5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Piece of Pottery for Your Prop Collection

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Over the years, my prop collection has grown with more and more pieces of handmade pottery. This is pottery I buy from makers at farmers markets and online, and vintage pottery I find when I travel or on websites like Etsy. 

At some point, I know my entire collection will evolve to all handmade pieces because I just love them that much. That is all I’d shoot with if I could. 

I feel that every piece of handmade art is worth the price paid, but when I’m shopping for a piece for my prop collection the process is much different than when I shop for a piece for my home. 

I have to exercise smart shopping and make sure that my investment will give me something that allows me to create many different photos. 

I thought it would be helpful to share the five things I pay attention to when I’m shopping for a piece. Asking myself a few questions has allowed me to collect many pieces that I use over and over again in different ways, in different images. 

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Five questions to ask yourself when shopping for a pottery prop…

Can I use this size of prop for most foods I shoot?

You’ve heard me say that smaller is better before and the same applies here. My most used plates are 4 inches, followed by 6 to 8 inches.

If I purchase a large piece, I have a specific plan for it. For example, a 10-inch dinner plate would be used as a platter in my work, and I do often use those to style full salads and side dishes. I photograph a lot of fresh produce, so I can also get a lot of use out of a large bowl. I have fewer of these latter two in my collection, though, because I don’t use them nearly every shoot like I do smaller plates. 

Will this finish work in my photos?

I’ve had advice to not choose glossy finishes for my pottery. I’d say I agree with it about 85% of the time. I’ve created plenty of good shots with glossy finishes, but I do prefer satin or matte finishes. This has as much to do with my style, though, as it does with functionality (no reflection or glare in the image).

Does it have the right imperfections?

Imperfections give a piece character. I welcome and uneven edge or an irregular circle. This often leads me to seconds and sales. This, of course, saves money, but I’m not doing it to cheat a maker out of the money they deserve. It’s just that what other people consider flaws, I often consider greater character and a one-of-a-kind look for my images. I do have some perfect pieces in my collection, but they are far fewer than those that have their own personality. 

Is it a color I will use often in my photos?

I always start with white and cream because I know I will use these over and over again. From there, I extend to neutrals and natural textures of the clay. This includes grays and blues for me. I have a few colorful pieces, but I use them a lot less so I’m less likely to invest in them. 

Along the same lines, prints and patterns definitely work in images, but because they have such a signature look, I know I can’t use them over and over without looking like I’m using the same prop over and over. Before I jump to prints, I’m much more likely to lean towards monotone patterns in the clay. Imprints of flowers and shapes are fun to work with.

How many different images can I envision for using this piece of pottery?

It’s important to me that I can use a prop in many photos without those photos looking exactly the same. So before I finally click buy, I try to envision all the ways I could use it. Different foods - salads, desserts, snacks, main courses. Different surfaces - wood, white, gray canvas, white wood, metal. Multiple linens and colors - grays, beige, white, blue, gray, teal. Differently lit settings and camera angles - backlight, sidelight, overhead shots.

If I can only think of one or two ways I’d actually use the piece, it’s likely not the best purchase, unless I have some extra funds in the prop budget set aside and I want to have some fun with my collection.

This all doesn’t mean that I don’t buy a piece from time to time that would be a bit wild and crazy by these standards. That’s what makes a collection unique. But when I want my budget to go the furthest for my photography work, the five questions for evaluation of my purchase listed here are applied. 

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6 Types of Linens to Diversify Your Prop Collection

I have a couple Etsy affiliate links in this post. This means that if you check them out and decide to purchase, I earn a very small commission. Thank you!

Do you find yourself using the same linen over and over again in your photos because you know it works?

I hear you. I get stuck in a linen rut, too. 

And let me explain here. When I say linen, I’m speaking of the napkin, towel, tablecloth or other similar prop used to enhance a food or product photograph. 

It’s so easy to default to what we know will work. We tend to stop challenging ourselves to work with new props to save time or create a cohesive look in our work. 

But there are ways to diversify your linen napkin collection so that you have a handful of options that are fail-proof for your shots. 

Additional touches in design and multiple colors can help add a twist to your photos while keeping them in line with your photography style. 

You might choose two or three go-to styles. Or use a different one in each shot. 

I’m sharing 6 types of linens in my collection that are solid options for me time and time again. 

Real linen 
I talk about this all the time. Real linen in gray or oatmeal are the core of my collection. 

Rough edge
Fray, tassels, tears. Any hint of creativity along the edge of a linen will add character to your scene. 

Flour sacks
Simple, affordable, and perfect for food photos. You can buy them in white and dye them with t-shirt dye in whatever color you desire. I’ve also found them in the kitchen section of stores in light to medium gray and with prints.

Handkerchiefs
I discovered all these wonderful options at my local craft store. This is often how I add prints to my photos, giving them a unique look that many people are afraid to experiment with. But it works! And they’ll set you back about $1 each. 

Cheesecloth
Beautiful in photos of all kinds. Use it straight from the package for a clean, crisp look. Wash and air dry it for a relaxed feel. I have it in natural, white, and black. 

Waffle
A waffle texture is a safe place to start if you aren’t ready to jump into prints because it adds a different look without multiple colors. Many traditional dish towels and washcloths have this look, but there are also plenty of cloth napkins with waffle texture, especially in the fall and winter design releases.

If you are looking for some new linens, these are a couple of my very favorite makers:

Lakeshore Linens

112 James Street

I also find good options when I occasionally swing by these stores:

CB2
Crate & Barrel Outlet
H&M Home

Everything else I’ve found by exploring random stores while traveling both in the U.S. and abroad. A new linen is one of the easiest souvenirs to fly home with.

Free and Low Cost Food Photography Props

No prop budget? No problem!

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Perhaps you are just starting out with no money to put towards a prop budget. Or maybe you just need a few photos here and there and spending money on food photography props simply doesn’t make sense. 

Even if you have a prop budget, who doesn’t want to save money and have a few extra items to work with?

I have so many items in my prop collection that I first purchased for an everyday use. By keeping a watchful eye you can shop smart and buy things that will serve a dual purpose. 

This means that you are essentially building your prop collection for free!

Below is a list of times to look for. I use these items all the time to style creative images for myself and for my clients. When you aren’t using them in the day-to-day, grab them for your photo set-up and create some killer food and product images.  

Terra cotta pot bottoms
That plate (or bowl) under a terra cotta pot that catches drained water? Grab it and wipe it down. The smaller, flat versions are great for garnishes. One with a deeper edge (those from IKEA are excellent) can be used as a shallow bowl. 

Yogurt and pudding jars
Finally, we have more options for glass yogurt jars in the States. The next time you need yogurt, opt for a few of these. Wash the jars in the dishwasher. You can use something like Goo Gone if the labels are difficult to remove. They are perfect for sauces and dressings. A similar option are pudding and dessert jars. I’ve been seeing more and more of these at Costco. 

Jam and mustard sample jars
You know the little jars that jams and condiment samples come in? Keep those, clean them up, and put spices or nuts in them for your set. 

Berry baskets
When you buy berries and other produce at the farmers market, ask the vendor if you can keep the basket they are displayed in. Most of the time the answer will be yes.

Reusable bags of all kinds
I’m big on making an effort to reduce plastic so I have all types of bags for produce, carrying groceries, and picking fruits and vegetables. White mesh, canvas, knitted bags - these can all styled into photos.

Amazon packing paper
You know the kind. All that brown paper that comes stuffed in that huge Amazon box with one small item in it. Yeah, that. Keep it. Brown paper can replace plates and platters for cookies and bars, trail mixes, sandwiches, breads and baked goods, and chips or fries. 

Bed and bath storage containers
Many of the items used for the bed and bath as storage solutions can serve as props. I have some small bamboo boxes and I can use the lids or the whole box. Some soap dishes can even work as small plates. 

Chunky sweaters 
Not kidding. I have an Instagram photo coming up soon that uses a chunky sweater my mom made for me to create a cozy coffee scene. 

Books
I know vintage books in photos are a bit of the rage, but you can use new books to create an interesting set, too. Just remove the jacket and you’ll have a clean, crisp, colored or white surface to stack a hot drink or cocktail on for a beautiful shot. 

Scarves
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used a scarf as a linen in a shot. Lacey, silky and flowy, plaid, flannel, solid, print - they can all work. 

While I know that this won’t give you a complete prop collection, it does provide some no-cost options when you have a limited prop budget, or no budget at all. Keeping these types of things in mind for photography gets the creativity flowing and you’ll start looking at everything in your home or shop in a different light. 

Now go search around the house and see what you can find!

Need some creative inspiration? Grab a copy! A helpful guide with information that can be applied to all types of food and product photography!