Food styling is the practice of making food look extremely presentable and photogenic. For large publications, a professional food stylist is hired for the specific act of making dishes look appealing and beautifully arranged.
Multi-Use Props and Backgrounds
One of the most budget-friendly options (for any hobby) is to acquire props and tools that are multi-functional. After all, if you can use something more than once, its value increases exponentially.
One of the best ways to style food on a budget is to play with food composition. After all, it costs nothing to shift the angle at which you take a photo.
Playing with Food Composition
Plan Your Meals & Photoshoots Together
While food styling and photo composition still require a lot of work, viewers and readers still want to hear how the work you create relates to actual life. One of the best ways to do this with food photography is to plan your meals and photoshoots together.
Much like being able to reuse non-food props and backgrounds, any food and treats that can be used more than once will save you time and money.
Upcycling Food and Treats
Varying The Light in Your Photographs
If you want light and bright, use white. If you want more dark and moody, then go with black to create shadows and get a deeper feeling in the photograph.
When it comes to food styling on a budget, finding ways to reuse props, backgrounds, and even ingredients is a great first step to reducing your costs.