If you’re diving into food photography, having the right gear is a great way to ensure your food photos look stunning. However, you might feel overwhelmed by the vast options available and the contradicting recommendations from photographers. To help you in this journey and flatten the learning curve, let me share my go-to tools that I use daily and would buy in the first place if I were just starting out.
1. Choosing the Best Camera for Food Photography
My first food photographs were taken by my good old DSLR camera, Canon 70D. Although it's a cropped sensor camera, it's a really great choice for anyone just starting out. You don't really need the fanciest full frame camera to start learning and to produce beautiful photos.
With a mid-range DSLR camera, you can learn, experiment, and get your head around the basics. It is also versatile enough to continue using it for lifestyle photography or any other photography style if you ever decide that food is not what boosts your creativity.
Now, I've switched to Canon EOS R, one of the Canon's entry-level mirrorless cameras. Although there are plenty of more advanced options available in the market, I'm really satisfied with the camera I have, and I'm not considering an upgrade in the near future. It ticks all my boxes and allows me to bring all my visions to life, at last in terms of the camera's capabilities. The rest is up to my ideas, decisions, and creative choices.
Since I'm a Canon-type-of-a-person, I'm focusing on Canon cameras, but I'm sure you can find similar DSLR and mirrorless camera options for Nikon, Sony, or other brands.
The key takeaway is to start small and let your camera grow with your skills and expertise, not the most expensive cameras.
2. Essential Lenses for Food Photography
The lens you choose can have an even greater impact on your photos than the camera body itself. In my food photography arsenal, there are only 2 lenses that I use on a daily basis when photographing for my food blog:
- Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8: This is a great lens for different types of photography and one of the most versatile zoom lenses for food photography. It's an L-series lens, which means extra quality in terms of performance, operability, and reliability. This was the first lens I bought to level up from the kit lens. I use it for top-down, flat lays (overhead), and wider shots. Since I don't have a nifty fifty 50mm prime lens, I use my zoom lens for anything within the 24-70mm range. However, I tend not to use the lowest focal length to avoid distortions. I also find that the aperture of 2.8 is wide enough to create a beautiful blur while maintaining a crisp focus on the main subject. If I had to choose a single lens to start with, I'd choose this one due to its versatility.
- Canon 100 mm macro lens: This lens is my true love. I used to photograph portraits and lifestyle images before switching more to food photography, and I, therefore, also have a 100mm non-macro equivalent. Quickly, I realized that it takes way too much space to use it for food photography. I don't have a food photography studio, and I usually photograph in my home office, which is a tiny space with little room to move around. I simply didn't have the option to move far enough to capture my food scene with this lens. It also has a longer focusing distance, so I cannot get close enough to create those beautiful macro shots of small details. While I decided to keep this lens in my arsenal, I also purchased a macro version, and I couldn't be any happier with this choice. Once I've captured the wider scene with my zoom lens, I always pick up this macro lens and do some close-up shots. The bokeh and the details are simply gorgeous, and I wouldn't trade this lens for anything else.
I'm not currently planning on purchasing any additional camera lenses because these two beauties allow me to bring my creative vision to life.
3. Lighting: Natural Light and Artificial Options
Lighting is one of the most crucial aspects of food photography. There are photographers who only work with natural light, and there are those who prefer the ability to control the light with artificial lighting. I'm somewhere in the middle.
I started with the natural light because that's what you have for free, and it allowed me to learn the basics, study the light and shadows, shape the light with diffusers, the placement of my subject, and all the other tools and methods available. This is the best way to start, as it’s free and easy to work with. It's a perfect playground for experimenting and learning.
However, due to the limited availability of daylight in the majority of months in our region, I decided to learn to use artificial lighting to be able to shoot whenever I had time for it (also considering the fact that I could only photograph outside my office hours). This has been one of the best decisions I have made in my photography journey.
Yes, the lighting equipment takes up space, and you need to account for it. However, the ability to control so many aspects of the lighting and to also shoot away from the windows any time of the day made a huge difference to me.
Here's my go-to lighting equipment, including the one I use with natural light:
- Light Modifiers: To be able to shape the light in your scene and to control the shadows, you'll need some quality light modifiers. I have a 5-in-1 set of round diffusers that allow me to control the warmth and the tone of the light reflected back onto my scene and a larger diffuser that I use to soften the light from my flash or the window and ensure the size of the light source is relatively large. The easiest way is to place your setup near a window (or a source of artificial light) with diffused light to achieve soft shadows and highlights. White foam boards, whiteboards, and black cards are also my dear friends when I need more control over the shadows in my scene. You can use materials from a craft store to help bounce light and fill shadows or buy reflection cardboard designed for photographers. These inexpensive tools can go a long way in enhancing your food photos.
- Flash: When choosing a flash, I wanted a mid-range flash with enough power to freeze action, like sprinkling powdered sugar on a cupcake or any other action shots. I chose Godox Speedlite V860III with a trigger X ProII C (for Canon). The combo has proved reliable and functional in bringing my visions to life. Overall, this flash is an affordable, great tool for consistent artificial lighting.
- Softbox: Choosing a softbox was one of my most difficult decisions in terms of the artificial lighting. To save space and money, I wanted to choose one softbox that would be versatile enough for the majority of my use cases, and I ended up choosing a large (120 cm) octagonal softbox from Godox with a honeycomb grid. It's heavy and reasonably large (there are larger ones, but this one is already huge for the space I'm shooting in) and provides a perfectly soft yet defined light with the honeycomb grid. I totally love this softbox! And, since I'm not shooting bottles of drinks where you'd want to consider a rectangular softbox, it's perfectly suited for me.
- Light stand: Your choice of a light stand might depend on the chosen lighting setup, including the size of a softbox if you're using one. With my large octagon softbox, I realized that my former light stand wasn't capable of holding its weight and was constantly bending and falling over. While you can stabilize the light stand with sandbags, its frame needs to be sturdy enough to hold the diffuser and the light without bending much. I, therefore, changed my light stand to a budget-friendly yet sturdier option from Sirui.
4. Camera Tripods and Stands
A sturdy tripod is essential for sharp photos and consistent framing. Here’s what to look for:
- Tripod: A tripod with a ball head or geared head allows precise adjustments for different angles. I consider it one of the must-haves in the toolbox of any professional food photographer (and even for beginners). If you want those tack-sharp images and the option to compose your frame carefully, a tripod is a must. I have a Sirui Traveller tripod that I totally love. It's lightweight, very versatile, and easy to set up, as well as a decent alternative to a slightly more pricey Manfrotto tripod.
- C-Stand: For overhead shots, an overhead arm attachment or a tripod with a center column that rotates horizontally can make your life much easier. I'm using a C-stand with a boom arm that's heavy and stable and is very convenient when working from my home studio. I'm not taking it with me when I'm shooting on location, though. If this is something you're frequently doing, consider buying a tripod with an overhead shot option.
These tools ensure your camera stays stable, letting you focus on perfecting the composition.
5. Additional Tools for a Complete Food Photography Kit
- Memory Card and External Hard Drive: Always have high-capacity memory cards and an external hard drive for backups. Food photography sessions can take up a lot of space on your storage devices, and you always want to make sure you have plenty of memory to store your images and a backup for peace of mind. I'm using a couple of 128GB memory cards (you can start with lower capacity) and a My Passport external drive.
- Photo Editing Software: Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop are industry standards. These are the sweet couple that I use the most (Lightroom being the leader, by all means). However, you can also consider using other editing software like Capture One (which also provides versatile functionality for tethered shooting).
- Tethering cable: Tethering your camera to a laptop or tablet lets you see your shots in real time, which is a great way to refine your compositions. It's irreplaceable for on-location shoots and lets you and the client preview the overall setup. I have this tethering cable from Tether Tools that ensures a stable and quality connection. As for the tethering software, I prefer doing it all in Lightroom using its built-in tethered shooting function. However, Canon's Camera Connect and Capture One are also alternatives worth considering.
- Backdrops: I have painted DIY plywood and vinyl backdrops, mostly from Errer Backdrops and Captured by Lucy. You can definitely tell the difference compared to the cheaper Temu options.
6. Tips for Budget-Friendly Food Photography Gear
- Rent lenses and extra equipment for specific photo shoots: One zoom lens could probably be enough for the majority of your shots, just like your existing lighting setup. However, if you land a client project where you need specific camera equipment for a single shoot, don't rush buying it. You can rent it for a specific photoshoot and save your bucks for new props, backgrounds, or courses. Renting can also help you assess if the particular gear would be a valuable addition to your existing arsenal before buying it.
- Consider buying a second-hand camera: From a good DSLR to accessories, buying second-hand can stretch your budget while providing quality gear. A camera is one of the most expensive items on the list, and there are lots of good second-hand cameras on the market that provide good value for the money. However, make sure to consult a professional to avoid faulty cameras. If possible, show the camera to a licensed dealer/service to check its condition before making the purchase.
7. Final Thoughts: Starting Your Food Photography Journey
Building your essential food photography equipment doesn’t have to happen overnight. Start with a beginner camera and a great, versatile lens, use natural light, and experiment with different angles to develop your style. As you grow, gradually invest in more tools, such as a full-frame camera or artificial lighting, to take your food photos to the next level.
Remember, the best camera is the one you have on hand. Focus on your creativity and storytelling; the gear is just there to support your vision.
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