My brain is always trying to design things. I rearrange things on my mantel all the time. I match ribbons that I see in the craft store to projects I completed years ago. I am always thinking about how things look.
It’s no different when I approach food and product styling for photography. I see pretty little bowls in a store and I envision how they will look in a photograph. The same goes for almost any home decor or tableware item I come across: wooden cutting boards, silver spoons, vintage glassware, you name it. I have curated quite a stash of food photography props.
Before I shoot a recipe or style a shot for a product session, I look very carefully at props. I want my food photography props to enhance the scene, not detract from it. I design so that the props will help tell the story and be an organic part of the images.
The latest addition to my food photography prop collection is this bundle of cloth napkins from Dot & Army. Designed specifically with photographers, food bloggers and stylists in mind, this assortment of textiles contains 20 unique, rolled edge napkins. There are stripes, prints, solids and checks, a random assortment of one-of-a-kind napkins. No two sets are alike, and you can be sure that there will be no repeats within each bundle. I chose 18″ napkins because this size is generous enough to be used underneath a plate or scrawled casually across the table top, but can also be folded down to hold a dessert, an appetizer or a cocktail.
I love using these napkins to add texture, color and a familiarity to my photos. It is my hope that when you look at my photos where I have used napkins, you think things like, “My Grandmother had napkins like that.” or “That check pattern reminds me of my favorite shirt.” Sometimes, I also hope that you don’t really notice the napkin, as it’s just an added element to the story in the photo.
With 20 different patterns, the look is fresh and new each time. Because each shoot has differing food and beverages or different kinds of products, the same can napkin can take on a variety of looks.
You can easily change looks by how you arrange a napkin. For casualness, I might toss a one beside a baking sheet of green beans, as if the cook just wiped his or her hands. I might place a crisply folded napkin under a cocktail glass or beside a bowl, so you can envision picking up that napkin with your drink or placing that napkin in your lap. Sometimes, I also like to place a napkin under elements of a shot just to add a layer between the table top and subject.
Here are just a few examples of ways I have used napkins in food styling.
I love having this variety of of textures and patterns in my arsenal of food photography props. I also love that all of Dot & Army‘s napkins are made in the US (right here in Brunswick, GA to be exact!).
What are some of your favorite food photography props? Do you have a special collection of napkins and linens?
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