Food Styling Photo Props

Getting great pics of food is more than just snapping a photo. Plating the food and adding elements sets the mood of the photo and presents the dish in a pleasing and appealing manner. Here are some of my favorite food styling photo props that I use continually to make shots visually enticing.

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Pinterest is a huge search engine where people go to get ideas for every project, food or how-to. It is so important to have photos that stand out and catch attention. If you are a blogger or have a forum such as Facebook or Instagram, strategically using props in your photos will make a big difference in the finished photo.

The items shown here, or ones very similar, are pieces I use frequently in my food photos. Scroll through our GPTH site to see examples. 

Photography Style

Every photographer, or food stylist for that matter, has their own style. The more photos you take, the better idea of your particular style. Go with your special creativity yet be open to refining and defining what you do.

You may prefer casual or formal images. I like cleaner, brighter images but I let the particular food determine the kind of finished photos I am aiming for.

Let the subject guide you

For instance, if I made an old-fashioned recipe I will look for items that reflect an older time period. Likewise, if the food is a trending type food, I will use items that have a cleaner contemporary style.  

Using Props

Keep in mind the size of the props you are using.  Generally food photos that receive the most attention are closeup shots. Your props play a part in highlighting the food. Smaller props work best in this smallish area. 

Often I place a taller prop in the background to fill a void space. A teapot or water pitcher comes in handy for this.

You will find more detailed ways to use props as well as tips for styling, lighting and backgrounds and get a peek at the behind the scene of food photography that actually happens at GPTH’s kitchen and dining room.  Click Behind the Scenes Food Photography.

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My Favorite Food Styling Photo Props

1 Artificial Peony Silk Flowers Bouquet 

2 8 Oz White Porcelain Pitcher

3 Set of 4, Heat Insulation & Stain Resistant Washable Place Mats

4 White fluted Teapot 28 Ounce

5 100 Clear White Wire Light Set

6 Wallace Pie Server and Cake Knife Set

7 Acacia Salad Servers, 12″ Long

8 Cotton Dinner Napkins, 20 by 20-Inch, Pack of 12, Multi-Colors

9 Crabtree Collection Cotton Cloth Napkins Turquoise/Gray Dandelion (Set of 4)

10 Milk White 9″ Glass Cake Stand

11 Sheer Curtains 63 inch 

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Behind the Scenes Food Photography

Visit Behind the scene food photography filled with tips for styling, natural lighting, backgrounds, camera equipment and props. A behind the scene food photography how-to to get your best photos.

Photography equipment

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Photography Equipment Page

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Props to use to create beautiful food photography photos with helpful tips for camera equipment, styling, lighting and backgrounds.