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Little Rusted Ladle

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Making Edible Unforgettable

Your Food, Lifestyle, Product, Fashion story told with impact!

Welcome! I'm Jena Carlin, and I am a professional photographer deep in the heart of farm country. We are centrally located between the Midwestern hubs of Chicago, IL, & Minneapolis, MN surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes, rich soil, and the space to create big ideas.

I operate a 3,000 sq. ft. commercial studio with a full food-styling kitchen and a well-stocked prop room. I am equipped to art direct, style, and produce stunning photos and video of your product with a quick turn-around.

You'll be part of the process every step of the way to ensure we achieve your vision and goals!

View My Specialty Galleries

Grilled corn on the cob with vibrant spices on a moody surface

Motion

A goup of black and white chickens eating seed in the grass at sunset

Farming Photography

A woman bring a sprinkled birthday cake to a picnic table with kids and balloons

Lifestyle Photography

powdered sugar falling on a berry macaroon

Food Photography

Barista making a specialty coffee drink. moody lighting.

Drink Photography

spread of tacos and wings

Narrative Brand Photography

Why choose Jena Carlin?

Jena Carlin standing by a table set up of sunflower dishes in a sunflower field
Fluffy white dog waiting by his food dish as broth is poured into it
Jena Carlin photographer sitting sideways in a wicker chair and smiling

Experienced in large and small studio spaces and working with clients on location.

Eleven years of advertising, catalog, corporate, and editorial experience.

Active collaborator, always delivering above client expectations.

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Does your content stand out?

You can expect to receive the highest level of professionalism and creativity with a down-to-earth, Midwestern vibe.

Get your free consultation today!

Client Love

"When you work with Jena, you're not just hiring a photographer, you're working with someone who works tirelessly to make sure the product she provides is the highest quality and spot on to your brand. I always appreciate the ideas she brings to the table before the shoot, her suggestions on the day of the shoot and her ability to pivot if we change direction. It's a perfect mix of taking direction, and providing her own style and flare to everything she touches. I look forward to continuing to work with her and I would recommend her in a heartbeat."

-Taylor Rodriguez, Associate Creative Manager

"Jena is a joy to have on your set. She can anticipate your needs and has great problem solving skills, along with the necessary knowledge in regards to photography. She also has a lot of other talents, such as faux finishing/painting for set design. For an art director, that's a dream come true! On top of it all, she works very hard to remain on top of her game outside of the 9-5, which is what driven, hard working, creative people should do. Jena lives and breathes creativity, and I would highly recommend her!"

-Melissa Brower, Associate Creative Director

Photo Essays

An artistic picture of a cranberry bog with the sun setting over the tree horizon line

Cranberries

Itty Bitty Cranberry Co. in Sherry, WI let's us peek into an agriculture cranberry harvest.

Fire Roasted corn on the cob with a moody background

Sweet Corn

Learn the secret of tender summer sweet corn with Skelly's Farm Market, Wisconsinites who have been farming the land since 1850.

kids going through a garden path

Honey Bees

Stir up some artisanal lemonade with honey straight from the hive in this DIY lemonade stand.

Grandmother and grandchildren working together to make an apple dessert

Apple Squares

Three generations gather to create a family-favorite dessert, straight from Grandma's recipe box.

Let us wow you!

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