When I was a kid, my dad would take me to a product photography studio in Manhattan to watch them do their trickery. Fascinated me then, fascinates me now.
If this interests you, head over to YouTube and search for “commercial food photography tricks”. Lots of videos showing off the tricks of the trade.
[H/T the thematically thin Not Jony Ive]
The old “Step-By-Step Graphics” magazine ran a great article about this once. I believe it was for a cooked-food shoot for a fast-food-chain. The photographer’s team had to cook several batches of the needed meal, including one that was set up just for lighting.
That discarded, the “hero” food would be far more carefully assembled in its place using some of the height- and fastening-tricks shown above. Parts of it were then sprayed with a glycerin solution which would keep it looking moist and freshly-cooked.
It was a hell of a magazine.
In my early days I interned for a food photography studio. Never believe any food photo.