Photographer — Maren Caruso really steams up the lens.

“Real people having real fun with real ramen.”

That’s the feeling Iyashi’s founder, Takashi Kusui, wanted to convey with the latest work for authentic, make-at-home ramen brand, Ramen Hero. “We really wanted realism with a more modern graphic and color that describes the core value of product”, Kusui adds. After auditioning top food photographers from across the country, Iyashi Brand Studio chose acclaimed Bay Area photographer, Maren Caruso to shoot.

“Maren has a way of making things you see every day seem brand new, with creativity, craftsmanship, lighting and composition. There’s a sense of emotional movement — even in her still life, tabletop work,” Kusui explains.

“We wanted to avoid the usual cliches in the culinary photography category; impossibly good-looking people eating immaculately staged-looking food. Caruso adds, “We really wanted to capture the fun of slurping down Ramen Hero and sometimes that means getting a little messy. There’s a real honesty and beauty in that.“

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Client: Ramen Hero

Agency: Iyashi Brand Studio
Chief Brand Officer: Takashi Kusui
Creative Director: Cedric Giese
Executive Producer: Adam Parker

Photographer: Maren Carsuso
Food Stylist: Robyn Valarik
Prop/Wardrobe Stylist: Peggi Jeung
Producer: Elena Graham & Jennifer Thomas
Digital Tech: Robert Rodriguez
Photo Assistant: Brian Slaughter & Claire Nitchman
Hair & Makeup Artist: Shawn Burke

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Iyashi (Ee-ya-she) is a full service branding studio located in San Francisco, CA. http://iyashisf.com

Photographer, Maren Caruso’s work can be seen at https://marencaruso.com

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Oh, one more thing — Adweek is saying “This Lovable Cowboy Selling Ramen Is the Ad Star 2020 Needed”