NC TOP 25 CHEFS COOKBOOK
Documenting North Carolina's Culinary Talent, One Chef at a Time
CLIENT
NC Top 25 Chefs Cookbook
INDUSTRY
Food | Culinary | Publishing | Hospitality
LOCATION
North Carolina
SERVICES
Food Photography | Chef Portraits | Editorial Photography | Production | Post-Production | Visual Storytelling
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The NC Top 25 Chefs Cookbook celebrates the chefs shaping North Carolina's culinary landscape, bringing together their recipes, stories, and perspectives in one publication.
Berger Media was brought on to photograph the chefs and food featured in the cookbook, traveling throughout North Carolina to capture each chef and their culinary work.
What began as a series of individual shoots evolved into a multi-location production spanning more than 25 chefs. As the project developed and chefs changed, Berger Media adapted to the evolving needs of the production—including photographing additional chefs to help complete the final collection.
The result was a cohesive body of photography that brings the cookbook's chefs and culinary stories to life.
THE CHALLENGE:
A cookbook featuring chefs from across North Carolina requires consistency while still allowing each chef's personality and culinary identity to come through.
Every chef brings a different story, restaurant, cooking style, and environment to the project.
The challenge was to create photography that felt cohesive across the cookbook while capturing the individuality of each chef and their food.
The production also required flexibility. As the project evolved and some chefs dropped out, additional shoots were required to ensure the final collection featured the desired number of chefs.
With shoots taking place across North Carolina, the project required coordination, travel, adaptability, and consistent execution from one location to the next.
THE APPROACH:
Berger Media approached the project as both a photographer and production partner.
Each shoot was designed to capture three key elements:
THE CHEF
Portrait and headshot photography that introduced readers to the people behind the food.
THE FOOD
Editorial food photography showcasing each chef's culinary style and the dishes featured in the cookbook.
THE PLACE
When appropriate, photography of restaurants and environments that provided context for the chef's story and work.
The project required traveling throughout North Carolina and adapting to the unique environments of each chef and restaurant while maintaining a cohesive visual style across the larger publication.
Berger Media managed the photography and post-production process, delivering edited images from each shoot while working collaboratively with the client on scheduling and production needs.
DELIVERABLES
WHAT WE CREATED
25+
Featured Chefs
26+
Individual Shoots
20+
Edited Photos Per Shoot
500+
Edited Photos Delivered
MULTIPLE
North Carolina Locations
CHEF PORTRAITS
Headshots & Environmental Portraiture
FOOD
Editorial & Culinary Photography
RESTAURANTS
Environmental & Location Photography
POST-PRODUCTION
Editing & Final Image Delivery
THE WORK
THE CHEFS
At the heart of the cookbook are the chefs themselves.
Portraits and headshots were created to introduce readers to the people behind the recipes and give each chef a visual presence within the publication.
The goal was to capture each chef authentically while maintaining a consistent visual approach across the collection.
THE FOOD
Food photography brought the recipes and culinary styles of each chef to life.
Each dish was photographed to highlight its presentation, ingredients, and character while maintaining visual consistency across the cookbook.
THE PLACES
When appropriate, environmental photography captured the restaurants and spaces where these chefs create their work.
These images helped connect each chef to the places and communities that shape their culinary identity.
THE DETAILS
From individual ingredients to finished dishes, the photography focused on the details that make each chef's approach unique.
These images provide readers with a visual connection to the food and the stories behind it.
THE PRODUCTION
26+ SHOOTS. 25+ CHEFS. ONE COHESIVE VISION.
Creating a cookbook featuring chefs from across an entire state requires more than showing up with a camera.
The project involved traveling to multiple locations, coordinating with chefs and restaurants, adapting to different environments, and maintaining consistency throughout the production.
As the project evolved, some chefs changed their participation, requiring additional shoots and flexibility to ensure the final cookbook came together as intended.
Berger Media handled photography, travel, on-location production, and post-production—delivering a consistent collection of edited imagery from each shoot.
THE RESULT:
Across more than 26 shoots throughout North Carolina, Berger Media created a comprehensive collection of culinary and editorial photography for the NC Top 25 Chefs Cookbook.
The project resulted in more than 500 edited photographs featuring chefs, food, headshots, and restaurant environments, providing the visual foundation for a cookbook celebrating North Carolina's culinary talent.
The photography was created specifically for publication while also providing a broader visual library that can support the cookbook's promotional and marketing efforts.
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY:
Every recipe has a story.
Behind every dish is a chef. Behind every chef is a restaurant. And behind every restaurant is a community, a history, and a reason why that food matters.
The NC Top 25 Chefs Cookbook offered an opportunity to explore those connections through photography.
The project wasn't simply about photographing food. It was about documenting the people responsible for creating it and the places where their culinary stories unfold.
From chef portraits to finished dishes, the goal was to create a visual record of North Carolina's culinary talent—and the people shaping the state's food culture.