This week I am kicking off another photography series like I did last year with a number of guest posts from bloggers, photographers and stylists all sharing their best tips and tricks on creating beautiful images. Today please welcome my very good friend and fellow food photography lover Naomi Robinson of Bakers Royale who is going to share her secrets to sourcing great props for food photography.
I’m so excited to be guest posting here at Gourmande in the Kitchen. Sylvie's blog is one of my favorite food blogs for many reasons - one of them being Sylvie's incredible photos.
Given the professional grade photography on Gourmande in the Kitchen, let’s start this off right; I'm a beginner when it comes to photography. So I'm not here to talk about any technical aspects of picture taking. I'm here to talk about the one thing I have managed to do well, despite my protesting wallet - food prop sourcing.
Since I get quite a few questions about my backgrounds and my props, Sylvie and I thought it might be helpful to share with you where and how I find them. My top shopping destinations are eBay and Etsy. I can't say I like one better than the other, nor can I say one is less expensive than the other. What I can say and recommend is checking both sites when sourcing something.
To simplify things I'm going to display photos with the props I'm most often asked questions about. I've included where they were purchased along with the search words I used to find them. Finding the right search words is the difference between having a just few or a lot of pages returned to you for browsing. Now my style is primarily rustic so the words most often used to describe that category, outside of vintage and antique, are primitive and chippy or chippy paint.
Search words: chippy paint bench, farm bench, shabby chic bench (*Note: Make sure to check the size)
Plates: Wilton Armetale RWP | Purchased: Ebay | Search words: pewter plates, Wilton RWP, Wilton Armetale. (Note: While the plates look like, and are often tagged with pewter, they are actually aluminum. Although you can find knockoffs Armetale knock-offs that maybe pewter and not aluminum.
Flatware: Random pieces | Purchased: Ebay | Search words: vintage flatware, antique silverware
Plate: Enamel pie pan | Purchased: Etsy | Search words: enamel pie pan, enamelware
Fabric: Dishtowel | Purchased: Muhs Home
Platter: Brass platter | Search words: brass platter
- Canvas
- Sabre
- Gilt
- Serena & Lily
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One Kings Lane
Be sure to read the full Summer Food Photography Series:
Styling for Food Photography with Chantelle Grady | Summer Food Photography Series Part Two
Food Videography with Russell van Kraayenburg | Summer Food Photography Series Part Five
Q&A with Food Photographer Jim Scherer | Summer Food Photography Series Part Six
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Cassie says
This is a great resource, thanks for putting the time into a post like this!!
Amanda says
Stunning, stunning photos. Bookmarking this post!!
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake says
I just had to say a big thank you to both you and Naomi, you're both 2 of my favourite bloggers and now this has become my favourite post! Such good resources, I have a feeling I'm going to go over budget this month 😉
Gwenieanne says
Not only is this a feast for the eyes....it is also feast for our creative minds. Thank you so very much for sharing with us.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Yay! This is so helpful! I always admire Naomi's photos. Gorgeous! Thank you so much for all your tips, Naomi! I am looking forward to more in this series!
Kelly @ Inspired Edibles says
Thank you for this informative tutorial - I'm utterly in love with the antique style spoons...
Tickled Red says
Oh brilliant post, great shots & props!! I am so addicted to food props {need to use them better} that I am having DS build a wall shelf so I can reorganize my living room and have a designated spot for my food props...LOL, never would have thought I'd say that 3 yrs ago.
Eat.Style.Play says
Thank you sooooo much for posting this! I was looking for all of these things last night online and i had no idea where to start, now i know! Thanks so much!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Sylvie, I'm so glad you featured Naomi, I love her styling! Although I don't have nearly as many antique props as Naomi, I have have had good luck finding things at local "Habitat for Humanity" store and antique flea markets. I find they are less expensive than online... although you do have to poke around quite a bit more.
Those brass trays are amazing!
thelittleloaf says
This is such an inspiring post! I use the same table and plate in practically all my food photos so definitely need to branch out!