY, J. Walter Thompson, Interbrand NY, HNW Advertising)
May 1, 2008 - January 1, 2012
Led digital and creative production across major agency environments, coordinating production for multi-channel campaigns and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality content.
Art Director/Sr. Graphic Designer at The Home Depot Advertising
May 1, 1997 - February 1, 2003
Provided art direction and graphic design support for advertising campaigns, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver on-brand visual communications across multiple channels.
Freelance Content Creator | Food Stylist | Photographer at New York, NY (Various Brands)
January 1, 2012 - Present
Work with major food, beverage, hospitality and lifestyle brands to create visual and editorial content for marketing campaigns, media platforms, and advertising initiatives. Select Clients include: Food Network, Tastemade, TV KitchenAid, Harry & David, Wegmans, Publix, Tillamook, Chipotle, Bacardi, Captain Morgan, and others.
Sr. Digital / Creative Producer at New York, NY
May 1, 2008 - January 1, 2012
Agency experience across 360i NY, Digitas NY, J. Walter Thompson, Interbrand NY, HNW Advertising, delivering digital and creative production for advertising campaigns.
Art Director/Sr. Graphic Designer at The Home Depot Advertising, High Design, Max Commerce, XS International
May 1, 1997 - February 1, 2003
Led design and art direction for advertising materials across catalogs, campaigns, and digital platforms in multiple roles over six years.

Education

MA, Advertising at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2005
BFA, Graphic Design at University of South Carolina
January 1, 1990 - January 1, 1991
BS, Design at SUNY Buffalo State University
January 1, 1987 - January 1, 1989
MA, Advertising at RMIT University
January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2005
BFA, Graphic Design at University of South Carolina
January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1991
BS, Design at SUNY Buffalo State University
January 1, 1987 - December 31, 1989
MA, Advertising at RMIT University
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2005
BFA, Graphic Design at University of South Carolina
January 1, 1990 - January 1, 1991
BS, Design at SUNY Buffalo State University
January 1, 1987 - January 1, 1989
Post Graduate + Continuing Education: Food Styling, Photography at ICE + ICP NYC
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certificate at ICC, NYC
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Culinary Arts & Blogging Programs at Parsons New School, NYC
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Professional Food Writing at Parsons New School, NYC
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Master of Arts (MA), Advertising at RMIT University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2005
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Graphic Design at University of SC
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1991
Professional Training: International Center of Photography – Food Photography, Digital Photography, Studio Lighting, Portrait Photography at International Center of Photography
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Professional Training: Parsons School of Design – Professional Food Writing at Parsons School of Design
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Professional Training: Institute of Culinary Education – Culinary Arts, Food Media & Food Styling at Institute of Culinary Education
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Professional Training: International Culinary Center – Food & Wine Pairing Certification at International Culinary Center
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Master of Arts (MA), Advertising at RMIT University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2005
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Graphic Design at University of SC
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1991
Food Photography, Digital Photography, Studio Lighting, Portrait Photography at International Center of Photography
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Professional Food Writing at Parsons School of Design
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Culinary Arts, Food Media & Food Styling at Institute of Culinary Education
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certification at International Culinary Center
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Food Photography at International Center of Photography
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Digital Photography & Visual Media at Parsons School of Design
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Culinary Media & Food Styling at Institute of Culinary Education
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing at International Culinary Center
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design at Parsons School of Design
January 11, 2030 - April 4, 2026
Food Photography at International Center of Photography
January 11, 2030 - April 4, 2026
Digital Photography & Visual Media at Parsons School of Design
January 11, 2030 - April 4, 2026
Culinary Media & Food Styling at Institute of Culinary Education
January 11, 2030 - April 4, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing at International Culinary Center
January 11, 2030 - April 4, 2026

Qualifications

Post Graduate + Cont Ed: Food Styling, Photography; Food & Wine Pairing Certificate; Professional Food Writing
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certificate
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Culinary Arts & Blogging Programs
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Professional Food Writing
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Post Graduate + Cont Ed: Food Styling, Photography (ICE + ICP NYC)
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certificate (ICC, NYC)
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Culinary Arts & Blogging Programs
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Professional Food Writing (Parsons New School, NYC)
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Food Styling, Photography (ICE + ICP NYC)
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certificate (ICC, NYC)
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Culinary Arts & Blogging Programs
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Professional Food Writing (Parsons New School, NYC)
January 11, 2030 - February 21, 2026
Post Graduate + Continuing Education: Food Styling, Photography (ICE + ICP NYC)
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certificate (ICC, NYC)
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Culinary Arts & Blogging Programs
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Professional Food Writing
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Parsons New School - Culinary Writing
January 11, 2030 - February 23, 2026
Culinary Arts, Food Media & Food Styling
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certification
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Professional Food Writing
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Food Photography, Digital Photography & Studio Lighting
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Food Photography Training
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Professional Food Writing
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Culinary Arts, Food Media & Food Styling
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certification
January 11, 2030 - March 24, 2026
Master of Arts in Advertising
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Master of Arts in Advertising (qualification related to the education record above)
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (qualification related to the education record above)
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Master of Arts (MA), Advertising
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Graphic Design
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
International Center of Photography – Food Photography
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Parsons School of Design – Digital Photography & Visual Media
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Institute of Culinary Education – Culinary Media & Food Styling
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
International Culinary Center – Food & Wine Pairing Certification
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Food & Wine Pairing Certification
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Culinary Media & Food Styling
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Digital Photography & Visual Media
January 11, 2030 - April 3, 2026
Master of Arts in Advertising
January 11, 2030 - April 4, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Travel & Hospitality, Consumer Goods, Professional Services, Retail