1. Tell us about your background and journey.
I come from a blended family, I am half Italian half Colombian and grew up in Miami, FL. I started Sweetportfolio as an Instagram account back in 2017, sharing photos of desserts and meals I would eat at restaurants across my city. It was never my plan to become what people call an “influencer”, but my social media posts began to get traction and I got absorbed by the online food world. Nowadays, I’m a cookbook author, recipe developer, and food & lifestyle influencer on Instagram and TikTok.
2. What led you to take up cooking?
I’ve been baking most of my life, but I’m completely self-taught. I grew up watching the Food Network on TV with a pencil and notepad by my side. Back then we didn’t Google recipes or search on Pinterest. I had to write everything down, the ingredients and steps as the TV host was explaining!
I lived with my parents and maternal grandparents in the same apartment, so we would all cook together. Cooking was encouraged in my household and was an activity we all enjoyed. Holidays were the best.
3. What skills does it require to master cooking and shooting food?
To become a good cook, you have to be patient. A lot of cooking, especially baking, requires long cook times and precise ingredient amounts. I am super methodical when it comes to baking, I weigh and measure everything. I set timers for everything and have several thermometers to measure temperature. I do this to make sure my recipes are flawless and easy to replicate by others. I do all the hard work so that all you have to do is follow the recipe step by step!
For photography, all you need is a phone and a good light source. I like taking my photos during the daytime next to a window. Test out different angles and shoot away. I sometimes take 100 photos of the same dish and end up using only one.
4. Should food blogging be just a passion or can one take up a career in it?
I think this can be asked about any creative field. Non-conventional careers get a bad rep, but if you are willing to put in the work — create recipes, film, edit, and post every single day — I say you should pursue. Consistency is key to social media success.
5. What are your biggest tips when it comes to food styling?
Different coloured plates! I buy cheap $1-2 plates at IKEA, the dollar store, and crafts stores. They work as a backdrop and can make your dish pop!
6. How can one improve and grow in this career? What piece of advice would you offer?
Jump on trends as soon as you see them. Social media users have an incredibly short attention span. The trend cycles are very short-lived, something can stop being trendy in just 4 days. So, if feta pasta is trending, jump on that trend ASAP.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
While I read a lot of novels my favourite book is still The Little Prince. My mom used to read it to me and I think the message it shares should be applied to our everyday lives. The best things in life can sometimes be invisible to our naked eye.
- Valentina Mussi
- TikTok: Valentina Mussi
- Instagram: Valentina Mussi
- Interviewed By Kusum Jha
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