Culinary Arts and Photography Connect for a Real-World Collaboration with Local Food Photographer

Students enrolled in the Culinary Arts and Digital Photography programs at Arlington Career Center got a close-up look at the life of a food photographer during a recent collaboration led by Chef Renee Randolph and Ms. Fae Montgomery.

When ACC’s Art & Digital Photography teacher, Ms. Fae Montgomery began looking for partners and resources, she connected with Chef Randolph who suggested that they reach out to—Lisa Cherkowski. Chef Randolph first connected with Cherkowski during the pandemic through Instagram, when she stepped in to host an online food photography workshop, and the partnership continued as the program grew. Since Cherkowski has a personal connection to ACC—her child is a former student—and she lives in the community just a couple blocks away, she was more than happy to step in to support the program again.

During her in-person visit, Cherkowski led a hands-on workshop on food styling, photography, and lighting. Culinary students were challenged to transform “lunchbox-style” snacks—such as pinwheels and pecan twirls—into fine-dining-style plates using garnishes and other accoutrements, while photography students documented the process and captured final images of the completed dishes.

Throughout the session, Cherkowski coached students on composition, perspective, and lighting, and shared professional “tricks of the trade,” including techniques to create shine and freshness and tools used to add visual details like sear marks.

The collaboration isn’t over yet! Photography students will return after completing post-production edits to share their work and reflect with Culinary students on what their images communicate. As Chef Randolph put it, it was “a really cool morning”—and an example of how meaningful partnerships can turn classroom learning into an authentic, career-connected experience.