Food photography on a budget

Anyone who has ever taken an interest in any kind of photography as a hobby or business will know that it can quickly become very expensive. Food photography in particular requires a lot of props, tools and equipment, but don't let that put you off from doing something that brings you joy and happiness! In this post, I'll share my top tips about how you can create beautiful food photography on a budget.

I've split this post into three parts to help you get started with food photography in the cheapest possible way:

1. affordable camera gear (camera body and lenses)
2. where and how to source cheap props and backdrops
3. cheap and free learning resources

Food photography on a budget: gear & equipment

We'll address the tech side first, since this is usually the first hurdle we face! When you are ready to invest in a camera or upgrade your equipment, here are some tips for finding affordable gear.

Buy second-hand

People often sell their used cameras and lenses for good prices, meaning you can find recent models for a cheaper price than in-store.

If you're a beginner then you probably won't need the latest and most expensive camera to get started, so second-hand gear is a really good, cheap option to get started on. My first camera was a pre-loved Fujifilm that was brilliant for learning how to master manual mode.

Something to look at when choosing a second hand camera body is to check the "shutter count" - that's how many time the shutter mechanism has been fired. Most cameras are said to have a lifespan of account 200,000 actuations (shutter clicks), though when looking for a second-hand camera most people are looking for no more than 50,000-60,000 actuations.

One of the most common websites for buying second-hand cameras and lenses is MPB - check it out!

Rent cameras and lenses

If you're looking to upgrade your camera and/or lenses but are unsure what you want to get next, then renting a camera body or lens is a great way to test before you buy.

Look for local photography rental stores in your area and pop in to speak to them about what you're looking for. Normally you can rent photography gear for a few hours or even days, which means you'll have time to explore the functions and see if it's a good fit for you.

Renting gear can save you time and money in the long run - especially if you rent a lens for a specific project rather than buying it for one shoot and never using it again!

Third party lenses

Lastly, you could look at third-party manufacturers for your lenses, which are sometimes cheaper than the leading brands like Canon or Nikon. This simply means that the lens has been made by a different company than the one that made your camera, but with the correct mount system it will fit and be usable on your camera.

Tamron, Sigma and Samyang are just some of the commonly used third-party lenses you could consider. I have a Sigma 24-70mm that is compatible with my Canon camera and works a treat!

Food photography on a budget: props & backdrops

Where to find cheap props

My favourite places to shop for cheap food photography props is at flea markets and antique shops. You can usually find plates, glassware and cutlery for next-to-nothing as well as fun props for more special personal projects or specific client briefs.

Some high-street stores like H&M Home, Zara Home and TK Maxx also have really nice props that will be more current and trendy, but slightly more expensive than markets and antique shops.

I also recommend just buying between one and three pieces of any item, unless you need a set for a particular purpose. Mis-matching dishes can add interest and quirkiness to your images and usually your scenes will be fairly small, so having too many of one item probably means it will go unused.

As for backdrops, you can start by using whatever you have at home. Wooden and marble surfaces look great, and neutral coloured tablecloths or napkins add soft textures to the scene.

You could even go to a hardware store and get free wallpaper samples if you want to try some unique looks!

One-in-one-out policy

Here in the U.K. there are lots of charity shops where you can donate unwanted items and also buy things like clothes, books and homewares for a very cheap price. A friend of mine would go to these charity shops whenever she needed new props and donate one or two of her items in order to buy one or two new ones.

This one-in-one-out system is a great way of keeping costs down and preventing a build-up of unused props, whilst also having a constant rotation of items that keep your projects and images interesting!

Borrow from family and friends

This one might seem obvious but I think few people actually do it! A lot of my cutlery originally belonged to my parents and grandparents and it's perfect for food photography because the pieces are vintage and matte, meaning they don't have any shine or reflections to them.

Borrowing from family and friends can also be really helpful if you need specific items for a particular project. Perhaps you won't use pink plates for anything other than that Valentine's Day campaign you've been commissioned for, but your friend has the perfect set for the job!

Food photography on a budget: online courses & free content

From Hobbyist To Pro

If you're looking to learn more about food photography and accelerate the learning process, then my online food photography course might be perfect for you!

Hobbyist To Pro: Food Photography For Beginners provides you with the foundations you need to start taking better food photos and building a stellar portfolio.

We go through everything from mastering your camera on manual mode and working with natural light, to understanding colour theory and composition as well as visual storytelling and editing in Lightroom.

The best part? It's just £24.99! Check it out now.

Domestika

Domestika is a great online platform where you can find lots of courses on a wide range of topics, including food photography!

One of my good friends, Lucia Marecak of @foodlight.io has a course on Domestiaka on how to take dynamic action shots in food photography at a really good price.

Kimberly Espinel of @thelittleplantation also has a popular food styling and photography for Instagram course on this platform.

This is not sponsored, just a great tip for anyone wanting to take some affordable online courses!

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Summary

I hope you enjoyed this post about how to do food photography on a budget!

We covered where you can find affordable cameras and lenses if you're a buying gear for the first time or are looking to upgrade your equipment.

Then we talked about where to buy cheap or free props and backdrops.

Finally, I shared some online courses under £25 as well as free resources to learn from!

I'd love to know what you think about these tips and if there is anything I've missed - leave me a message in the comments box below!