I found myself photographing food quite by accident.
It all began with my love of baking and trying new recipes.
At first, I had a desire to simply document what I had made, but after a while I began to want my food photographs to look as good as the food tasted. This is where my food photography journey really began and, over the past few years, food has been one of my favorite subjects.
I often get asked about the food photographs I create. Where did I shoot them? What did I use? How did I get the image to look the way it does?
So today I’m sharing with you my food photography must haves and how I use them. These are things I have been using since I first got serious about food photography. Most of these items are low to no cost and you certainly don’t have to have all of the items on this list when you first start out.
1. White and black foam core boards
If I could only pick one item from this list, it would have to be my white and black foam core boards. I use these as reflectors, backgrounds and flags (to block light and create shadows). These types of boards are readily available at craft stores and I’ve collected them in a few various shapes and sizes.
My favorites are the three panel presentation boards (the kind kids use for science fair projects) because they can stand on their own next to my setup. The three-side boards come in large and small sizes. The small size is perfect for tabletop food photography.
Related: 7 easy tips to making appetizing images
2. Sheers (or other diffuser)
When I’m shooting food indoors, I almost always use sheers to diffuse window light. I live in the south and we get some strong sunlight down here, especially this time of year. I use sheers to soften window light when it’s too strong. I raise the blinds and clip these sheers to the blinds slats. If I am shooting at noon and the light is really strong, I might clip both sheers over the window. If it’s later in the afternoon, I might only need to use one panel. Sheers are pretty inexpensive, but if you have some on your windows already, just use those. If you don’t have sheers, check thrift shops, clearance bins and discount stores. I salvaged the two panels I have from my friend’s trash bin (literally!) and have been using them for three years.
3. Clothespins and clamps
Another indispensable inexpensive item I use a lot are clothespins and clamps. Most of us have clothespins hanging out in our laundry rooms, so transfer a few to your food photography kit. The small clamps I use can be found at most hardware stores. I use clothespins to clip my sheers to the window and I use small clamps to help steady foam core boards and to smooth fabric backgrounds. I’ve also used clothespins (strategically placed so they are out of site) to lift and support props.
Related: 3 tips for photographing cake and other sweet treats
4. Versatile background material
When I first started photographing food, I thought I had to go out and buy a bunch of background stuff, which of course I did not have the budget to buy. Over time, I’ve come to prefer simple backgrounds to busy ones and I have a handful of items that are my go-to for backgrounds. My favorite backgrounds are versatile and multi-purpose.
The first background board I acquired was an 18-inch by 3-foot wood board that I bought at the hardware store. I had some acrylic craft paint, left over from a project that I used to paint the board. One side of the board is brown and the other is white. This one board can serve as both a tabletop and a wall and has appeared in many of my food images.
Favorite places to hunt for cheap/free backgrounds:
Discount Stores:
Be on the lookout for placemats with texture, cloth napkins and interesting wood cutting boards. One of my favorite background finds is a set of faux bois vinyl placemats that I got on a 75% off clearance sale at a department store.
Fabric Stores:
Head to the back of the store and check out the remnant bin. Look for natural materials in neutral shades to bring texture and depth to your food images without drawing attention away from the food.
Craft Stores:
On a recent trip to the craft store I discovered these burlap boards. Basically, they’ve taken burlap and wrapped it around matboard. These boards are great for using as a background, or tabletop, and I love the texture.
Hardware/Home Improvement Stores:
Take a walk down the tile aisle at the home improvement store. Tiles come in all sorts of finishes and textures and make great tabletop surfaces for food photography. And, bonus, tiles are cheap. You don’t need to buy 10; just pick out one or two in different shades.
Family & Friends:
Talk about what you’re looking for and chances are you know someone that might be willing to give you something that you could use for a background for free. One of my favorite backgrounds is a scrap of countertop material that my parents saved for me when they had new countertops installed a couple of years ago. I saved the pieces that were cut out for the stove and sink holes. Now I have a portable countertop backdrop that I can set up anywhere there is good light!
My Own Home:
Don’t overlook what you already have! Do you have wood floors, interesting tile in your kitchen, a distressed deck/front porch? Don’t feel limited to staying indoors. I’ve photographed food on the sidewalk in my neighborhood (concrete makes a great background) and in my front yard (hello gorgeous backlight coming through the trees).
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5. Good light
Photography is always about the light. Before I start styling an image, I always think about the light first. Do I want soft even light? Do I want directional light? Do I want moody light? Do I want bright happy light? From this point, I select where I’m going to shoot and use my other tools to modify that light to my liking.
Related: 7 unusual and creative ways to approach food photography
6. Tripod
When I shoot food, I use a tripod 90 percent of the time. I shoot with a tripod for two main reasons. First, it lets me shoot at ISO 100 even in low light (which means I have long exposures) and, second, it allows me to set my scene in stages. Because the camera is not moving, I can peek into the viewfinder to see how things are taking shape as I set my scene and make adjustments where necessary before snapping away images. This doesn’t mean that I shoot with a tripod all the time. Sometimes I crank my ISO because I’m too lazy to drag out and set up the tripod and other times I crank my ISO because I want that grain in my image. If you’ve never used a tripod before, I recommend starting out with one that is relatively inexpensive.
7. A subject that inspires me
It always comes back to the food for me. I have to be excited about my subject, whether I made it, or bought it at the store. As my photography business has become busier and busier, I don’t always have time to make and shoot the food for my food photographs. Lately, I’ve been shooting whole foods (fruits, veggies, eggs), or sweets purchased from a bakery. You don’t have to spend a lot of extra money. Think about the things you’re already buying when you visit the grocery. Can you imagine a photograph featuring something from your basket? Are you growing herbs in your garden, or have you visited a U-pick farm? Do you love candy, chocolate or coffee? The options are endless!!!
Related: 4 tips for photographing your Thanksgiving table
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This is fantastic! I love your food photography. Thanks for the tips.