Meet Joni Gomes | Food Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joni Gomes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joni, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I make it a habit to constantly learn and push myself into the uncomfortable. I think it’s a mistake to grow complacent. I take time out of my week to research, learn and practice new skills. Not only does it make my job as a freelance photographer and videographer more exciting but it also allows me to offer a higher quality of work for my clients. Making it a habit to invest in myself also helps grow my confidence as a professional.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a full-time freelance food photographer and videographer and also create recipes for my own website foodbyjonister.com. Since I rarely meet my clients face-to-face, it is important to have strong communication skills. I am always eager to jump on a call for a smooth and easy working relationship. Listening to the client’s needs are very important and I find it equally as important to plan-ahead as much as possible, focus on the details and work in a timely fashion. I like to under promise and over deliver in a sense.

As I am still a growing business, the start has been slow but I am busier now than I ever thought I would be and I am very grateful. It definitely has not been an easy road but I persisted and never gave up. I made time to reach out to as many brands as possible because it’s always a numbers game! Encountering challenges is an on-going battle, it comes with the territory as every client is different.

With experience, I now know what to expect (most of the time) and try to plan ahead. I’ve learned to explain to my clients how things work on my end so they understand what they need to be doing for a successful end product.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Miami is a visually beautiful city with diversity and history. Since I’m in food, most of my Miami itinerary would be planned around great food spots. The best months to visit Miami are November through April, otherwise it’s very hot and humid and also hurricane season. The first place I would take my friend to is the Pérez Art Museum (PAMM) and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. It is a beautifully designed campus with great architecture, views, art, science and great food and cocktails at Verde as well!

Next, I would drive to Wynwood to see the Wynwood Walls and stop at Coyo Taco for great tacos and a drink then head over to Nabati for vegan ice cream and The Salty Donut for some Instagram worthy donuts. When in Wynwood, you also have to stop by Zak The Baker and pick up an insane loaf of sourdough bread and other baked goods! For dinner, I highly suggest Mandolin Aegaen Bistro, a Mediterranean cuisine restaurant with beautiful outside seating and amazing food! Walking around the Miami Design District is a must, I call it the Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive of Miami. It has high-end luxury stores which makes it great for window-shopping and it also has great restaurants including Michael’s Geniune, MC Kitchen, and Politan Row which is a trendy and upscale food hall!

Another beautiful neighborhood is Brickell where I’ve been living on and off for close to 10 years. I love walking along Brickell Bay Drive which is right by the water and passing beautiful high-rise buildings that lead to Brickell Key. B Bistro + Bakery is one of my favorite lunch spots in Brickell along with Casa Tua Cucina and Quinto La Huella which are both located in the Brickell City Center. This open air, vertical shopping center has a variety of retail, restaurants, my favorite movie theatre, and a rooftop bar on the 40th floor with amazing 360° views! Just taking the futuristic looking elevator up to the 40th floor is an experience in itself!

Although I don’t roam around Little Havana often, it’s still a must visit for tourists. Little Havana is a small but vibrant neighborhood with Latin American art galleries, restaurants, Cuban coffee shops, historic landmarks and more!

As a local, I don’t drive over the bridge to head to South Beach often but when I do it’s to have amazing pizza and pasta at Call Me Gaby, elevated vegan food at Planta South Beach, sushi at the sushi bar at Nobu (yes, we have one in Miami too), and amazing Mexican food at Tequiztlan Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar. An insider tip is to also have a drink by the pool at The Standard Hotel. It’s visually beautiful and also has a great spa!

For a more private beach experience, I recommend Key Biscayne. It’s quiet, clean and has beautiful palm trees directly on the beach so no umbrella is needed! In my opinion, the only reason to go to the beach in South Beach is to see some of the colorful, oddly shaped and photogenic lifeguard towers.

Lastly, if possible, get tickets to see the Miami Heat play basketball at the American Airline Arena. The atmosphere and energy is so fun!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many individuals who have taught me a lot. When I first started as a recipe developer and food photographer, I knew next to nothing and made it my mission to read as many blog posts as possible, watch endless YouTube videos on how to use my camera, how to style food photos, how to edit, how to work with brands and more! Joanie Simon from The Bite Shot has had a big impact on me. Her YouTube videos about food photography and business have been very helpful and I refer back to them constantly. I’ve also been a member of her Facebook group of food photographers where we discuss a variety of topics and constantly learn from each other for a couple of years now.

I got the chance to meet some great individuals while attending the Tastemaker Conference a couple of years ago. Not only did I learn so much about my industry and craft but I also connected with food bloggers, brands, and marketing professionals who I am still in touch with on a regular basis today! Having a supportive online community is so important and I love connecting with others to share experiences, encourage and learn from one another.

Website: https://foodbyjonister.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodbyjonister/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonigomes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodbyjonister
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodbyjonister/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc2QlElikZhUq_i2L8Mt8PA