The Camera Eats First

An inside look at the creativity, craftsmanship, and teamwork behind every plate

Photographer, Dave Barfield shown photographing entrees at The Edison Restaurant

Every so often, we hit pause on our normal routine at The Edison and spend a day doing something a little different: photographing the menu.

If you've ever wondered where the photos on our website, social media, advertisements, and magazine features come from, the answer is simple. We make the food. We style the food. We photograph the food. Then we eat a lot of cold leftovers.

It's one of the most fun days of the year.

This year, our team spent the day working through dozens of menu items, cocktails, and action shots around the restaurant. The kitchen was bustling, the bar was shaking drinks, and photographer Dave Barfield of Lonely Fox Photography somehow managed to make everything look even better than it already does.

One thing people don't always realize is that food photography is never really finished. Menus change. Dishes evolve. Cocktails get refreshed. New favorites appear. Restaurants are constantly growing and changing, which means the photography has to keep up.

A photo might seem simple, but behind every image is an entire team.

A dish that takes a guest twenty minutes to enjoy may represent hours of preparation. Recipes are developed and tested. Ingredients are sourced. Sauces are made from scratch. Garnishes are carefully prepared. Then, on photo day, everyone suddenly becomes an art director.

Should the shrimp face left?

Is the cocktail garnish too tall?

Does this plate need one more sprinkle of herbs?

These are the important questions.

Barfield arranging picture perfect garnish

Our Executive Chef, Morgan Stumpff, loves photo days because they give the team a chance to celebrate the work that happens behind the scenes every day.

"We spend so much time focused on service that it's nice to step back and appreciate the craftsmanship," says Morgan. "It's a chance to showcase what our team does best."

Bar Manager Emma Cuccio feels the same way.

"A great cocktail should look inviting before you even take a sip," she says. "Photography lets us share that experience with guests before they ever walk through the door."

Of course, none of it would be possible without Dave Barfield. Through his company, Lonely Fox Photography, Dave has photographed The Edison for years. His work appears throughout our website, social media, and advertising, including campaigns featured in Tallahassee Magazine and Emerald Coast Weddings.

What we appreciate most is that Dave captures more than just food. He captures the feeling of being here.

While Dave is the professional behind many of our major photography projects, we'd be remiss not to mention one of our resident shutterbugs. Edison Manager Kaylie Grout has a passion for photography and is responsible for many of the images you see on our Instagram account. It's not unusual to find her managing an event one moment and crouching next to a cocktail with a camera the next. Having someone on our team who genuinely loves documenting the restaurant means we're able to capture the little moments in between the big ones, and we're grateful for the creative eye she brings to The Edison every day. Check out Kaylie’s photos on our Instagram @edisontally

So the next time you're browsing our menu online or scrolling through social media, we hope you'll enjoy the photos. More importantly, we hope you'll come experience the real thing. After all, a photograph can showcase a dish, but it can never quite capture the conversation, laughter, and memories made around the table. That's the part you'll have to come see for yourself.

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Special thanks to Dave Barfield of Lonely Fox Photography for helping us tell The Edison's story through photography. Follow his work on Instagram @lonelyfoxphotography