"Food designer" is a career, just like "sound designers" who work for radio stations (writing and recording "jingles" and the other sound effects used on the air).
Yes, there are all kinds of tricks used to get the perfect photo. Since the lights are hot and the photos take time to set up, the burgers are sprayed with preservatives (hair spray, etc.) to keep the lettuce looking fresh. There are toothpicks and other "accessories" used to keep it from compressing. Anything that can "run" (sauces, etc.) are replaced with thicker "look alikes". In Hollywood productions, you'll rarely see someone actually eat an ice cream - because it's usually mashed potatoes mixed with flour colored to look like ice cream.
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