Food Photography Secrets: 20 Pro Hacks to Keep Food Looking Fresh and Irresistible On Set

ALXEATS
Oct 29
3 min read

Ever wondered how ice cream never melts in ads, or why burger cheese pulls look so perfect? Spoiler alert: it’s not magic — it’s food styling. Behind every delicious-looking shot is a toolkit of tricks that keep food looking fresh (and sometimes fake) under hot lights, long shoot days, and multiple takes.

Whether you're a fellow food photographer, a stylist, or a restaurant owner trying to DIY your visuals, these 20 expert food photography hacks will help you level up your content.

The Art of Food Illusion: Why Food Styling Matters

Vibrant falafel rice bowl styled with fresh herbs, pistachios, and pomegranate seeds for food styling tutorial on visual appeal and texture balance

Great food photography doesn’t just show a dish — it tells a story. It triggers cravings, builds trust, and drives clicks, reservations, and sales. But capturing that just-cooked magic takes more than timing.

At ALXEATS, our Toronto-based studio shoots often span hours. Real ingredients wilt, melt, dry out, or lose colour. That’s where professional food styling comes in — creating illusions that feel real but last longer.

Think of food styling as a blend of culinary precision and cinematic problem-solving.

The Ultimate List of 20 Food Photography Hacks

Keeping Food Fresh

Double-patty burger styled under soft lighting beside a spice jar, showcasing food photography hacks for lighting, colour balance, and timing on set keeping items fresh

Glycerin + Water Spray - Use a 1:1 mix in a fine mist bottle to keep produce and glassware dewy.
Brush Meats with Oil - Adds sheen and colour — especially effective under studio lighting.
Revive Greens with Ice Water - Soak wilted herbs or lettuce to restore crispness before plating.
Tweezers + Cotton Swabs for Detail Work - Essential for adjusting crumbs, sauces, and garnishes precisely.
Freeze Citrus Slices - Keeps them vibrant and structured longer under heat.

Substituting Real Ingredients (Fake Food Magic)

Photographed pink dessert drink topped with shaving cream, surrounded by raspberries, illustrating fake ingredient hacks in food photography like using glue or mashed potatoes

White Glue for Milk - Doesn’t soak cereal, stays perfectly opaque and stable.
Mashed Potatoes as Ice Cream - Sculptable, doesn’t melt, and can be tinted for realism.
Motor Oil or Corn Syrup as Syrup - Pours slowly and captures that rich, sticky visual texture.
Shaving Cream for Whipped Cream - Holds shape in hot lights and doesn’t break down.
Glue Between Cheese Slices - Create the ultimate cheese pull with glue between layers.

Creating Perfect Composition

Salmon tartare tower with avocado, edible flowers, and garnishes, photographed to show perfect food composition using tweezers, toothpicks, and styling props

Toothpicks & Cardboard - Stack burgers and sandwiches with hidden supports for height.
Tweezers for Placement - Place garnishes and toppings with surgical precision.
Prop Up Plates Slightly - Use napkins or cardboard beneath plates to lift and tilt key angles.
Fake Steam with Cotton Balls or Vape Pens - Microwave wet cotton balls or use vape tricks for steam effects.
Cooking Spray on Veggies - Adds shine and enhances colour saturation.

Lighting & Timing Tricks

Chilled peach dessert served in a glass bowl with peach wedges and thyme, demonstrating techniques for keeping food fresh on set during photography

Acrylic Ice Cubes - Never melt, perfect for drinks and cold scenes.
Freeze Plates Before Serving - Keeps sauces from running and adds longevity to cold items.
Shoot Most Perishable Items First - Start with herbs, greens, and fresh items before moving to warm dishes.
Diffuse Natural Light - Use white curtains or reflectors to soften window light and highlight textures.
Shoot in Layers & Composite - Capture multiple shots of the same plate to build the perfect image later.

Pro-Level Food Styling Kit: What’s in My Bag

For shoots at ALXEATS, here’s what we never leave behind:

Fine tweezers
Natural bristle brushes
Glycerin + water spray bottles
Acrylic/resin ice
Shaving cream
Cotton balls & steamer
Blowtorch
Syringes
Cooking spray
Prop blocks, napkins, & risers

This is where your visuals move from "good" to "mouthwatering."

Behind the Scenes at ALXEATS

Whether we’re styling for Nawab’s Legendary BBQ, luxury CPGs like Eatable Popcorn, or restaurant menus across Toronto, we often rely on the above hacks to ensure every frame looks just as appetizing as the real thing — if not more.

Working with a seasoned Toronto food photographer means we’ve got the tricks, tools, and timing to deliver visuals that sell.