Client Partnership Work
Client Partnership Work
Item 1 — Seneca Lodge, Watkins Glen
A longtime staple of Watkins Glen in New York’s Finger Lakes region, Seneca Lodge is known for simple food, cold beer, and the loyal crowds that gather after races at the nearby speedway. This image was captured to provide the restaurant with marketing content while strengthening Palmer’s relationship with the team behind the business.
Building Relationships Through Creative Services
In addition to internal marketing initiatives, I developed a client-facing creative service that supports Palmer’s sales teams and strengthens relationships with restaurant operators across our territory.
Working alongside sales representatives, I traveled throughout our markets to document menu items and kitchen work in client restaurants, capturing high-quality food imagery they could use in their own advertising and social media. These visits often extended beyond the primary account contact, allowing me to build relationships with chefs, managers, and ownership teams while gaining a deeper understanding of each operation.
The work frequently expanded beyond photography. I provided guidance on social media practices, helped refine menu design and presentation, and shared marketing insights that helped operators better communicate their offerings to customers.
This service created additional touchpoints between Palmer and its clients, strengthening partnerships while reinforcing Palmer’s role as more than a distributor—positioning the company as a resource that helps restaurants grow and succeed.
Item 2 — Lucca’s Northside Kitchen
After a young new owner purchased Lucca’s—an eatery with more than 40 years of history—fresh imagery helped signal a renewed energy while honoring the restaurant’s long-standing presence. Cocktail photography was created to support updated marketing and help set the tone for the restaurant’s next chapter.
Item 3 — Pontillo’s Pizza
Under new ownership, this Pontillo’s location elevated its menu with premium meats and cheeses at the center of the offering. The imagery highlights the improved ingredients and craftsmanship, helping communicate the restaurant’s renewed focus on quality.
Item 4 — Shamus Restaurant, Lockport
A longtime staple of the Lockport community, Shamus continually raises the bar with seasonal offerings that reinterpret classic favorites—keeping loyal customers satisfied while attracting new interest.
Item 5.
Working directly with restaurant clients has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work. These projects focus on supporting small businesses—celebrating a young chef returning to the family kitchen, long-standing establishments built on decades of familiar faces, and owners who care deeply about what they place on every plate.
Through imagery and collaboration, the goal is simple: help tell the story of the people and traditions behind the food.
Item 6.
This work also supports the efforts of Palmer’s sales team, helping introduce new products through collaboration with our corporate chef on menu ideation. Strong imagery becomes a powerful tool in those conversations, helping operators envision how products can translate directly to their menus.
Item 7.
The following images show examples of photography created for restaurant clients and later used in their own marketing. This work focuses on meeting clients where they are—providing useful, ready-to-use imagery that supports their advertising while naturally highlighting Palmer products in real kitchens and dining rooms.
By helping operators present their food well, the imagery adds value to the client’s business while reinforcing Palmer’s role as a trusted partner in the success of the restaurants we serve.
SUMMARY
This work reflects a more personal side of my role—supporting restaurant clients directly and helping them present their food and businesses with care and clarity. By providing useful imagery, creative guidance, and marketing support, these projects strengthen relationships between Palmer and the operators we serve while reinforcing the value of our products in real kitchens and dining rooms.