I get asked a lot of questions about my food photography and wanted to share with you a few of the food photography props that I use to make my food photography pop. I truly believe that you do not need to spend a fortune on expensive props and studio equipment; all you need is a few pieces to make your photos stand out. Chances are you already have all of these food photography props hanging around in your kitchen already! ?
#1 – Parchment Paper
Of all the food photography props I use, parchment paper is the one I use the most. You'll see it in my photos under glasses, on top of and under plates, lining ice cream trays and baking dishes, and used in place of napkins. It's an easy way to add texture and depth to a photo without being distracting.
I like to hand tear the size I need to avoid the too clean cut edges. I also always crumple it up into a ball and then smooth it out, so it has a softer texture.
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#2 – Beer Caps and Wine Corks
I keep these four items in a little bin of random food photography props, and I reach for them frequently. A few scattered beer caps work great for casual shots of pub food or spicy food. They help create the feel that the meal is being eaten, not just showcased.
#3 – Pepper
Fresh ground pepper is my second most commonly used food photography prop. I sprinkle a little on top of most savory food shots and make sure to get some on the plate and the background board. It's subtle, but I find without it my photos feel like they're missing something.
#4 – Tiny Bowls
Tiny bowls make great food photography props, and you probably have a number sitting in your cupboards already. I fill them with dipping sauces, extra glaze, nuts or seeds that I have sprinkled on top of the dish, or even some flaky sea salt for added texture.
#5 – Lemons and Limes
Lemons and limes make their way into a lot of my photos. If they recipe calls for lemon or lime juice you'll almost always see one in the picture. They're a simple food photography prop that adds a pop of colour and helps to show how the final dish will taste. Try slicing them in different ways, squeezing a slice to give a ‘meal in progress' look or adding a slice in a water glass.
#6 – Newspapers
You don't often see newspapers used as food photography props, but can really make a photo pop. I like using them to set a morning scene for breakfast recipes. They would also be great for a casual fish and chips shot.
#7 – Cooking Spray
I wanted to buy the organic oil in the pretty bottle to take a picture to show you, but this is the actual bottle from my pantry. It's glamorous, I know. Sometimes when a dish sits for even a few minutes, it can start to look dull. Cooking spray is a great way to add a little shine to make a dish look fresh out of the oven.
Do be careful when spraying it as it has a tendency to shine the bowls and backgrounds boards too.
#8 – Little Spoons
Little spoons work great when used with tiny bowls. Put them in a bowl or scoop some dip or sauce onto them and leave it at the side of the bowl for a messy, being eaten look.
#9 – Squeeze Bottles
Squeeze bottles are geat food photography props to have when you need control over where you want sauce, aioli or some oil to be on a plate. They're also very handy if you're taking pictures of sandwiches or burgers to draw on mayonnaise or ketchup in just the places you want.
#10 – Paper Towels
I use paper towels as food photography props quite often. They work well in casual shots in place of napkins. I'll sometimes fold them neatly and other times crumple them up, depending on the feel of the scene. They also work to add depth to a photo by placing them under tiny bowls or glassware.
Improve Your Food Photography
If you're interested in learning more about how you can improve your food photography, check out the post 10 Food Photography Tips for New Food Bloggers.
Another food photography resource that I highly recommend.
Pinch of Yum's book Tasty Food Photography.
Kristen Stevens
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Hi, I’m Kristen! 
Hi!! Thank you so much for this article! Because it was very helpful, it was featured right here: http://www.dreamingofbutterflies.co/5-food-photography-secrets-need-know/
Thank you so much for sharing the link!
Great ideas! Thank you.
No problem at all! So happy you found them useful. 🙂
Love these. Tiny bowls are one of my obsessions 🙂 Your photography is always gorgeous btw!
Thank you so much, lovely! I feel the same about yours. I’m always drooling over your pictures!
Yes, yes and YES!!! I love using bits and pieces from around the house. I’m a big fan of glasses, cups bowls etc in the background too.
They make the best props, don’t they?!!
Great suggestions. I’ve never used a newspaper and I wonder why.
It’s not one I used very often, but I always like the effect when I do. 🙂
Kristen, thanks for the great tips. Just starting out as a food blogger I’ve found that taking photos of my food is one of the hardest things for me to do. I’ll be sure to check out the other resources.
It was for me too! I practiced a lot, did all the tips I have in this post, bought books, watched videos, studied other people’s photography and then practiced some more. I’d like to come out with some more of these posts so if you ever have any specific questions don’t hesitate to ask!
Oooh great tips! Thank you. You are so right I do already have many of these, which makes things much easier 🙂
You’re so welcome, Lauren! I hope you find these props as handy as I do. 🙂
Interesting post, Kristen! I’ve never used newspapers, but I’ve been dreaming of doing this for a few years. The problem is I’d love to get an old-looking newspaper. Do you think the librarians would be happy if I borrow a few items for such a purpose?:)
Ha ha I bet they’d love it if you returned a food splattered newspaper! I have the crosswords section of a newspaper from a few years ago that I use and it’s starting to look pretty yellowed and old. I wonder if there is a way to expedite the aging process, like you can make new wood look old?
Yes tiny bowls! Anything round, even plates. I always struggle to make square plates look good, so I’m always just using round bowls and plates!
Square plates are the worst, aren’t they! I also never use them as they always throw off my photos. 🙂