Food and Product Photography Linens

This post contains a couple affiliate links which means if you buy one of these linens from Etsy, I receive a tiny commission.

I admit I’m a little obsessed with linens. 

For my shopping personality, they check all the boxes. They’re less of a commitment than, say, a big piece of handmade pottery. They are easy to store in my prop collection so I have the freedom to go overboard. They make great travel souvenirs because they pack light. 

For my work, they add that special touch to a photo that speaks to our individual styles. They serve as a baby step for venturing out of our comfort zones when we want to add something a little different - in color, in pattern. There are so many textures and colors that can support the moods we aim to create with your photos. 

I have many people ask me where I get my linens, so I’m sharing three spots I love below. 

Lakeshore Linens makes up the majority of my linen collection. I absolutely love the colors, textures, styles, and sizes.

112 James Street is a spot I discovered a couple years ago. I have a few of their linens and I need to order some more! I love the deep, natural colors that are available.

Craft and fabric stores are where I turn when I want to have fun with prints. Look in the handkerchief section. There are usually brightly colored options and they are super affordable so you won’t be afraid to take a chance on a few. 

Want to read more about linens. I wrote a post a while back about 6 Types of Linens to Diversify Your Prop Collection. 

Five Dried Garnishes I Keep for Food and Product Photography

Dried garnishes are so helpful to keep around for adding new touches to your photos. They last nearly forever so you know they’ll be there to grab when you need them. 

Here are five of my favorite dried garnishes that I always keep on hand. 

Dried Citrus Slices

I bought a simple kitchen dehydrator this year for an article assignment I had to complete. It has been so easy to make dehydrated blood orange, lemon, and lime slices. Now I keep a bag around for garnishing cocktails and for still-life shots. 

Dried Eucalyptus 

This is by far my favorite green. I pick up a bunch at Trader Joe’s whenever I’m lucky enough to find it. It stays in a vase in my studio to use in all kinds of photos. 

Dried Chile Peppers

I like using dried Birdseye chiles or others similar in size. They fit well into most styled food scenes when the goal is to emphasize that it’s a bit spicy. They also add a nice pop of color even when dried. Mixing them in a shot with fresh peppers is a fun touch, too. 

Nuts In Their Shells

Nuts still in their shells will last for a very long time. I always keep walnuts around. They are great for baking photographs and for still-life centerpieces. I will crack open a couple every now and then so the nut is in view. 

Pinecones and Leaves

Autumn is my very favorite season so it’s likely no surprise that I use these a lot. Each year I set out on a harvest walk and gather up some new leaves and pinecones for my collection. I especially love it when I can find a few leaves that still have some vibrant color like yellow. Not every element of a food or drink photo has to be edible, especially when you are trying to create a seasonal scene. Have some fun with it.

Using Photography Surfaces as Flooring in Your Photos

Watch right here or read below!

I love flooring. I especially love how it can create a scene for photos when you shoot at a high angle or overhead and catch just the tiniest bit of it in a shot. 

But for years, my floor was brown shag carpet. Not exactly the kind of thing that makes you ooh and ahh over a photo. 

Even now, I would have loved to have some rustic concrete or hardwood in my rental studio, but I had to work with the landlord for the most affordable option. And that happened to be boring office carpet.

The solution? Using my favorite surfaces as stand-ins for flooring. And they don’t have to be that big. It just takes a little creativity and movement to capture some fun images and angles. 

Let me show you some examples.

I love my 2x3 vinyl surfaces from Poppy Bee Surfaces. Last week, I was photographing artichokes and I really wanted to get a shot on the corner of the live edge table my husband and I made a few years ago. But, again, boring office carpet. 

So I set this up:

When shooting overhead I had to adjust myself.

Too high and I catch the edge of the carpet and the rug. Too low and I caught the edge of the surface at the bottom. But zooming in and centering myself with the camera gave me the third and final shot. 

Bigger boards take a bit less work, but you still have to capture the right angle. I shot this scene just last week. Laying my 4 x 4 pallet wall surface on the ground allowed me to capture these sangria shots. 

And this shot you saw just last week in the email about Changing Your Angle. This is a vertical of the same scene. The chair is set on a sheet of black painted canvas. This is what it looked like before I cropped and edited for the final image on the right. 

The cocktail should look familiar, too. This one doesn’t use a surface at all, but a scuffed and worn-out black foam core board. 

I hope this inspires you to incorporate some interesting flooring into your shots soon!