5 (More) Food Photography Props You Already Own

Happy Thursday fellow badass bloggers!

I realized, in going over my blogging schedule, that it’s been a while since I talked any sort of nitty-gritty bloggy stuff. About 7 months to be exact. Yikes, right?

I know, most of you are probably here for the recipes and some sweet baked goodness, but I’m afraid today’s post is more geared towards the (food) photographically inclined. If you’re looking for something sweet, you might try my fudge sundae cake or s’more tart to tide you over until next week. More goodies on the way, (girl) scout’s honor (I was a girl scout when I was younger, so that’s a serious sort of promise right there!).

For those of you here for the photography, let’s talk ways to improve your photos with props you already own. No money, no problem on this one folks! <– Best kind of post, am I right? So here you have it, 5 AWESOME photo props that I bet you already have lying around your house!

1. Pieces of newspaper or book pages

I first saw book pages being used in Rachel Korinek’s (of Two Loves Studio) photos and I was HOOKED. Like line and sinker level hooked. They add a nice bit of texture to the background of your photo without being overwhelmingly distracting. Perfect for placing under pastries, tarts, or anything else your mind dreams up. In place of book pages, I like to cut up newspaper to book page size to create the same effect.

2. Ingredients used in the recipe

There’s just something so RIGHT about including the ingredients you used in your recipe in your photos. And don’t just stop at the star ingredients. Flour, eggs, even a pitcher of milk can look just as nice!

3. Fabric scraps

When I’m not baking, you can find me sitting at my sewing machine quilting, which means plenty of fabric scraps for my food photos! Even if sewing isn’t your thing, I’m sure you have scraps of fabric from something, or even old clothing, lying around your house (old cut up t-shirts, fabric napkins, old sweaters…). Fabric is a nice way to add subtle texture to your photos, particularly if you use neutral tones of fabric.

4. Bakeware

And when I say bakeware, I mean OLD bakeware. Do NOT throw away those old cookies sheets, tart pans, loaf pans, or any other sort of bakeware. Heck, trade your new cookie sheets for your Mom’s (or Grandma’s) old ones if you have to. They look FANTASTIC in photos. New bakeware tends to be shiny, which can cause ultra shiny spots (called hot spots) in your photos. Old bakeware, on the other hand, has dulled with use and makes the perfect photo accessory, not to mention it adds a vintage feel to your photos.

5. Crumbs and spills

I’m a big fan of slightly messy food photos. I mean, let’s face it, mess is just kind of part of the baking process. Including some of that mess, be it crumbs or spills, adds a feeling of authenticity to your photos. You’re not just sharing that perfect creation you just made, you’re sharing part of the mess that went along with it!

And there you have it, 5 little additions to make your food photos POP that you already have in your house! For more ideas, check out the previous post 10 Food Photography Props You Already Own.

Have a favorite, everyday sort of food photo prop that didn’t get mentioned? Share it in the comments!