Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to ROBIN CHASE. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

ROBIN, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I come from a creative family with lots of artists, musicians, and photographers, so photography was always a part of my life though more of a hobby than a career goal. As much as I loved it though, I was determined to have a stable, reliable job, so I earned a Master’s degree in Special Education and spent 20 years teaching.
Still, I was always drawn to food and photography. I collected cookbooks, devoured cooking magazines, and even had a few food blogs. Over time, I realized it wasn’t the writing or even the cooking that excited me, it was the photography. I loved playing with color, texture, and composition and styling scenes that told a story through still life.
As teaching began to wear me down, I considered culinary school to pivot into the food world, but the cost felt out of reach. One day, a friend asked me, “If money were no object, what would you do?” Without hesitation, I said, “I’d be a food photographer,” but at the time, I laughed at how impossible that sounded. I had a mortgage, bills, and no idea how I could make the jump to a new career. But then she said, “Why not take the money you’d spend on culinary school and invest in photography gear and classes instead?” That conversation changed everything.
I started taking photography more seriously, enrolled in an apprenticeship with a master photographer, and eventually connected with a food stylist, Sue von Brachel, who’s still my stylist today. We did a few test shoots, launched a website, and to our surprise, the work started coming in. We were literally calling in sick to our day jobs to take on shoots. At one point, I realized: if we don’t jump now, we’ll miss our shot. So we went for it, and nearly ten years later, Sue and I built a business we love around food, creativity, and visual storytelling.

ROBIN, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We’re Robin and Sue, a food photography and styling team based in New Jersey, just a quick train ride from New York City. We started this business almost ten years ago after both leaving our full-time jobs to pursue our passion. From the beginning, our mission has been simple: to create beautiful, personalized photography that truly helps brands tell their story.
What sets us apart is how much we invest in getting to know the people we work with. We listen, we learn, and we take the time to really understand what’s important to each brand. Our goal is always to create visuals that not only look stunning but also capture the heart and passion behind a business. It’s about making brands stand out and we genuinely love being part of that process. We especially love working directly with brands that are passionate about their products. That passion is contagious, and it comes through in our work!
Over the years, we’ve had the chance to work with all kinds of clients, from restaurants and product distributors to editorial teams, website designers, and social media managers. We’ve shot packaging for new products, built content libraries for Instagram feeds, developed website imagery, and even photographed a few beautiful cookbooks.
We feel incredibly grateful to have had such wonderful clients, many of whom we’ve worked with for years. Building those long-term relationships is one of the best parts of what we do, and we’re so thankful for the continued trust our clients place in us.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That trust alone isn’t enough when you have a business.
When we started out, I truly believed in the best of people, and while I still value trust, I learned that it has to be paired with clear boundaries and agreements. We didn’t have contracts in place early on, and though we were lucky to avoid major issues, we came close to being left unpaid with no protection on a job or two. That experience taught us the value of setting up a professional foundation: get insured, form at least an LLC, and most importantly, have a solid contract.
Now, our contracts clearly outline deliverables, timelines, and a clause requiring clients to be present (in person or via Zoom) to approve images on shoot day. Any changes need to happen then and there so we avoid misunderstandings later. That shift didn’t make us less trusting; it made us more prepared and protected, which ultimately leads to better relationships and results.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding days are when we’re working with a true culinary artist, someone whose passion is so infectious that the whole team falls into a creative flow. Everything just clicks. We always create our most beautiful work in those moments. And the best part? Seeing the brand’s excitement when they finally see their food captured in a way that truly does it justice. It’s an incredible feeling to help bring their vision to life. Those are the days that stay with us long after the shoot is over.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.robinandsue.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinandsuephoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Robinandsue/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-chase-1b09804/

Image Credits

Robin & Sue Photography