Essential Food Photography Equipment

Every time you look at a stunning food photo do you wonder what camera was used, the camera settings used, lights…? Then keep reading to find out what is the Essential Food Photography Equipment that you need. Whether you’re a passionate chef that wants to take mouth-watering photos, a foodie that can’t resist photographing everything you cook or if you want to make a career as a food photographer, these items are a must in your camera bag:

Camera + Lens + Tripod + Artificial light + Light diffuser + Reflectors

Professional food photographers will laugh at this equipment list because it ‘s only 6 items. I would die happy if I could spend a day in a food photography studio to see all the tricks of the trade but for those who photograph food as a hobby, buying more equipment may be not worth it or cost effective. This is the main point I want to make in this post. With my six key items you can take good photos while at the same time experiment with different shots.

You can gradually upgrade your food photography equipment, for example, to a better camera or lens. Keep an eye  out in second hand photography shops! We will talk about that in another post but if you want to know where the best shops are to buy equipment or you are looking for some advice on taking food photos you can always → Contact me and I’ll be happy to help.

A good idea is to write down all the photography equipment you want and ask family members or friends to buy you something on your wish list  for Christmas, your birthday or any other celebration! I think by now everybody knows what I want next, the Canon Macro Lens EF 100mm…

So here it is, the food photography equipment I have been using since I started taking food photos 2 years ago. The only thing I have upgraded is my camera, I started with a second hand Canon 450D and upgraded to my current camera: Canon 700D. But everything else has been in my camera bag for a long time now and I think it still works pretty well for me. I would also recommend you a few inexpensive tools and household that can be helpful to take photos of food.

Canon 700D (with a 18-55 mm lens) €470, it’s the best price I found

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 €130  (approximately)

Canon EF 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 included in the camera kit

Tripod Velbon Sherpa 200R, high quality and functionality for only €128

Basic Light Kit with natural light bulb for €50

Light diffuser: parchment paper to cover the window or a white cloth

Reflector: White polystyrene panel 40 x 40 cm

Remember that food photography is all about the food, ensure your dish looks attractive and appealing otherwise you won’t get good photos even if you use a €2,000  camera.

6 INEXPENSIVE TOOLS THAT HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR PHOTOS:

Reflector: a white polystyrene panel of around 40 x 40 cm is enough.

Light diffuser: a piece of parchment paper to cover the camera window is a cheap and great way to soften the light. I also use a white cloth to cover and diffuse the artificial light.

Clamps, paper-clips and bluetac: very useful tools to holp your backgrounds and reflectors in the scene.

Backgrounds: white and black cardboard (A2 or A1) and wood boards.

Props: plates, chopping boards, cutlery and cloths that I have at home + many second hand props. Experiment with household items to add to your scene.

If you are happy with your camera the next thing you need is a good tripod.

If you have already invested in a camera and are wondering what to buy next, I would recommend that you invest some money in a reliable tripod that also gives you lots of flexibility to take sharp photos. Some tripods also help when taking overhead shots.

Which tripod would you recommend?

I ask this question to every photographer I meet and their answers are pretty much the same, it depends on your budget and what you need it for. I couldn’t make up my mind until one day I tried a tripod in a workshop and it was love at first sight. In the tripod post that I’m writing we compare 3 of my favourites tripods, what’s even better is that there is one for every budget and range in price from €30  to €200. So if you’re in the market for a tripod, don’t miss this blog post and don’t forget to subscribe.

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