Food Photography Props: A Guide to Styling on a Budget

Author: Nancy Ingersoll

Food photography is a blend of art, technique, and storytelling. The right food photography props elevate your work without overwhelming it—and you don’t need a warehouse or a big budget to get started. 

This article is for anyone shooting food photography or creating a culinary portfolio: students from Kitchens for Good’s Culinary Apprenticeship Program, private chefs building their brands, or food bloggers and influencers looking to elevate their visual storytelling. Whether you’re new to food photography or refining your style, the right props can make all the difference (and they don’t have to break the bank).

Drink Photography by Nancy Ingersoll featuring glassware purchased at SHOP.

As a food photographer in San Diego, I’ve styled dishes for chefs, bloggers, and big food brands alike. Over time, I’ve learned that the props you choose are just as important as the food itself because they help shape a story and guide the viewer’s eye. While high-end studios might have shelves upon shelves of options, I’ve found some of my most beloved and effective props right here in my hometown at the Kitchens for Good SHOP in Pacific Beach.

Why the Right Props Matter in Food Photography

Props do more than fill space. They help tell a dish’s story. The best food photography props highlight the food, not distract from it. They should enhance texture, scale, and color without stealing the spotlight.

That’s why I’m so excited to spotlight the Kitchens for Good SHOP. It’s a local treasure trove where photographers, stylists, and home cooks alike can find affordable, unique pieces while supporting a mission to empower job seekers facing systemic barriers to employment.

It is the perfect place to head if you need some inspiration because the team at the SHOP thoughtfully create cohesive tablescapes by grouping items into styled scenes.  It’s like walking into a visual mood board, making it easy to imagine how each piece could work in your next shoot.

Tips for Building Your Food Photography Prop Collection

Whether you’re starting from scratch or fine-tuning your kit, these are the guiding principles I live by:

  1. Start Small—Literally
    • When photographing food, smaller scale items often work best. Oversized dinner plates take more food to fill it up, and make it harder to get more items in the overhead shot. I gravitate toward appetizer or salad plates and small to medium sized bowls. They are easier to fit into the frame and have a better visual scale.
  2. You Don’t Need a Full Set
    • In my experience, three of any given item is the magic number. That gives me just enough to set the corner of a table in an overhead top-down photograph, create a plating station for a 45-degree angle shot, or style as background elements for an eye-level images.
  3. Matte Finishes Are Your Friend
    • Shiny plates can cause harsh reflections or distracting glare, especially under artificial light. Matte finishes diffuse light beautifully and are much easier to work with. But if you fall in love with the color or shape of a glossy item, you can add a coat of matte spray for a photo-friendly finish.
  4. Start with Neutrals
    • When you’re just starting to build your food photography prop collection, focus on solid white to start. If you are aiming for a dark and moody vibe, you can also start with solid charcoal or black dishes. These hues won’t compete with your food and will allow the textures and colors of your dish to shine.
  5. Mix Up the Shapes
    • Having a variety of shapes in your prop kit makes styling more dynamic. Think square plates, oval bowls, or a slim rectangular dish that acts as a leading line in overhead shots.
Food Photography by Nancy Ingersoll showcasing how to mix up the shapes and sizes of dishes with mismatched purchases from SHOP.

Where to Find Food Photography Props

The Kitchens for Good SHOP isn’t your average thrift store. It is a perfect place to begin building your food photography prop kit while giving back to a cause that’s changing lives. If you are just starting your prop collection, and looking for plain white dishes, they have them in about every shape and size. Whatever pop of color you need, it will be easy to find, because most items are sorted by color. Each visit feels like a creative treasure hunt. The stock is constantly rotating, with different tag colors discounted daily. I’ve found everything from vintage drinkware to modern bakeware, all at prices that make experimentation affordable.

Shop With a Purpose

Props are part of our creative evolution. As your style changes or your needs shift, consider donating pieces you no longer use to the SHOP. Someone else might find the perfect plate for their next shoot (or their culinary portfolio).

Beyond its incredible finds, the SHOP fuels Kitchens for Good’s transformative programs, so when you buy or donate to the SHOP, you’re directly supporting this mission of helping others build a future with dignity and stability through meaningful employment.

Stretch Your Prop Budget with Rentals

One more reason I love the Kitchens for Good SHOP: everything there is rentable! From timeless basics to unique statement pieces, all their rentals make it easy to style new scenes without the cost of buying and storing more stuff. It’s a sustainable choice that supports a good cause and your budget. Their rental model is simple: you purchase what you need, then return the items when you’re done for up to 50% of the purchase price back in your pocket.

About the Author

Nancy Ingersoll is a San Diego-based commercial food photographer who helps culinary brands and restaurants tell their story through photography. Many of the props in her collection were sourced from the Kitchens for Good SHOP, where she makes a point to check first when adding to her styling kit. You can explore her portfolio at www.nancyingersoll.com and follow her creative journey on Instagram: @thecreativeresource.

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