I am a pro food stylist and photographer. I seek tactility and all things vibrant in anything I do.

I am available for editorial and advertising bookings great and small, anywhere. Prints are available if you've found you fell in love--just ask! Stock images are available at Getty and Stockfood.

Please visit my blog lickingtheplate for news on what provides me inspiration, as well as delicious stories and photographs to go with! Follow me on twitter, @melinaphotos. Friend me on facebook at "Melina Hammer Photography".

I continuously seek new challenges and aspire to generate the 'wow' factor. Thank you everyone for your support and enthusiasm. Flickr is a world of inspiration!

All images © Melina Hammer and cannot be used without permission. Really.

If you blog any of my photos, I would appreciate it very much if you let me know, and be given a link. Thank you.

Best of 2008

Best of 2009

View my DNA at bighugelabs.com

Photos of mwhammer (4)

mwhammer's favorite photos from other Flickr members (757)

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Testimonials (7)

  • view profile

    EAT PICTURES says:

    "If a picture really does paint a thousand words (and I suspect that many of Melina's paint considerably more) then this testimonial would currently need a minimum of 431,000.

    Nobody on flickr has time for that, so I'll choose just a few words very carefully... delicious, beautiful, incredible, variety, evocative, mood creating, perfectly lit, imaginative, appealing, balanced and always always carefully composed.

    There are so many things to bear in mind when creating a stunning image, and somehow Melina seems to remember all of them all the time.

    Many flickr photographers inspire me to gain new skills with a camera, but only a very few have the ability to make me wish, time after time, that I had taken their photos. (Melina's also make me extremely hungry a lot of the time.)

    Right, that's far too many words already. I'll shut up. Except to insist that you go and look at more of Melinas pictures right away. Let them do the talking."

    24th April, 2009

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    hammernet says:

    "Knowing Melina personally as more than the fantastic food stylist, gourmet chef, and keenly-eyed food photographer that she is here.... I can say that Melina has tremendous focus and a thoroughly refreshing passion for her art & work that she creates.

    Her belief and conviction for what she does as a food stylist / photographer / chef is so utterly genuine, she is all consumed with what real food, real taste, and the craft of achieving the second from the first is all about.

    I appreciate her natural talent for display, color pairings, techniques with textures, angles, and aperture. The quality of light in her photos is barnone and the variety of preparations continues to lengthen. But more than the technical elements she displays so well - I enjoy her lack of fear to explore and put herself outside of her own comfort zone. Not just in food & photography but in life.

    Great job Melina, keep up the drive, continue the passion, you're inspiring. :)"

    2nd November, 2008

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    Stacy:) says:

    "Melina's photographs make me stop and think and study. First I see the food, then I study the color palette, the light, her composition, and the other details she adds. Everything in the composition is placed perfectly- the colors are rich and pastel and lively and light. Every detail adds up to an amazing photograph with many layers of interest. Her work reminds me to slow down, think it out and strive for perfection."

    27th September, 2008

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    kjatexas says:

    "Lovely natural light and open shadows. The perfect blending of color, texture, light, and propping. If you need to get your veggies.....just peruse Melina's fruits and vegetables. They are a feast for the eyes."

    25th February, 2008

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    Xenotar28 says:

    "Each artistic discipline features the good, the bad, and the excellent. Melina Hammer’s work falls into the excellent category. Possessing innate good taste, superb photographic skills and justified pride in her cooking and presentation, Melina not only markets those skills but also gives us visual treats of her very poetic images.

    There is clarity and clean color in her work. Furthermore, her impeccable compositions and presentations are products of her discipline and study, but above all, from the internal gyroscope that guides her photography, as well as her highly regarded metal work. Her food and utensil photographs are varied and expertly lit, and to me, many notches up from typical efforts in Flickr. After all, shooting professionally requires superior technical and artistic abilities because that's what pays the bills and creates a reputation.

    I confess to using her images for inspiration with my own photography, though without a derivative sense. Now that Melina has premiered her new web site, her intent is to bring her work to the next level. In my view she is already there."

    24th February, 2008

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    Thorsten (TK) says:

    "Melina, your food photography is outstanding with a very unique style. Looking at your photos is eye pleasing and sure has the "salivating" factor a food photo should have. Instead of adding all of your food photos to my favorite list I come here back often to get inspirations about composition, styling, and lighting. You never cease to surprise me with new and original ideas of artistically impressive food photos."

    15th February, 2008

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    theboyfrombluesea says:

    "I don't know how to describe my feelings when I saw Melina's collections. All of them are just so enchanting! I mean everything!
    The mood, the color, the background, the subjects, and the composition itself! I love every detail! Your photographs just bring joy to my eyes!
    Melina, your works surely inspired me a lot.
    Thank you for sharing with us here.
    You're the best! and no doubt, one of my favorite photographer!!!"

    28th December, 2007

Joined:
September 2007
Currently:
New York, USA
Occupation:
stylist, photographer, metalsmith--you can see my metal at: http://melinahammer.com
Website:
melinaphotos.com