I’ll admit: my early food photography wasn’t great. Most of my shots went straight into the VSCO app and got the same C1 filter treatment—with minimal thought. Since then, I’ve grown a lot. My photography has improved significantly thanks to trial and error and consistent effort. In this post I want to share the techniques and tools that have made the greatest difference for me in food blogging.
Choosing Your Gear
Every photographer will have their own preferences, so the key is to select what works for you. One of the most important components isn’t the camera body, but the lens—especially when photographing food. Before purchasing gear, I always suggest visiting a local camera store and familiarizing yourself with how different bodies and lenses perform. Knowledge is your best investment.
In my case, I use a DSLR (specifically a Nikon D330) with a 50 mm lens. The “nifty 50” is often recommended for beginners—it’s simple and gives you plenty of control over light and depth of field. I shoot with natural light, meaning I always place my dish next to a light source. On sunny days I use a diffuser to soften any harsh shadows. I also use an external hard drive to store all my photo files—because loss of footage is a pain you’ll want to avoid.
As I’ve grown more confident, I’ve started exploring additional lenses (for example a 24-72 mm or 100 mm). The main point: you don’t need the most expensive gear to start, but you do need to understand your tools and work with them.
Editing Workflow
Once the photos are captured, the editing process brings them to life. I use Adobe Lightroom Classic to import and edit the images from my DSLR. The structure of light, contrast, and color all start in camera, but Lightroom lets me refine the mood, clarity, and tone.
For mobile-edits (especially for Instagram Stories), I use the Tezza app—its presets and interface make quick edits easy and consistent. For video and reels, I turn to InShot (free version). It may not have all premium features, but it gets the job done: clip compilation, transitions, text and sound—all streamlined. For content creators who shoot both stills and video simultaneously, these tools bridge the gap.
Props: Building a Visual Story
Props serve as the storytelling devices around your dish. I believe the best props often come from local antique stores—but you can definitely find gems online. When selecting props, consider these criteria:
- Scale: If your cake stand is 16 inches wide and towers a foot off the table, you’ll distract from the dish itself. Often smaller plates and bowls are better.
- Finish: Matte over glossy. A reflective surface will catch unintended highlights and pull attention away from the food.
- Color palette: I keep my prop colors neutral so the food remains the hero. That said, texture matters—handmade ceramics, linens, and patinaed flatware add depth without stealing focus.
I’ve kept a small closet for props (yes, I went from a dresser drawer to a closet). Through years of sourcing, testing, and re-using, a versatile and budget-friendly collection emerges.
Favorite Prop Types & Inspiration
Here are some go-to categories I rely on:
- Unique dishes or glassware: Something like a half-glass, half-copper Moscow Mule glass can become a signature. These subtle twists lend character.
- Old cookbooks, menus, newspapers: Layering a page from a thrift store cookbook underneath a dish, or using a take-out menu as part of the background builds a lived-in feel.
- Accents and accessories: Items like herbs (Trader Joe’s plastic packaged herbs work well), cocktail skewers, cake racks, wooden juice reamers—they add layers of interest.
- Holiday decorations: Mini-pumpkins, ornaments, seasonal trinkets—they add pops of color, but matter of scale still applies: small is better so it doesn’t overpower the composition.
- Mee mise en place dishes: I often take the extra ingredients and dish them out in small bowls and scatter them around the main dish. Dollar-store pinch bowls are great and surprisingly effective.
And don’t forget linens: adding a textured napkin or table runner under your dish adds tactile richness to the frame.
Backdrops: Framing the Scene
The backdrop sets the stage for your food. I have experimented with several options at varying price points. When choosing, I recommend a neutral-patterned backdrop you’ll use often, and reserving more unique patterns for occasional use. Here are the types I’ve used:
- Commercial backdrops: For example, I purchased a Bessie Bakes backdrop on Amazon and have been very happy with it. It covered a larger area than some pricier brands.
- Specialty brands: I use backdrops from Captured By Lucy—“Moroccan Floor”, “Urban Concrete”, “Desert Stone”, etc. They’re excellent neutrals, but they don’t stand on their own, so I mount them to a board for 90° angle and overhead shots.
- White bounce board: A foam core board to bounce light into shaded areas and reduce harsh shadows.
- DIY: You absolutely can build your own backdrops. I’ve done reels on this, and it’s a great budget option.
Final Thoughts
Food photography is a craft—it grows with intention and practice. Don’t expect perfection right away. I used to believe editing would come effortlessly, but I learned that mastery takes time. Give yourself grace and allow room for evolution.
If you ever have questions about your setup, props, or workflow—feel free to leave a comment. I’m happy to answer.
