Look, I get it! Buying props can be so expensive. My love of ceramics has set me back several hundred pounds. I believe that investing into quality pieces that you can use for a long time will transform your photography. But you can also build your collection and up your food styling on a budget by getting some amazing props in London for less.
Below are some tips for the cost-conscious food stylist.
1. Look for food styling props in homeware stores in your area
My first stop when looking for props is to look in my neighbourhood. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve found something on dedicated food styling sites for £20 only to buy it for under £5 near my home.
Case in point, these wooden utensils from Prep in Stoke Newington. You can see the wooden honey dipper in use in this shoot.
2. Visit your local arts and crafts store
Are you crafty? I am not! And still, I never leave my local arts and crafts store empty-handed. I buy foam boards to use as cheap backdrops, as well as muslin and cheesecloth to use in my shots. These are by far the cheapest props you can buy and will really elevate your food styling.
3. Visit charity shops
There are countless charity and second hand shops in London. While I’m never sure what I’ll find, I love to explore. Based on my collection, these are great places to shop for glasses. They’re usually sold in bundles and will only set you back a few pounds.
4. Visit vintage markets
I generally love vintage and flea markets – I love buying anything second hand, really! They’re also a treasure trove for food styling props. My favourite place to shop is Camden Passage in Angel. It’s an amazing place to get glassware as well as cutlery, and small bits and bobs.
5. eBay is your best friend
eBay does not get enough credit! You can find anything and everything – from the really high end to the most affordable. It’s a great place to look for plates and cutlery. I’m not talking ceramics; personally, I’ve never found any ceramics I really wanted to invest in on eBay. Instead, it’s where I look for vintage pieces that have a bit of character. Like the ones pictured here.
I genuinely buy most of my cutlery on eBay. While prop shops will charge you about £5-10 for one knife, I’ve gotten 40-piece collections for as little as £7. Granted, they’re not always amazing, but you’d be surprised what you can find.
6. H&M for linens
As a general rule, I avoid fast fashion brands. But I swoon whenever I look at the H&M Home linen collection. I have a few of their linen tablecloths and napkins and I use them all the time; not only in my studio shoots, but also when I shoot on location.
Food and Drink Photographer London. Shot by A Dash & A Splash at The Haberdashery in Stoke Newington Restaurant Photography London. Shot by A Sash & A Splash at SlowBurn in Walthamstow Restaurant Content Creation. Shot by Naf Castanas at Pastore Pasta in Hackney
7. Etsy
Who doesn’t love Etsy? There’s so much to pick from, but I like to scour the website for bundles. If you’re lucky, you can get eBay prices on Etsy. You can also filter for sellers located in the UK, keeping the shipping costs to a minimum.
8. IKEA and Big Supermarkets
When in doubt, head to big shops like IKEA or any big chain supermarket! This is not where I would get most of my props but I do get a few, simple pieces from there. I tend to layer those plates and use them together with more interesting ones.
Dinnerware from Sainsbury’s Peanut Butter Udon Noodles Styling. Photography by Naf Castanas
And there you have it! These are some of my money-saving tips for building your food styling prop collection. In you want to see these props in use, you can check my work. Did you find these tips useful?
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