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JEDDAH: Food styling remains a niche, albeit essential, element in the Kingdom’s culinary arts scene. But one culinary artist is quickly making a name for himself with his stylish plating.

Rawan Showman's interest in food styling—the process of preparing food to look as appealing and appealing as possible for photos or videos—began in college when he decided to help a photographer friend just before the global pandemic began.

“I have a passion for cooking and photography, so styling seemed like a natural fit,” she told Arab News.

A culinary background isn’t necessarily required for styling, but in Shawman’s case, it proved a bonus. “Knowing how to speak the chef’s language and the photographer’s language is essential for communication,” she said.

“I’ve always loved cooking and photography, so styling seemed like a convenient way to combine the two,” Showman said.

As a result, I have developed a career that combines food styling, stage and prop design, and creative direction.

Showman used the money he earned as a stylist to invest in professional equipment for photography and videography.

However, food styling is relatively new in Thailand, so I had a hard time establishing myself as a professional.

“Most of us start out pretending we know what we’re doing until we actually do it,” she said. But she worked hard, had determination, and had a good portfolio to convince clients to come work with her.

So what exactly does a food stylist do? “We work with chefs to create the highest quality food for restaurants or commercial sets. I employ production chefs on my team,” says Showman. “I use their culinary skills and my styling savvy and vision to create the ultimate, most stunning end product.”

Each project is different and has its own unique requirements and budget. While a stylist’s work ends when filming is complete, a showrunner is also involved in pre- and post-production.

“The creative process starts with the client’s requirements, followed by ideation and planning,” she said. “We prepare everything for the shoot, from the backdrops to the plates. Then it’s the day of the shoot… Sometimes we even do a demonstration before the shoot to perfect the styling.”

Shawn also looks for props that fit the project and recipe. “I have other elements in mind that I want to add to the set,” she says. “I provide not just plate options, but also glasses, utensils, boards, and ramekins for sauces, garnishes, or ingredients.”

When creating visually appealing food designs, she considers texture, layering props, fabrics, and more.

As our food industry evolves, there is a need to present it in a way that is engaging and unique.

Rawan Shoumanfood stylist

“She once said she thought about texture, and I like to think that way,” says Santos Lu, a food stylist based in Los Angeles.

While aiming for perfection used to be the mainstream standard for food photography, the trend now is toward a more natural aesthetic.

“Victoria Granoff (American food stylist) is someone who started to defy these rules, and her style is now more accepted and in demand,” Shawman added.

Saudi stylists follow artists they admire and check out cookbooks, magazines and websites to stay informed of the latest trends and techniques.

She said, “We are artists, we create trends. We don't have to follow trends, you know what I mean?”

Like a painter, her technique and style are influenced by the mood and emotion she felt when creating the dish or set. She also advocates working ethically with less food waste, and finding and creating edible materials that can replace the chemicals commonly used in styling.

Showman said he was excited for creatives in the industry to have the opportunity to showcase their talents, adding that the field needed to expand.

Food photography happens “every day,” she said, but unfortunately, styling isn’t always requested due to budget and the “what-you-see” approach.

Showman has collaborated with many celebrities, studios, corporations, hotels as well as national and international brands including Al Osra Sugar, Wister, Rustic Grill, IKEA, Lalo Restaurants, Flan Burger, Savola, Nespresso and Häagen-Dazs.

Showman sees food styling as an essential element of Saudi Arabia's growing culinary culture.

“As our food industry evolves, it needs to be presented in a way that grabs attention and shows off its uniqueness,” she said. “That’s where food styling comes in… It helps tell the story of a dish, makes it appealing, and draws people in.”

When asked about her future projects and plans, Showman said, “I’m always excited about my next project, meeting new people, and collaborating on creative endeavors. I’m not one to follow a strict plan. I prefer to embrace new challenges and let inspiration guide my work.”

She added: “Inspiration is everywhere. You just have to be curious and open-minded. I like to think in series, coming up with concepts, titles and ideas for food photography and videography. I get inspiration from nature, film, podcasts and even seemingly unrelated things like car photography or fashion shows.”

Shawman believes that documenting ideas, even if they are not immediately applicable, is a valuable practice for creative thinking.

One of the defining moments in her career was a project that pushed her out of her comfort zone. “When I started doing photography and videography, I didn’t have access to my usual collaborators. I had to rely on my skills and resourcefulness to complete projects. That experience taught me a lot about adaptability and independence,” she recalls.

This anecdote highlights the career path of a food stylist: one that is constantly learning, growing, and pursuing creative expression.