The Ultimate Guide to Food Styling: Essential Lessons for Creating Picture-Perfect Dishes

By Julia Konovalova

Feast Your Eyes (and Tantalize Your Followers) with Fantastic Food Styling!

A lovely meal can look beautiful on the plate but what makes it truly standout? That’s all in your lighting, the way you plate, the props you use, and the photographic theories you apply. In short, it’s all in the art of food styling! Get your dishes camera-ready in an instant with celebrated food photographer and cook Julia Konovalova. Julia takes you behind the lens and delves into the cornerstones of food styling, including sections on:

• Backdrops and props
• Color theory
• Image composition
• Introducing action into food photos
• Juggling shutter speed, aperture, and ISO
• How to shop and cook with food photography in mind
• Composing in-progress shots
• Mastering the art of styling with clients in mind

Whether you are looking to make your followers swoon over mouthwatering home-cooked masterpieces or land a gig for a popular food brand, Julia has all the invaluable tips, tricks, and techniques to make your delectable art jump off the screen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Apr 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781645677277

Julia Konovalova

Julia Konovalova is the creator of Imagelicious and the author of The Ultimate One-Pan Oven Cookbook. She has worked with food photography clients across the globe, and her photos have been featured on the menus of several restaurants. Julia lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her family.

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FOOD STYLING PILLARS: MAIN CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES

Basics are important. Without an understanding of basic concepts, it is difficult to create a compelling food photo. In this section, you’ll learn all the basic concepts and techniques used for food styling. It’s these pillars that make up beautiful and delicious food pictures. They don’t all need to be used at the same time. You can pick and choose different techniques and ideas, but without knowing them, you’ll be blindly stumbling and guessing your way through a scene setup. Knowing these concepts will help you identify what works, what doesn’t, and, more importantly, how to change and adapt to create a more cohesive image.

BACKDROPS

Let’s get the definitions out of the way. Whatever goes underneath the plate is called a surface. Anything that goes behind the main subject is a background. Often, background and backdrop are used interchangeably, but I’d like to make this distinction, as many food images will have surface and background in the same shot. For our uses, a backdrop contains both the chosen surface and background.

Choosing the right backdrop for the image is vastly important. I’d even venture as far as saying that it is the most important step in styling a photo. Backdrops set the mood and dictate what props to use. They can cast a shadow or add a color tint to the food. Even lighting for the image could depend on the backdrop.

There are just a few situations where a backdrop doesn’t matter, such as: making a macro food shot, covering all of the backdrop with props, framing the shot in a way that only the food is visible, or having the background be very blurry and far away from the food (although even in this case you’d still want to choose the right color for the background). Everything else will start with choosing a backdrop.

Unless you are lucky to have a gorgeous marble counter and an amazing rustic wood table in your kitchen that has a big window and the best light throughout the day, you will most likely have to use backdrops specifically for styling food photos.

Kinds of Backdrops

There are many different kinds of backdrops like cloth, paper, vinyl, wood, and even metal. But I’d like to concentrate on two kinds, as they are the most popular in food photography: vinyl and wood.

VINYL BACKDROPS

Vinyl backdrops are amazing if you are on a budget. They tend not to be very expensive and there is a lot of variety. Vinyl backdrops are super light, can easily be stored in rolls, and are easy to clean off spills and stains. However, not all of them work well and you may need to find a brand that you like and that fits your particular style and budget.

I personally try to stay away from vinyl printed with wooden plank images because the lines often look fake and the shadows don’t work well on those kinds of backdrops. Wooden vinyl backdrops work better for top-down photography and also in darker and moodier photos. Basically, if you can hide the fact that the seams between the printed wooden planks aren’t real, then the photos will work fine. Closeups and straight-on photos of vinyl wood backdrops very often look fake.

Vinyl backdrops can also have a lot of reflections, which make the backdrops look, well, vinyl, so it’s important to make sure that the backdrops are matte. I often use tricks such as adding napkins or other props on the spots where the light reflects, especially if I use artificial light. Using flags, or black cardboard, to add shadows and remove light can also help reduce reflections.

Vinyl backdrops may crease or tear if they aren’t stored properly. They also need to be taped or clipped onto other surfaces to stay put.

It seems that I only listed the negative points about vinyl backdrops, but I actually love using them and have a few dozen different kinds. It’s just important to know and be prepared for what to expect when using vinyl backdrops. For example, I love using vinyl backdrops in dark food photos. Moody shadows often help hide the imperfections in printing on vinyl backdrops. I have four or five different kinds of marble vinyl and they are definitely much more affordable than real marble. Vinyl is also great for splash photography or messy and saucy setups that aren’t contained on the plates, as they are easy to clean.

Vinyl backdrops in different colors and styles

WOODEN BACKDROPS

Wooden backdrops are easier to work with than vinyl. They are usually matte so you don’t have to worry about reflections. Because the textures don’t look fake, wood backdrops are great for angle or closeup shots. You don’t have to worry about wooden backdrops not staying straight or rolling around. They are also easy to set behind the subject as a background.

Wooden backdrops don’t necessarily mean wooden planks. They could be just a big piece of painted plywood or other wooden panels that are painted to look like stone or cement with added texture. Unlike vinyl, you can even make your own backdrops with a bit of paint and patience.

On the flip side, wooden backdrops are much more expensive than vinyl ones. Not only are the actual backdrops expensive, but shipping them is another added cost. They are also heavy and take more storage space. Lugging them around to different photo shoots is much more cumbersome than bringing a few rolls of vinyl.

My favorite and most-used size for backdrops is 24 x 35–inch (60 x 90–cm). I have a few that are slightly bigger, but they actually don’t work in my space very well, nor do I need them very much, as I don’t create vast scenes. Another common size for wooden backdrops is 24 x 24–inch (60 x 60–cm) which works really well, although if you like shooting flat lays (flat lays are basically top-down photos; they often, although not always, contain big scenes and setups), it may be a bit too small. I have a couple of 20 x 20–inch (50 x 50–cm) backdrops and I love them dearly, but I do wish they were bigger.

Variety of wooden backdrops, store-bought and handmade

Be creative with alternative backdrops. Try out different textures and colors with everything from tiles to wrapping paper to wall stickers.

OTHER KINDS OF BACKDROPS

As mentioned earlier, vinyl and wooden backdrops aren’t the only kinds. Tablecloths and napkins can be used to create cozy kitchen scenes. I have a few neutral-colored linen fabrics that I use instead of tablecloths. Wrapping paper can be used as a simulated wallpaper. Parchment paper, baking sheets, coasters, and even cozy sweaters or blankets can and should be part of the arsenal of a food stylist.

There are also canvas backdrops. Those are popular for portrait photography and usually come in large rolls, but I’ve seen more and more online stores offering smaller canvas backdrops for food photography.

There are also some backdrops that are printed on lightweight vinyl cardboard. They are usually more expensive than the rolled vinyl, but could be more convenient as they don’t need to be taped to stay in place. They have the same pros and cons as the rolls of vinyl.

How to Choose a Backdrop

But how do we choose a backdrop? It’s actually easy. All you have to do is answer one simple question: What do you want to achieve with the photo? Are you trying to create a light and airy image? Dark and moody? Or is a warm and cozy feel what you are striving for? For example, there’s no way you’d be able to style a rustic-looking photo with a shiny white marble backdrop, no matter how many wooden and distressed props you use.

With all that being said, the backdrop isn’t and shouldn’t be the star of the photo. It is an important character that is part of the overall setting of the scene. When I started on my food photography journey, I purchased many vibrant and busy backdrops: intricate designs, lots of colors, and very textured. Those backgrounds got all the attention and looked too busy. I now gravitate toward muted colors and fewer textures; these are the backdrops that will not take away from the photo, but will add to the mood and feel of the image.

Sometimes you want the backdrop to create a certain mood. There are times when you want the backdrop to be similar in color to the main subject or contrast in some way. And often, a backdrop should be neutral and not distracting. It is also important to make sure that, if you are photographing from a side and both the surface and background are visible, they don’t clash and make sense together.

Terracotta surface

Dark stone surface

Wooden table surface

Marble surface

Let’s look at these four photos. They were all taken within a few minutes of each other, from the same camera angle, and with the same lighting conditions (big window on the left). The only difference is the surface that is used in each photo. The editing style is also slightly different to accentuate the feel that the backdrop is adding to the image.

1. The first image on a terracotta surface has a warm feel to it. Swap the wooden bowl for a ceramic one with blue accents, add a few other stoneware props, and the scene could be set on a warm, Mediterranean summer night. This warm stone backdrop (it is actually a vinyl printed one) instantly puts me into a summery state of mind.

2. The second photo on a wooden table also has a warm tone to it but the wooden planks make the image look much more rustic. It’s a moody photo that can be styled in many different ways. Add a few other wooden props, a brown napkin, and a few extra shadows to the back of the surface, and you are transported to a long-forgotten cottage in the country.

3. The third image has the same bowl of nuts and lighting style, yet the dark stone surface with a slight blue tint (another printed vinyl backdrop) has a very different mood. Now the scene is less cozy and much cooler. It’s a bit trendier, like something you might find in a magazine or a high-end cocktail bar. Instead of the dark and cozy feel that the photo with the wooden table had, this one feels dark and slightly melancholic, sort of like a rainy day in November.

4. And finally, let’s talk about the light and airy photo. Remember, it was taken just a few minutes after all the other images and the lighting didn’t change. The light marble surface (actually a contact paper for shelves found at a dollar store) made this photo look happy. It’s something you could find on a light and cheery day in a modern kitchen. Add a cup of coffee and newspaper, and you are transported to a beautifully sunny Sunday morning.

As you can see, the backdrop can make or break an image. It can transport the viewer to a different time and place. It can set the mood and make the viewer sad, happy, or even wistful.

Start your backdrop collection with a few versatile pieces. Gray is a good, neutral color that can be styled in many different ways. Marble is another good option. Try to stay away from yellow wooden tones, as they are difficult to style and look outdated.

Where to Buy Backdrops

There are a few ways to find food photography backdrops:

1. Web Search: Use such terms as food photography backdrops, food photography backgrounds, or product photography backdrops.

2. Etsy: I love using Etsy and supporting independent small businesses. You can talk to the sellers on Etsy and ask for clarifications or additional photos of the backdrops they supply.

3. Instagram: This is actually my favorite way to find new backdrop sellers and sites. If you follow other food photographers, you often will see them tagging brands that they use for their food props and backdrops. I also use the Instagram search feature and search for food photography backdrops. Using Instagram, as opposed to the standard web search, actually shows many more products and companies all around the world, many of which offer worldwide shipping at good prices.

PROPS

No beautiful food photo is complete without props. Short of putting the food directly on the surface, you would at least need a plate, bowl, or some kind of vessel for food presentation. Just like with backdrops, there are many different kinds of props and they are very important in food styling.

I was recently asked to recommend food props for a beginner in food photography and although it is a very good question, it actually does not have a good answer. Props that are needed depend very much on the style of food photography.

Most food photographers start by using whatever they have in their kitchens and then slowly add more and more pieces specifically for taking and styling food photos. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices and prices. Will it be useful? Do I need to buy a whole eight-person dinner set?

It’s important to think about your style in food photography as well as your goals. Do you gravitate towards light and airy photos? Do you like a more rustic style or perhaps modern minimalistic? Is your goal to stick to one style and photograph for yourself, or do you envision yourself offering services for clients and brands in a variety of food photography styles?

Different Props for Different Styles

Defining one style of food photography is quite limiting. There are multitudes of variations on each given style, and the spectrum of food photography styles is vast and encompassing. I’ll touch upon a few basic ones in terms of props, but don’t box yourself into one style and one name. Experiment and find something that resonates with you and fits your vision and state of mind.

LIGHT AND AIRY

Light and airy food photography is perhaps the most popular and common style. You’ll find these beautiful food photos in magazines, food blogs, and cookbooks. It is the style that many people gravitate toward when they start doing food photography.

The light and airy photography style will require food props in light colors. Most often, it’s just white dinnerware with an occasional color thrown in. Other props like trays, linens, glasses, and utensils will also be in light colors and contemporary styles.

It’s the easiest style to find props for, and I love photographing and styling with light and bright photos in mind.

MODERN HARD LIGHT

A new and emerging food photography style in recent years, modern hard light throws back to the photography style of the mid-twentieth century. Vibrant, bold colors and hard shadows are the main characteristics of this style.

Props for this style are similar to what you’d buy for light and airy photos only more minimalistic: bright backdrops, very simple props, and items that create hard shadows.

MOODY

Moody food photography can be done in a light or dark style. In most cases, moody food photography will have more earthy props that are accentuated by artful shadows.

Props like earthenware bowls, stoneware plates, handmade pottery, beige napkins, and wooden trays are very common in these kinds of images. Darker photos may feature gray or black bowls in metal or stone and vintage cutlery.

This style is gaining a lot of traction and more and more magazines and cookbooks feature photos with darker colors and deep shadows. It is more difficult finding props for this style as they are less common in regular stores. Props are more expensive and most easily purchased at specialized stores.

RUSTIC AND VINTAGE

The rustic style is a natural progression from moody food photography. In most cases, there will be no light colors or modern dishes. This style may include vintage patterns or handmade ceramics, such as chipped and distressed props like cracked cutting boards, knives with broken handles, old newspapers, and such. This style of photography is less common in North America, but it is quite popular in Europe. Props for this style are often found in secondhand or antique shops.

Pinch bowls and saucers. They are great for displaying ingredients.

There are many different styles in food photography and different moods that photos can evoke. You shouldn’t feel restricted by the rules of the genre. There are times when a dark photo may require a light-colored plate. A bright and happy image may be styled with gorgeous brown dishes. You may need wooden rustic bowls to conjure an old-country mood of baking bread at the cottage, or perhaps bright blue and white ceramic bowls to transport the viewer somewhere sunny and exotic.

Regardless of what style of food photography you gravitate towards, I’d like to share my approach to food styling props and how to create a versatile collection that will not break the bank.

)Basic Beginner Prop Kit

It is easy to get overwhelmed with what you need to buy and how many pieces are needed. It is also quite easy to get carried away, especially in the beginning of your food photography journey. It’s difficult to give advice on what you need without knowing your food photography style, but here are some basics:

1. Five or six similarly sized salad plates that are slightly different styles to make sure that your images don’t look too similar to each other, yet cohesive overall.

2. Three or four shallow and wide bowls in different styles.

3. Four or five small sauce dishes or pinch bowls—they are great to showcase some of the ingredients around the main plate.

4. Two or three different glasses in slightly different heights.

5. Two forks, two knives, and two spoons. Don’t forget a few small paring or bread knives.

6. Two or three cutting boards.

7. Five or six linen napkins in different colors.

8. One or two bigger serving platters.

Think of this set as a capsule wardrobe. All you need to do is mix and match individual pieces and add some accessories to make sure that the looks do not repeat too often.

Basic beginner prop kit

Of course, once you become more and more proficient in food styling and food photography and you develop your own style, you’ll be able to recognize what pieces you lack in your collection.

In this photo, you can see my basic prop kit. These are the props that I use extensively in my client work. They work with light photography in both moody and airy styles. They could work with dark photos as well, but darker dishes would be preferable. You can see that I chose lighter and less rustic boards for this set. They still would work with a variety of setups and techniques and are versatile. I actually don’t use these boards often for my own photography, but they work great for client photos. The props are basic and neutral enough that they can be mixed and matched easily. They also don’t offer any distractions and let the food shine.

What to Look for When Buying Props

If I were to sum up food photography props in two words, I’d say: small and matte. Of course, there are exceptions to any rule, but I always look for something smaller than what you’d normally use at the dinner table and with as little shininess as possible.

Here are some of my guidelines that can assist you while choosing props.

TIPS FOR BUYING DISHES

• Smaller salad plates (about 7 to 8 inches [18 to 20 cm] in diameter) are better for food photography than larger dinner plates. Always go for something smaller.

It is a lot easier and more visually appealing to arrange food on a smaller plate than on a larger one. A normal serving size on a larger plate will look too small and the plate will get too much attention. Filling a larger plate with food will make everything look messy and untidy. Smaller plates, on the other hand, will look beautiful when filled with a regular serving of food.

• Try to find flat plates with either no lip or a small lip right at the edge of the plate. Big or slightly rounded edges mean that the food will not be able to lay flat right to the rim of the plate.

If there’s a lot of plate visible, then it may become a focal point of the photograph instead of the food.

• Try to find matte dishes or at least something that isn’t very shiny. A shiny finish will have reflections from the light (whether natural or artificial). Shiny dishes could also have reflections of food, napkins, or even people. Dishes with a very shiny glaze can change color when different foods are reflected in