10 Perfect Gifts for Food Photographers Under $50

No matter the hobby or passion, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the high costs of improving your craft. Yet there are affordable ways to learn new skills and gift new skills, too! Today, we're taking a look at 10 perfect gifts for food photographers under $50. From gorgeous props to creative shooting gear, you might end up picking up a few of these for yourself, too. I know a few of these are on my wish list!

Marble Vinyl Background

Besides the food, the most essential part of food photography is the backdrop. This marble vinyl background is a classic background for food photography and any product photography.

This background is sized at two by three feet and is large enough for a handful of plates or even a large cake stand. Better yet, it is a reusable backdrop and comes in a roll to prevent wrinkles. When in doubt, simple and elegant is the way to go. The compact size, ease of use, and reasonable price make this an excellent resource for any food photographer.

Elegant Napkins

Napkins are a great option to add texture and depth to photos when it comes to food photography. Linen napkins, in particular, go with almost every food dish well. Fold them into fine dining decor or lay them casually over the side of a table for a casual feel.

Polyester cloth napkins are classics for a mix between usability and sheen, and satin napkins offer shiny edges and softness that can be felt through a photo. Match the texture of your pastries and meals to your napkins, and you're in for a complete meal through the lens.

Some options we've found include these classic polyester damask napkins and these satin napkins appropriate for beautiful meals at home or even wedding receptions. They come in a variety of colors and are perfect for practicing food styling techniques.

Cutting Boards

Is there anything more beautiful than a rustic wooden cutting board? Cutting boards are lovely gifts for food photographers, the chef, or food bloggers since they are functional and beautiful.

You can often find unique cutting boards at your local thrift shop, something we recommend in our article on How to Find the Perfect Props for Your Food Photography. However, you can also find gems on Amazon, such as this gorgeous Cutting Board for $49. 

Cake Stands

Who says you can have too many cake stands? Cake stands are a classic for bakers, but almost any dish can look extra delicious when on a vintage or stone stand. This marble cake stand offers an elegant look, while this three-piece set cake stand is perfect for small cookies or a variety of finger sandwiches. 

Unique Silverware

Silverware is an often overlooked prop when it comes to food photography. Yet, sometimes the cutest, most unique piece of silverware can truly make a fudgy cake look more inviting or a crispy salad fresher.

If you're looking for excellent gifts for a food photographers, think of your favorite silverware set! Does it make you happy at first glance? Or is it perhaps a vintage piece with a unique design?

Grab a similar one for your food photographer friend to see their salivating photos come to life. I love the unique shape of this cutlery set available on Amazon. It's also a good idea to use Etsy. It's a great place for unique silverware. And most of the time, you can grab a piece or two instead of an entire set.

SD Memory Cards For Food Photographers

Memory cards are always great choices for most creative endeavors, particularly digital photography and videography. However, while a 128 GB SD memory card goes for about $35, it can be hard to convince yourself to buy an extra when one works just fine.

That's what makes an SD card the perfect gift for a food photographer friend! Additional ones are not necessarily essential to operate but can genuinely make the shooting and editing process smoother. No more emptying cards in the middle of shoots or worrying about doing so when doing back-to-back shoots. Your favorite photographer will think they are just perfect for tossing into a camera bag and always have easy access while making their job just a tiny bit more efficient.

Camera Cleaning Kit

Most of us have used microfiber cloths to clean glasses, phone screens, and camera lenses. Yet these get lost easily, and nothing is more annoying than missing a photo because of a smudged or dirty screen.

This 8 in 1 cleaning kit includes a microfiber cleaning cloth alongside unique "pens" with soft material tips appropriate for cleaning lenses and other surfaces with precision. In particular, this is extremely convenient for photographer friends who need to clean tiny viewfinders or small lenses at the source. This kit is great for your standard DSLR camera or mirrorless cameras.

These pens are assembled in clean rooms free of unwanted substances and undergo testing using microscopic photography to ensure that the device is safe for use on optical lenses and more. The benefits of these are endless, and at just about $35 per kit, you might even consider grabbing one for yourself, too! It is one of the best gifts on this list because it's pretty common to neglect the cleaning duties of our camera.

Food Stylist Handbook

Food Stylist Handbook by Denise Vivaldo and Cindi Flannigan is perfect for any food blogger or food photographer to understand how to set up their image to tell their food story. This is a great resource for any serious photographer or content creator to start to learn food styling.

Light Reflector For Food Photography

Lighting is crucial for all types of photography. Yet, a full lighting setup can be both expensive and esoteric. In addition, buying a light, no matter how professional, for a friend can often be more inconvenient than helpful.

Instead, consider buying a light reflector disc for your food photographer friend. These can be used to reflect both natural and artificial light and help to brighten food photos without additional power and less effort. These come in two different sizes, 24" or 43". Keep that in mind when you are deciding the perfect size. Does the photographer have a small working space or a bit of a larger space?

Double-Sided and Gaffer Tape

There are very few things tape can't fix! So consider grabbing your food photographer friend a roll or two of double-sided and gaffer tape. Double-sided tape is handy for food photography and can be used to hold down a napkin's folds or a fork in just the right position.

Gaffer tape is a special kind of tape designed not to leave any adhesive residue when removed. This is useful for props as well as light reflectors and even cables that you need to keep in place.

The Best Food Photographer Gifts Under $50

You’ve done it! The struggle is over. It doesn’t have to be hard to find Christmas gifts for food photographers. As a photographer myself, I know how tough it can be when you are stuck with gift-giving decisions. This guide should help you get started thinking about what your loved ones might enjoy after scrolling through this list of fun ideas that are perfect for the foodie in your life!

A lot of these items would also be great gifts for the bakers in your life. In addition to these, we also have a list of 15 gifts for the bakers in your life. You can also read more about Food Photography and Styling on a Budget here on SerenaLissy.com.

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