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What is Food Styling & What Does Food Stylists Do?

Food styling is a way to make food look visually appealing and attractive for photography or videography. There are many methods to style food, depending on the overall theme or look you’re going for. It also depends on the individual food stylist as each of them has their style. Food styling and design also involves various backdrops, props, lighting and ingredients to produce an attractive appearance.

What do food stylists do?

Food stylists come up with creative ideas on how to make food attractive and appealing to invoke one’s emotions. They tell a story of a product or brand. However, aside from making food look good, food stylists are also required to know a thing or two about food photography, videography, recipes, set designs and various food preparation methods.

The role of food styling in marketing and advertising

When it comes to food styling in the marketing and advertising category, food styling plays an important role. Since customers aren’t able to taste food as the first thing they’ll see is the visual aesthetics of the food, it’s very crucial to make it look good.

1. Create a strong brand identity

One of the ways to stand out among your competitors is to have a strong brand identity. With good food styling on various marketing channels, customers will most likely remember your brand.

2. Making food look appetising

If a photo of your food looks good, customers will want to purchase it without thinking twice. Visuals will make food look appetising and influence a customer’s decision whether to try (if it’s their first time) or to become a loyal customer.

3. Key highlights of your product

Food styling also helps to show off the best features of your food such as the ingredients or where is it made from. This would be one of the ways to attract customers as well, especially if you have a targeted audience in mind.


Types of food styling

1. Culinary Food Styling

This involves the food styling of restaurants and chefs where the food stylists will come up with various dishes for the menus or food events. The main point of culinary food styling is to highlight the particular chef’s cooking style or technique.

2. Editorial Food Styling

Food stylists who specialise in editorial food styling will style food for blogs, magazines, cookbooks and various other editorial content. It involves more creativity as they will have to tell a story for the product or brand.

3. Commercial Food Styling

Commercial food styling involves styling for product packaging, advertising, and various other promotional content. This food styling prioritises looking appetising to attract a large number of customers.

4. Prop Styling

Prop styling involves the art of putting various props together to make it look visually appealing such as linens, tableware and other decoration items. They will come up with themes on set to make the products stand out while organising all the props neatly.

Looking for food styling services in Singapore?

So, if you’ve been wondering what food styling is, we hope this article has helped you clear your confusion! Need help on creating aesthetically pleasing photos or videos for your food? Learn more about our food styling services in Singapore or reach out to us today to kickstart your next successful campaign. Don’t forget to check out our professional food photography service in Singapore too!