Here's a little show and tell:
The average McDonald's food photography shoot consists of a single day shoot to capture 3 - 4 shots. Each shot is based on a sketch I drew, approved by the client, prior to the shoot. Each team consists of me (the art director), my producer, the photographer's producer, 1 to 3 food stylists, a prop master, a food technical advisor, 2 to 3 photographer assistants, and the photographer him or herself.
During the shoot adjustments are made to the position of the food and props. Sometimes things don't look as good in front of a camera as it did as a drawing. Sometimes food needs to be replaced if it sits in front of the lights for too long. Sometimes the photographer has a better idea on how to capture what I'm looking for. In every case, good communication, team and time management is vital in keeping these tightly orchestrated shoots within budget and deadlines.
Once the shoot is finished, I go through the hundreds of captures to pick the best shots while making notes on minor retouching. The photos are turned over to the retouchers, which takes about an additional week of directing and approvals. The shots then become key art for marketing material from print to digital and broadcast.
And yep, the food's 100% real.