The Language of Food Photography Part 3 | Prop Styling with Paula Walters
Silverware by Jennifer Marx, Pie pan with spoon by Justin B. Paris, Dough in bowl by Stephen Hamilton
With more than 20 years experience styling for many of Chicago’s most successful food and product photographers, she has a wonderful eye for detail and a unique talent for combining tones, textures and shapes to create some truly unforgettable images. Today she shares with us her basic approach to choosing props for an image.
Watermelon on plate and Containers with lids by Paula Walters, Fruit in cup by Stephen Hamilton
Hello everyone, I am so honored that Sylvie has asked me to guest blog on Gourmande in the Kitchen! I have been an avid follower here for close to a year now, and very excited that not only do I get to share my passion for prop styling with you, but voice it on one of my favorite blogs.
Based out of Chicago, my work is primarily shooting alongside commercial food photographers on projects ranging from national ads to recipe books to corporate websites, wherever a food client needs to promote their product. You can see more of my styling at chicagophotostylist.com.
I also write a blog, Still*Life~Style, focusing on my love of vintage prop finds that I incorporate into my assignments, my portfolio shots, my home life. I hope you’ll visit, and come away with some new ideas and inspirations that speak to your own sense of style.
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Tate Hunt for Studioside
Sylvie and I both received questions from readers regarding effective use of props in food photos. For many new to food photography, getting a starting direction is a challenge.
Before you start selecting props you should truly know the food you are shooting. You need to understand the texture, color, volume, consistency before you can build an effective set. If you have not made the recipe prior to your shoot day, draw on your skills to visualize what it will look like.
You may find it helpful to make a list of keywords that come to mind when you select your recipe. Jot these down in the planning stages of your post, and use them to gather props for your shoot. If your thought process takes a different turn along the way, go with it. Allowing a natural progression will translate into your image and keep it from looking forced.
Next you need to zero in on something that will inspire your set, or at least get you started in a direction. Your inspiration can be a tangible prop item, or center around a story.
Prop centered:
Inspiration can be a propping element, like a plate you wish to use, a fantastic background texture, a fabric. This shot was driven by the surface color & texture.
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Stephen Hamilton
Look for different ways to present your food, alternatives to traditional plating. Keep your mind open to using everyday items, like papers and jars.
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Stephen Hamilton
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Stephen Hamilton
You can also explore ideas for propping as part of a thought process with more of a story behind it:
Time of Day:
Is your recipe a breakfast,lunch,dinner? The props work with both the food and morning light here-
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Stephen Hamilton
Season or Holiday:
Establishing season can help guide the color and tones of your props. Crisp white works for summer seafood, the smokey blues and grays allude to cooler temperatures when a hot grilled cheese and tomato basil soup can make the perfect lunch.
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Jennifer Marx
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Laurie Proffitt
Ethnicity:
Echoing the ethnic roots of the recipe in a subtle way gives it a sense of place and tradition.
In both of these shots I worked with stronger, earthier textures. The food cues of red wine and herb infused oil with the crostini, and the fresh squeezed lime in the guacamole work as food props that reflect the origin of the recipes.
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Stephen Hamilton
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Michael Maes
Person:
Think about who your recipe would appeal to. Food photos often have a feminine or masculine slant. Again, color palettes and lighting need to be considered.
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Stephen Hamilton
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Laurie Profitt
Ingredients:
Is there a wonderful or unexpected ingredient that you would like to call out, like the avocados in the pizza shot, or the tangerines used in this pork stir fry?
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Michael Maes
Prop Styling by Paula Walters, Photography by Stephen Hamilton
In my opinion, the quality of your photography is primary, effective food styling/presentation next, and propping third. The magic happens when all three work together seamlessly.
When you are just beginning to use props, try to tell your story with as few elements as possible. Don’t over-complicate until you are comfortable using more props, instead try to choose props with the subtle details that enhance and support your recipe & story. Once you become successful at that, you will be able to expand with more involved sets if you like. Mood shots and ingredient based shots will be easy to incorporate into your posts because you will have a better vision of what your final recipe image will look like, and a clearer path of how to get there.
Be patient with yourself. Prop styling is an art as complex as photography and food styling. In time you will learn to trust your eye, and develop a creative style that will guide you through your prop selections. I hope you find these tips useful, I have posted some additional thoughts on Still*Life~Style this week.
Thank you Sylvie, for inviting me to be a part of your Language of Food Photography series!
(Writing and photography submitted for this post are owned by Paula Walters or the originating photographer, and protected by copyright. All Rights Reserved 2011.)
Thank you Paula for an amazing look into the art of prop styling! I hope you will head over to Still*Life~Style where Paula continues to discuss the thought process behind the elements and principles of design when selecting props, including: adding lines, form, color and texture to an image with props.
Read Part 1 of The Language of Food Photography | Learning the Visual Elements of Design.
Read Part 2 of the Language of Food Photography | The Principles of Design.
Read Part 4 of the Language of Food Photography | Food Styling Q&A with Tami Hardeman
What are some of your favorite props to use?
leave a comment
58 Responses to “The Language of Food Photography Part 3 | Prop Styling with Paula Walters”
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Once again a wonderful and informative post! Love this series
Dear Sylvie,
after reading silently the previous parts, am finally speaking out loud to congratulate you for all these wonderful series!
I especially like today’s post cause props is my favorite part, matching my design oriented nature.
Wonderful photos + useful tips, simply stated + greatly illustrated.
Wishing you a lovely day ahead & of course happy August!
Kind regards,
Iro
Thanks for the interesting post! Very helpful and clear. I really enjyoyed reading it.
Cheers,
Rosa
Wow! Sylvie, your images are stunning, thank you so much for having this great series and for having Paula here today. There is so much more than just point and shoot, there is just so much to learn, and thank you for helping with the lessons. I am going back to read the rest of the series and will be sharing the link with my readers today!
Cheers
Dennis
Thank you Dennis, I’m glad you found it helpful, Paula did such an amazing job didn’t she? Just one note, the images in the post are actually from various photographers with which Paula has worked with throughout the years, not mine.
What a fabulous guest post! Very interesting and informative!
I am so in love with those props, very simple but yet create amazing photographs. Once again bravo Sylvie for inspired posting!
Really another great post with some great tips!
Fantastic information and beautiful pictures… this series is helping me in so many ways! Thank you!
I’m so glad that Sylvie introduced all of us to you, Paula. You make a lot of very helpful points here… and it has inspired me to spend more time thinking about using props in my shots.
I am just going to copy and paste this tutorial, and then set it as my desktop background!
Thank you, Sylvie, for taking the time…I sooooo appreciate it!
What an amazing post!
As I sit here in Boulder, CO at Food & Light with White on Rice Couple and others, learning from great teachers, I come across your lovely post and another great photography blog.
Thanks for the inspiration, ladies!
Another wonderful post! Thanks for sharing!
Sylvie and Paula: What a fantastic post! Thanks so much for sharing your insights, experience and expertise. Food styling, photography and prop styling is such an art. I just love it and want to get better.
Thanks for an inspiring read. I’m going to review the other two posts in this series again and head over to Paula’s for her follow-up post.
i’m no longer to be silent anymore
one of my favorite post!
sylvie, appreciate your time and thank you of having Paula as an awesome guest writer, whom giving such enormous knowledge to be inspired.
Thank you, I’m glad you have been enjoying them. There are more great guests to come soon!
Again, I think many bloggers focus so much on simply creating a beautiful picture they don’t think of telling a story or creating a certain food-related mood (place, culture) and Paula explains it brilliantly! She has inspired me! I love her point about finding normally banal, everyday items as props. Great post!
Firstly, thank you, Sylvie, for the introduction to Paula Walters. This was an excellent addition to the series, one I know I struggle sometimes. I often dream of having a cupboard of props, but really, I know there is more to it than just that. I also love her point of knowing who you are shooting for – the juxtaposition of the female vs male food shots really makes a point.
I really appreciate these posts Sylvie, so helpful!
Paula- a great post and I’m such a fan of your blog. I always wish I lived in the US so I can visit those wonderful flea markets and haul a bag full of props for under $10.
Sylvie- now I know why you were so excited about this post!
Amazing! Everyday is another day to learn and grow in food photography and I greatly appreciate posts like this that help guide me in the best ways to present food. Thank you so much for this post! Love it.
I sat and read each of these and they were SO helpful!! I just got my first DSLR camera 2 months ago and am trying to learn so much
Your blog is SO inspiring, thank you!
Awesome post! I’ve been a silent reader and especially enjoyed this photography series. I am off to scour for more hidden props (or treasures) to increase my stash! Hahaha!
love this post…and all of those pictures are making me really hungry!!!
Fantastic post. Love all the props and the photos…so inspiring. I have so much to learn in this area
This is a great post! I just came across Paula’s blog recently and sat down and read every single post. It’s such a great companion to food photography – I can take the photos but styling and propping are my biggest challenge. Not to mention, Paula’s a pretty good photographer in her own right. Thanks Sylvie and Paula!
Great post and wonderful series … really brings to the surface the important elements in this kind of photography and shows me where I need to head in my pursuit. Thanks so much for the series of posts!
JI
What a fantastically informative post, with so many beautiful and inspiring photos. I love the tip about thinking about the person you are shooting for, I never thought of that before. Thanks Sylvie and Paula for sharing so many wonderful tips.
fabulous! I love these posts! So helpful!
Thank you ladies for yet another wonderful post in this series. Paula, you are very talented and filled with info. I will check out your blog now to learn more
Thank you! I’m still a bit new to food styling. This was helpful and inspirational!
What a phenomenal series. I’m mesmerized by the gorgeous photos and inspired to strive towards such perfection. Thank you!
Stunning post… and well written! Love the series Sylvie & it’s an honour to meet Paula on your blog. Props, vintage styling … aaaah, the stuff dreams are made of!!
Yes, I know you have quite a collection of props yourself!
Thank you for introducing us to Paula’s work…Inspiring!
What an incredible post. It gave me many points to ponder upon. Thank you Paula!
Sylvie- this is the best photography series ever!
Can’t wait to read more
Styling and photography are the two things about blogging with which I struggle the most. I’m really enjoying this series and gaining lots of great information!
Sylvie, I’m loving these photography posts. What great ideas and concepts to play with. Thanks again!
This is a great series, Sylvie. I went back to read Part 2. I do wish I had a better eye, but the more I read and the more I look, the more I learn.
What a beautiful post. Bookmarked and Thank you Paula and Sylvie. I have yet read the other two parts, and I am heading there right now!
Pretty riveting blog post. I felt your blog post is extremely entertaining. Kudos once again – I will visit again.
Thanks to all of you for your great comments, and of course to Sylvie for connecting us! I am a far better stylist than writer, and so happy to see how many of you are pondering new approaches to telling your story through photography. Best wishes to everyone!
Wonderful to meet you Paula, this was an inspirational guest post. Very enjoyable and informative, thank you.
Great post and a helpful one !
I love collecting food props, lots of them. But it’s not important on how much our props are. The most important is on how we use the right props on the right food and theme. I’m enjoying these series very much, Sylvie
This is a very informative and the best photography series ever Sylvie..Thank you so so much!
Paula comes across as aficionado of food styling & prop selection- loved the process and points she shared here. Hopping over to her blog for more reading now.
Thanks again for such lovely posts which I cant miss even when I m on a holiday
Have a fab weekend my friend!
It was interesting to read other prop stylist’s tips, I have a great appreciation for Paula’s work!
Thanks so much for sharing this post. I have been following Paula through Still*Life~Style for some time now. Amazing tips here and on her site.
Great post and I’m definitely going to check out Paula’s website. I especially liked her advice not to forget about using “everyday” items as props. Thanks Sylvie and Paula!
These are fabulous tips…thank you for sharing.
Interesting to gain an insight into prop styling from an expert and see the parallel process to photography.
Sylvie – I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and found lots of wonderful “nuggets” that I can’t wait to try!!
Paula – I’ve been reading your blog for about 6 months and always enjoy your posts – they are always filled with wonderful information!!
Sylvie,Wonderful post! So beautifully illustrated…as always
It was very interesting to read this prop styling tips and tricks.Thank you for introducing us Paula’s amazing work here today.
Great inspirational post!
Hugs,
Aldy.
[...] with how to see more creatively and a discussion of the elements and principles of design. In part three professional prop stylist Paula Walters shared her tips on how to choose the right props for your [...]
[...] part 3 of the food photography series: Prop Styling with Paula [...]
[...] Read part 3 of the food photography series: Prop Styling with Paula Walters [...]
Great tip from Paula to think about your audience. I so often forget to do that, because I’m so wrapped up with the composition and finding the right exposure for the photo.
Such great tips – Paula is so talented! She is also the owner of spectacularly fab props, some of which she lent us for the Plate to Page workshop in May this year. I struggle with telling a story in my photos – always in too much of a hurry to get the food served to a hungry husband, LOL!
Love these series Sylvie. I love the categories food styling is broken down into in this post. Was wondering if you are in Paris now?!
I’m back from France now, and already missing it! I was there in August enjoying some time off.
[...] Those gorgeous food photos you see around the web…you can do it too! Here’s a helpful article by renowned food stylist Paula Walters on Gourmande in the Kitchen [...]
Love this whole series. Thanks for sharing not only your thoughts, but for getting others involved. Great stuff!
Wonderful guest post. I am a closet food photographer and stylist and this inspires me to ACT ON IT. Love this blog. Wonderful food and photography.
[...] of the series discuss how to see more creatively by using the elements and principles of design. In part three professional prop stylist Paula Walters shares her tips on how to choose the right props for your [...]
[...] of the series discuss how to see more creatively by using the elements and principles of design. In part three professional prop stylist Paula Walters shares her tips on how to choose the right props for your [...]