The best food photography props for food bloggers

You’ve spent hours perfecting your recipe, and now it’s time to take photos of your delicious food! You know that good food photography is a must if you want people to click through to your post. But where do you even start? In this blog post, we’ll talk about some of our favourite food photography props and where they can be bought from. We will also cover some basics before beginning such as foods styles, backgrounds, and styling tips. We hope these tips help make your life easier when trying to get professional looking shots for your business!

Things to know before you start buying food photography props

We recommend creating a mood board or Pinterest board to help you plan out your food photography style. This can be helpful for finding the props that will work best in your photos. Once you have decided on what type of food look you want, it’s time to think about how the background and props should also contribute.

Favourite 9 Food Photography Props:

Fabric Napkins:

Fabric napkins are so much more than just a convenient place to wipe your hands. Fabric napkins are a great food photography prop because they come in so many different colours and patterns, especially when you’re working with matching sets of photos that need cohesion and consistency in colour or pattern! Not only that but they cheap and easy to store, making them ideal for food photography.

Matte plateware:

If you’re looking for something neutral to use as a base for photos of salads and other dishes, then a plate is perfect for you! Ikea do a great range of matt-ware.

A white plate is a great food photography prop because it’s easy to swap in and out of photos with other dishes or surfaces when you’re styling for different meals. It also makes your food look more clean cut against the snowy background! If you’re looking for a sleek, modern look then matte plates are your best bet.

If you want to showcase the background of food photography props in your photo, one way is through colourful dishes that will draw attention to the back drop behind them! Using different patterns and colours can add an appealing element of variety into your photos.

We love ceramic bowls because they come in so many different sizes and shapes, meaning you can use them to create a variety of dishes for your food photography! They’re also great as background props when combined with other items such as fabric napkins or plates.

Dessert plates are another type of food photography prop that come in all shapes and sizes. They’re the perfect dishes to use when you want a more whimsical or artistic look, as they come with plenty of patterns and designs on their own!

Paper:

Parchment paper is a favourite food photography prop, as it provides a more professional look to your food shots without taking away the natural texture of the food.

Creative ways to use paper in food photography:

• Custom branded greaseproof paper
• Snack cones
• lining layer
• Wrapping paper
• Separating foods

Pinch bowls:

If you love the idea of being able to make your food look like it’s being held in the palm of someone’s hand, then a pinch bowl is perfect for you! A pinch bowl is a great tool for food photography because it can be used as both an object to hold something like soup, or also act as the perfect dish on its own. It’s versatile and will work with pretty much any kind of meal!

Castiron ware:

I’m not going to lie, food photography props can be expensive. But you don’t have to break the bank! In the pictures below I share how cast iron is a great food photography prop because it’s inexpensive and adds that rustic touch without breaking your budget. Different food photography props allow you to create the perfect photo, so be sure to know what you’re after before investing in any new equipment.

Wooden cutting board:

A wooden cutting board will be your best friend when it comes to food styling and prep as well as being great for photography! The natural tones and textures of a wooden cutting board can make your food pop against a white background if you plan to use it as one.

Food:  

There’s nothing better than using the actual dish in your photos, especially when you want that “homemade” feel for them. If not, then props are great because they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to store.

Seasonal decorations:

If you want a more aesthetically pleasing photo, then using some seasonal decoration is the way to go! This can be flowers or plants that correspond with what food it is (ie. strawberry for spring), natural items like pinecones, or even something as simple as dipping a carrot or apple in a bowl of water to create frozen fruit!

Yourself:  

Obviously, it’s important to take photos with yourself included. These could be selfies that you can use as profile pictures on your website, blog posts about recipes and food styling tips from the experts themselves – there are so many possibilities for this one! And don’t forget to have fun with it!

Different food photography props allow you to create the perfect photo, so be sure to know what you’re after before investing in any new equipment. If you want to more food styling tips and tricks, make sure to subscribe and follow my blog!