Food On Focus Media has an in-house food stylist who works alongside our photographers and videographers in Dubai and across the UAE. Styling makes dishes, drinks and products look their best on camera while staying true to what your customers actually receive. It can be added to any photo or video shoot, and we recommend it for hero dishes, campaigns, packaged products and drinks with foams or layers.
Tell us what you are shooting and we will tell you whether your shoot needs a stylist.
What our food stylist does
- Plating for the camera: arranging and garnishing each dish at the portion a customer receives, so it reads clearly in a photo or a delivery-app thumbnail.
- Props and surfaces: crockery, linens and backgrounds chosen to suit your brand and your cuisine.
- Drinks: pours, foams, layers and ice, timed so they look fresh in every frame. See beverage and drink photography.
- Products and packaging: packs styled with the food they belong to, as in our Alpro, OMA Bakery and Godiva work. See food product photography.
- Keeping things camera-ready: refreshing garnishes and sauces between shots, so the last dish of the day looks as good as the first.
When to book the stylist
Every shoot includes art direction from our photographers. Add the stylist when:
- you are shooting hero dishes or a campaign that will be used in ads, print or on your website;
- you are photographing packaged products that need to be shown with food or drink;
- your menu includes drinks with foams or layers, or delicate desserts;
- you want a consistent look across a full menu, a new launch or a season such as Ramadan.
Styling that stays honest
We style real food from your kitchen and never use AI-generated images. On delivery apps this matters even more: the photo is a promise about what arrives, and Deliveroo does not permit AI-generated images. Our delivery-app menu photography page explains the platform rules.
Styled work
- Alpro UAE: nine plant-based drinks plus specials styled and photographed in under a week, despite late recipe changes. Read the case study.
- Irish Vickers: 15 styled food and drink visuals from a single day, later requested by Guinness. Read the case study.
- OMA Bakery: styled product photography and reels every month since 2024. Read the case study.
How styling fits into a shoot
- Brief and moodboard. We agree the look, the dishes and the channels the images are for. Our food photography brief template shows what to send.
- Props and surfaces. The stylist prepares crockery, surfaces and props to match.
- Shoot day. Your kitchen plates each dish, the stylist finishes it for the camera, and the photographer shoots it straight away.
- Edit and delivery. Images are retouched and sized for every channel you use.
Styling is part of our wider food photography service in Dubai and our food video production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have an in-house food stylist?
Yes. Our food stylist is part of the Food On Focus Media team and works alongside our photographers and videographers on shoots in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.
Is food styling included in every shoot?
Art direction is included in every shoot. Our food stylist is an optional extra, and we recommend one for hero dishes, campaigns, packaged products and drinks with foams or layers.
Will the styled dish look different from what customers receive?
It should not. We style each dish at the portion a customer actually receives, using your real food from your kitchen. Styling makes the dish look its best on camera; it does not change what is on the plate.
Can styling be added to a video shoot?
Yes. The stylist works on video as well as photography, and most of our shoots capture both in one session.
How much does food styling cost?
Styling is quoted as part of a shoot. The price depends on the number of dishes or products, how much styling each needs and the props involved. Send your dish list and we will quote within 24 hours.