Food Photography Props
One of my very favorite things about food photography is the props! I have loved dishes FOREVER and now I get to use all my favorite dishes for photography. In this post I was to give you a run down of props to get you started and where to find them. I am super excited about this one so lets go!
Let’s start with what you have
Go through your cupboards and your China cupboard (I’ve had one since my 20s so I’m just assuming everyone has one ;)) I looked at my dishes, silverward, cutting boards, carafes, and bakeware. If you are lucky enough to live near family hit them up. I bet Grandma’s house is a gold mine of awesome dishes. An item I had and love to use is my old rusty bakesheet.
Next stop, your neighborhood Target
I love Target. I think I am not alone on this one. Target is a great place to get started with a few basic props. Watch the video above where I show you what I look for in food props.
Other local stores with great options are:
TJ Maxx
Home Goods
Wal-Mart (yep, I said it)
Use the same tips I offer in the video to look for dishes and other props to get you going.
Check Antique Stores
This one is so much fun. I had more fun at my local Antique mall than I had at Disneyland (that might be because the lines are shorter.) It was so fun looking for cool old dishes. Look for an old used patina and retro-looking dishes. I am obsessed with 70 era Pyrex, silverware with a worn finish, glasses with some sparkle and old cooling racks.
Another great resource for Antiques is Etsy. Etsy is a worldwide treasure trove of antiques.
The top items you need to get started today
4 dessert sized plates– Trust me on this. The smaller plates make the food look more enticing
At least 4 spoons and forks that have a patter you love
A charcuterie board or cutting board big enough to place a few plates on
A cooling rack– I look for vintage ones but you can get a perfect cooling rack at any store that sells Kitchen ware.
Neutral colored linen napkins- The gauzier the better
A cake stand– If your don’t do cakes you will still find a use for one. Also, cake stands are my very favorite
Between 4-6 glasses- I like my glasses to have a little detail. I love the way they photograph but this is totally up to you.
And old, very used bake sheet- this can me use as a foundation for a cake or to frame cookies or cupcakes. An old bake sheet is such a cool texture to photograph.
Wax paper- Is so multi-functional and will add that extra bam to your images.
There it is! with just a few items you can get going on your food photography adventure and I promise, you will love it! One of my favorite things about food photography props is that you can use them in life. I bust out my props for holidays and family dinners all the time.
