Hi, I’m Arpna — a professional food stylist and photographer based in Dubai with over 14 years of experience across the food and beverage industry.
Arpna Photography – Food Styling by an All-Female Team | Dubai • Sharjah • Abu Dhabi
Years of
Experience
Hi, I’m Arpna — a professional food stylist and photographer based in Dubai with over 13 years of experience working across the food and beverage industry. From cosy cafes to the UAE’s biggest restaurant chains and TV commercials or brand campaigns, I bring a unique blend of creativity, precision, and passion to every plate.
Having lived across continents, my global exposure brings diverse visual inspiration to my food styling work. Inspired by my foodie family, I see food as more than a meal — it’s a canvas. Whether you’re showcasing a simple mezze platter or an elaborate gourmet dessert, I style dishes to look authentic, appetising, and brand-ready.
I collaborate with brands, restaurants, and production teams to deliver visually stunning, camera-ready food imagery. My services include:
From melting cheese shots to perfectly drizzled sauces, I focus on the small details that make a significant visual impact.
Note: I don't cook or prepare food myself. My work begins where the chef's ends. I team up with culinary professionals to style their creations for visual storytelling.
Every shoot is different. Whether I’m working on a food stylist brief for a restaurant menu or a full brand campaign, I build the approach around what the dish and the brief actually need.
Working with the chef to plate each dish for the camera — adjusting portions, garnishes, and textures until it looks exactly right.
Choosing props from my own collection: hand-painted backdrops, tableware, boards, and linens that suit your brand and the mood of the shoot.
Setting up each frame with composition and light in mind, so every element earns its place and nothing distracts from the food.
Collaborating closely with your photographer or production team throughout, so the styling and the final image are always working together.
I cover Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, and I'm available for one-day shoots and longer projects alike.
I work with all kinds of food businesses, from small independent cafes and home bakers to large restaurant groups and production houses. As a food stylist for restaurant menu shoots, social media campaigns, TV commercials, and product launches, I’ve had the chance to style across cuisines, formats, and briefs.
If you’re based in Dubai, Sharjah, or Abu Dhabi and you need your food to look its best on camera, I’d love to hear about your project. My clients include:
We eat with our eyes first. And in the UAE, where the food scene is as competitive as it is exciting, the way your dishes look on screen can make a real difference to whether someone chooses you.
Food photography styling is what happens before the camera comes out. It’s the plating, the props, the light, the composition — all the decisions that turn a dish into an image people actually stop to look at.
I’ve spent over a decade doing this work, and the thing I come back to every time is this: good food styling doesn’t try to trick anyone. It just shows the food at its best.
A selection of food styling work from restaurants, cafes, bakeries, TV commercials, and brands across Dubai, Sharjah & Abu Dhabi.
Arpna’s food styling transformed our menu shoot completely. The way she plates and positions every dish is extraordinary — she has an eye for detail that is rare.
Our new menu has received so many compliments from customers, and the final images have become a key part of our marketing across print and social media.
We eat with our eyes first. And in the UAE, where the food scene is as competitive as it is exciting, the way your dishes look on screen can make a real difference to whether someone chooses you.
Food photography styling is what happens before the camera comes out — the plating, the props, the light, the composition — all the decisions that turn a dish into an image people actually stop to look at.
Book a Consultation →Unlike many stylists, I’m also an experienced food photographer in Dubai, which gives me a strong visual edge. I know how to make food look amazing through the lens, not just in real life. This dual skill ensures your final images are styled with the camera in mind, saving time and improving quality. I’ve worked with ad agencies, production houses, and top photographers to deliver brand-aligned visuals that capture attention.
Yes! I’ve curated an extensive prop collection over the years as a food stylist in Dubai and beyond, including hand-painted backdrops, unique cutlery and tableware, and textured and rustic boards. Each prop and backdrop is carefully selected to complement your brand’s story and enhance your food visuals.
Every project is unique, so rates vary depending on the type of shoot, styling needs, and number of dishes. Whether you’re planning a short campaign or a full-scale commercial, I offer tailored packages. Send me your project brief and I’ll get back with a custom quote.
This depends on the scope of work. A complex TV ad may need a full day or more, especially with multiple setups and gourmet plating. We always plan ahead to ensure precision, quality, and smooth execution.
Yes. While I am based in Dubai, I regularly work with clients in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and can travel across the UAE for suitable projects.
A food stylist takes care of how the dish is presented: the plating, the props, the arrangement. A food photographer captures it. The two roles are different, but they’re closely linked. Because I do both, the styling is always done with the camera in mind, which saves time and tends to give you better results.
Yes, all the time. Menu shoots are some of my favourite projects to work on. As a food stylist for restaurant clients, I work with the chef and photographer to make sure every dish looks exactly as good as it tastes. From starters to desserts, every plate gets the same care.
"Good food styling doesn't try to trick anyone — it just shows the food at its best."
If you’re searching for a professional food stylist in Dubai, Sharjah & Abu Dhabi who understands visual storytelling and camera-ready styling, I’d love to hear from you.
