99. How to travel the world as a freelance food stylist with Julianna Vezza
This week I speak with Julianna Vezza who is a creative freelance food stylist and founder of Bon Vivants Creative. An agency that provides food styling, recipe creation, photography and videography for brands.
Julianna grew up with creative parents and knew from a young age that she wanted to start a business that allowed her to express her love for food and travel.So, she followed her passions and combined the two to create an agency that allows her to work with brands and products that she truly believes in.
Today she is able to travel the world creating content for hotels, restaurants, and other lifestyle brands.Listen on to find out how to travel the world and create branded content.
Listen Below:
Show Notes:
Debbie: Hi Juliana. Julianna: How are you Debbie? Debbie: You were kind enough to meet me here today. You have a really packed schedule. You travel a lot. So it was good that we were able to see each other. Before I went away and I’m sure you’re going to be going away soon too. You and I met a few years ago through Instagram and this is actually the first time that we’re meeting each other in person, which is hilarious. Julianna: So crazy. I love how this Instagram community brings people together. It’s like one of my favorite parts about it. RELATED EPISODES:- How this entrepreneur built a 6-figure business using automation.
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Creating a career from food and travel.
Debbie: From the time you and I spoke to now, there have been so many different changes in your life specifically with what you were doing. So first you were just doing food styling and now you incorporated travel into it. How did you make that transition? Julianna: I think it was honestly a little difficult for me because I know I love food and I’ve always been cooking as I said, but I was feeling a little bit uninspired by just the food on my feet. I knew something was missing and I wasn’t feeling fulfilled. I felt like something was lacking. I actually went to a food styling and photography workshop in San Francisco and it was like a three-day course with one of my really good friends now Bella, she’s incredible. She was the one who inspired me to put more of what I wanted on my feed which was travel and incorporate the two. I definitely remember there was a point where I made that transition and it was actually in the summer. I think it was about two years now when I was about to take on my first branded partnership in Hawaii with two resorts there. I was kind of changing my feed then and there. I’m really happy that I went into the food and travel direction because that’s what I really wanted my account to be and that’s what I was inspired by the most. I definitely took that leap. I’m really happy that I did because it was a successful outcome.Pitching to different lifestyle brands.
Debbie: For somebody who is looking at your feed and who’s looking at what you’re doing as a food stylist and also as a traveler, how are you able to actually pitch to these companies? Especially if you’re just starting out and you don’t know what’s happening yet? Julianna: When I first started pitching brands, I remember sitting on my bed and just reaching out to about 150 hotels all around the world. No shame in the game at all. I thought I’m just going to reach out, I’m probably going to get denied. And I did by a lot of hotels and that was kind of a bummer. But then I got a couple of responses who said we really love your work. And I think to like hear those words of affirmation, knowing that someone really thinks your work is worthy, I think that kind of stands for itself. And I got to two of my first partnerships ever in Hawaii. Evan and I did. And we were thrilled. We were blown away, but it was just kind of putting ourselves out there and letting your work be seen and not caring about what the outcome’s going to be, I think is the biggest first step. Just creating content, making content and then putting it out there and hoping for the best ultimately.

Staying on top of the Instagram Game.
Debbie: You talked a little bit about Instagram. How have you been able to keep that going? Especially now? There’s a lot of people that are burned out from it and I know you use it a lot for your business and also when you’re traveling. How have you been able to continuously grow and use Instagram for your business? Julianna: It’s a struggle, honestly. It’s work. I think that a lot of time and thought goes into it and I do find it, especially time-consuming when I’m not on these traveling trips from going to these crazy beautiful destinations. When I’m in New York City and I have to make something of it. I think that’s when it’s the hardest. I feel like there’s a lot of pressure to always be creating and always be curating. But lately I’ve stepped back and started to evaluate, what do I want to put out there? What do I want to show? And try to make something that I am proud of. Some of it is branded work on my Instagram. Some of it is just me curating contents. Definitely a mix. But either way, there’s work involved. But, I love it.
Creating income as a content creator.
Debbie: How have you been able to create income when you first started and how do you continue to create income today? Julianna: When I first started a lot of my income was from my mom and from assisting her as a food stylist. I would just go on all sorts of jobs with her. We would even do some traveling for work as well. But that’s where I first started. That’s how I first made my income. And then it slowly started that I acquired my own clients and had my own work every month or two months and it just built up from there. So, I started off working with her, which was incredible. I got the best experience and just slowly started having my own clients and building my own brand. Debbie: What has been the most surprising thing that you have found when you started your business?

How to stay motivated as an entrepreneur.
Debbie: What has helped you continue to be motivated to keep doing this? Aside from the freedom? Julianna: What motivates me in the morning is traveling so much. I’ll wake up actually think about where I’m going next, what I’m going to be seeing. That there’s something so incredible around the corner, no matter what. That’s what motivates me. That’s what gets me going. Debbie: Some people like myself, I nerd out on interviewing inspiring people like you and hiking. What about you Julianna what do you nerd out on? What do I nerd out on? I love to snowboarding and I feel that’s one of my favorite things to do in the winter that I don’t get to do. I love to play tennis and hike too. I’m super outdoorsy. I went to school in Maine, so for me, the outdoors is everything. I’d be hiking every weekend and exploring. So yeah, being outdoors, sports, all that good stuff. Debbie: What has been the most memorable moment in your trip that has ever happened to you? Julianna: My most memorable moment was in, in Bora Bora and French Polynesia with Evan. There’s something about that trip that just made us take a step back and be like, what is happening? What are we doing? How is this our job? Just a moment of like pure bliss and appreciation. Just a wow moment I think just to step back and be like, wait, where are we? Debbie: It’s really interesting when you find yourself at a point in your life that everything that you’re working for, you’re actually starting to achieve and you have that pinch yourself moment that it’s actually happening and you can’t believe that you’re there. And it’s actually all coming true, or at least it’s starting to come true. How good is that feeling? Julianna: It’s crazy. It’s just the most surreal feeling in the world. I’m creating this life that I’ve always dreamed of. It’s incredible. It really is, it’s a pinch-me moment for real. Debbie: Even a few months ago or even a year ago or a few years ago that you were just thinking about this and then all of a sudden it’s right in front of you and it’s happening. Julianna: I remember Google Bora Bora, French and thinking it will be an incredible honeymoon destination. But I didn’t think we will go there. When your dreams become reality, it’s like wow! Debbie: If our listeners want to know more about you, where can they find you? Julianna: They can find me at my Instagram, which is at Julianna Vezza, or BonVivantscreative.com which is our creative agency. We just launched our LLC, so we are officially a creative agency so you can find all of our work there including our branded partnerships and a little more about us and our work. And my recipes are on there as well. Debbie: Thank you Julianna.Listen to Julianna’s extended interview where she shares how to stand out as a content creator on social media.
Listen Below:
What you’ll find:
How can you stand out as a content creator on social media?
- Find and create a unique niche for your brand.
How do you create beautiful content that will be noticed by brands?
- Create a style for your work- using presets for your images.
Why is styling so important to create unique content?
- Details can make or break your work.
- Lighting is crucial to your images.
- Establish a setting and work on a composition.
How do you start pitching to brands?
- Make sure you are familiar with the brands before you pitch.
- Show sample work, and don’t be afraid to reach out.
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