10 Cheap Food Photography Tools I Couldn't Live Without
ALL THE GEAR & NO IDEA?
When people think about food photography, they usually think about cameras, lenses and lighting.
But there's much more to creating great food photographs than the camera itself.
Over the years I've spent money on all sorts of items that I thought I needed in my kit bag...
...and some of them have never been used.
So today I'm going to save you some time and money by showing you the 10 inexpensive tools that I actually use on almost every food and drink shoot.
More importantly, I'll show you why I use them, when I use them, and how they can make your life much easier.
I'll also put links to everything I use in the description below, so if you fancy adding any of them to your own kit bag, you can pick them up from Amazon or source them wherever you prefer.
Let's dive in!
1. Paintbrushes
Not for painting!
Paintbrushes are one of the most useful tools in my kit bag.
I use different sizes for:
Brushing crumbs away.
Dusting icing sugar or cocoa powder.
Applying oil to meat or pastries.
Cleaning plates before the final shot.
Gently moving delicate herbs without damaging them.
You'll be amazed how often you reach for one
2. Cotton Wool Buds
These are perfect for the tiny finishing touches.
I use them to:
Remove fingerprints from glasses.
Clean sauce splashes from the edge of a plate.
Wipe marks from cutlery.
Tidy up drips and smudges that would be difficult to remove with a cloth.
It's amazing how many little imperfections disappear with a cotton bud.
Tweezers
Food photographers are obsessed with tweezers!
They're perfect for placing things exactly where you want them.
I use them for:
Micro herbs.
Sesame seeds.
Coffee beans.
Individual sprinkles.
Tiny garnishes.
If your fingers are too big, tweezers are the answer.
4. Cocktail Sticks & Skewers
Cocktail sticks are one of the cheapest tools you'll ever buy, but you'll use them constantly.
They're brilliant for:
Propping food up.
Holding burgers together.
Lifting ingredients into position.
Tidying tiny details.
I also keep wooden skewers in my kit bag.
They're perfect for:
Supporting tall burger stacks.
Holding large garnishes in cocktail glasses.
Keeping fruit exactly where you want it.
Adding extra height and stability to food that wants to collapse.
You'll use far more than you think.
5. Makeup Sponges
This one can be a surprise.
Most people think makeup sponges belong in a makeup bag…
Mine live in my camera bag!
I use them for:
Wedging inside burgers to stop them collapsing.
Supporting the back of pancake stacks.
Building height into sandwiches.
Lifting bowls and plates by a few millimetres.
Propping food and props into the perfect position.
Because they're soft, lightweight and easy to cut into shape, you can hide them completely from the camera whilst giving your food all the support it needs.
It's one of the cheapest things in my kit bag…
…but I use them on loads of shoots.
6. Water Spray & Glycerin Spray
I always carry two spray bottles.
One contains plain water.
The other contains a mixture of glycerin and water.
Plain water is perfect for giving food a quick refresh just before you take the photograph.
I use it for:
Refreshing salads and herbs.
Adding freshness to fruit.
Reviving vegetables.
Giving leaves that just-picked look.
The glycerin mixture is completely different.
It creates droplets that cling to the surface instead of running away, so they last much longer than plain water.
I use it for:
Beer bottles.
Cocktail glasses.
Soft drink cans.
Frosted bottles.
Fruit that needs to look freshly washed.
Cold ingredients where I want the droplets to stay put throughout the shoot.
It gives you much more time to perfect your composition without constantly having to respray.
7. Pins & Glue Dots
Sometimes food needs a little helping hand.
Dressmaking pins are brilliant for:
Pinning fruit onto cakes.
Holding burgers or sandwiches together.
Securing herbs exactly where you want them.
Holding awkward ingredients in place that refuse to behave.
Glue dots do a similar job without piercing the food.
They're brilliant for:
Holding macarons together.
Keeping biscuits upright.
Stopping props from moving.
Supporting crumbly food that wants to fall apart.
Nobody will ever know they're there…
…but you'll know!
8. Dulling Spray
One of the biggest problems in food photography is shiny surfaces.
Cutlery, spoons and glossy props love reflecting your lights, your camera and sometimes even your face!
A quick spray of dulling spray takes away that shine, making it much easier to photograph reflective surfaces without bright highlights or distracting reflections.
It's one of those products you don't use every day…
…but when you need it, you'll be very glad it's in your kit bag.
9. Pipettes/Syringes
Pipettes & syringes give you complete control over liquids.
Instead of pouring straight from the bottle and hoping for the best, you can place every drop exactly where you want it.
I use them for:
Drizzling sauces.
Filling gaps.
Adding tiny drops of olive oil.
Controlling dressings.
Creating beautiful swirls of yoghurt, sour cream or crème fraîche on soups before dragging them into elegant patterns.
They're inexpensive, incredibly precise and one of the handiest styling tools you'll own.
10. Knife & Scissors
These might not sound exciting…
…but I probably use them on every single shoot.
Scissors are perfect for:
Trimming herbs.
Cutting baking paper.
Tidying napkins.
Opening packaging.
Cutting string or ribbon.
A small sharp knife is brilliant for:
Trimming cakes.
Cutting sandwiches neatly.
Slicing fruit.
Shaping pastry.
Removing untidy edges.
Making tiny adjustments that nobody notices individually, but together make the photograph look much more polished.
Sometimes it's those little finishing touches that make all the difference.
10 Cheap Helpers!
So there you have it…
Ten inexpensive tools that have earned a permanent place in my kit bag.
None of them are glamorous.
Most of them weren't even designed for food photography.
But every single one solves a problem, saves me time or helps me create a better photograph.
If you've got a favourite tool that lives in your kit bag and I haven't mentioned it, let me know in the comments, I feel I have a part 2 coming on the kitbag!
And if you'd like more practical food photography tips, don't forget to subscribe to The Food Photography Show on YouTube. There's a new episode every Thursday and it talks through the newsletter visually with demo's.
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