Sam I Am signs Rob Palmer

International production and photography agency Sam I Am has announced the arrival of Sydney’s most passionate food and people photographer Rob Palmer.

Beginning his illustrious career as a surf photographer in Hawaii, Palmer has since traveled the globe and settled back in Sydney where he continues to capture gorgeous pictures of mouthwatering food, candidly startling portraits and evocative, arresting lifestyle snippets.

This talented artist’s compositions are carefully constructed to convey contemporary elegance and appetite appeal in equal measure. Palmer’s use of light and form brings a sense of intimacy to food, people and lifestyle. His attention to detail produces exquisite imagery with a crisp, graphic resolve.

Palmer’s ability to elevate a brief and tell a story makes him highly sought after. But it’s his relaxed and collaborative approach that makes him a client favorite.

Says Palmer: “When taking photos, I aim to capture candid moments, whether I’m photographing people or food. I want  to capture more than what is merely in front of me; I prefer that my subject be almost oblivious to my presence. The same may be said about the food; let’s discover what’s within. As long as it stirs up something special in us, its imperfection is irrelevant.”

His delicious images have been captured for clients such as; Uber Eats, Woolworths, Arnott’s, White Wings, Tandaco, Fonterra, One Night in Mexico, Nestle, Coles, Sunbeam, Cadbury’s, Uncle Toby’s and Qantas to name but a few.

He is also well known for his celebrity chef portraiture, capturing his subject’s love and passion for food with warmth and authenticity. He’s collaborated with the likes of Matt Moran, Josh Niland, Manu Feildel, Justine Schofield, Silvia Colloca and Magdalena Rose to create cookbooks that masterfully weave the art of storytelling with food porn/poetry.

Palmer, who has been in the industry for over 25 years, has won numerous accolades for his work: 2020 – Winner of The National Photographic Portrait Prize; 2020 – Winner of the James Beard Book of the Year Award, ‘The Whole Fish’; 2022 – Winner of the Jame Beard Award for Best Visuals, ‘Take One Fish’.

Says Samantha Simpson, founder, Sam I Am: “Rob takes the phrase ‘you eat with your eyes first’ to an entirely new level. His passion and deep understanding of the culinary arts transforms each shot into a striking food story. Rob has a fantastic eye for detail, light and composition and his food photography is sure to make your mouth water and stomach rumble.”

To view Rob Palmer’s work visit: samiam.com.au/photographer/rob-palmer/