Food Photography Studio Setup

Here you'll find how to craft a food photography setup and what you'll need for the perfect studio space!

Ever wonder if it's better to set up at your home or rent out space? In this post, I will deep dive into the pros and cons of these options as well as give you a tour of all the equipment I use for making professional food and lifestyle images for me and my clients.

Bonus: A look into one of my most coveted spaces…my prop room, including tips for storing and hunting down deals and treasures of your own!

Studio Inspiration

I am just so over the moon about sharing my studio space with YOU, whoever you are! Whether you are a potential client, a current client, an up-and-coming artist, an established artist, or just a curious visitor, WELCOME!

I am excited for you because I know you're going to feel my enthusiasm for my work, my studio space, and what I love to do. I hope this lights you up and inspires you to take action to evolve and be thankful for the space that you have. Comment below! I would love to hear from you!

What goes into a Food Photography Studio Setup?

You will need:

• Shooting Bay: an area large enough to shoot what you need, could be big enough for a tabletop or whole room set!
• Lighting: can be studio lights or a window for natural light (see what I recommend here)
• Gear storage area: to hold a tripod, c stands, camera, lenses, computer, tether cord, and more (see what I recommend here)
• prop storage area
• camera
• Kitchen with working refrigerator, oven, toaster, blender, pots and pans…basically everything you might need to cook!
• Working space for the food stylist and set stylist: layout lots of tables with good light for them to work
• Client working and lounging area
• Area for lunch with the crew
• Reliable WiFi for your clients and to send images remotely
• Working/set building/painting area

Day one at the new studio!

This is the day it all started. View the blank canvas I shared on Instagram and follow me for continuous updates! Pay no attention to my Midwest accent! Haha!

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This year I moved back to my home town and am now renting out a #newstudio space that is dear to my heart and totally in line with the @jenacarlin and @littlerustedladle vibe,⚡️ It’s the old Auburndale Country Store/Antique Shop! I know a lot of my props will feel right at home.☺️ We welcome clients to come to us. The studio is centrally located between Chicago and the Twin Cities. We are still traveling to our clients as they need, but now offer to shoot remotely for you too! Send us an email to set up a shoot! AND STAY TUNED FOR RENOVATIONS!! ⚡️⚡️ #hometownpride #dowhatyoulove #foodphotographer #chicagofoodphotographer #milwaukeefoodphotographer #twincitiesfoodphotographer #foodphotography #foodphotographystudio

A post shared by Jena Carlin🌿 Food Photographer (@littlerustedladle) on Apr 24, 2018 at 2:30pm PDT

Have your studio represent who you are as an artist and attract the clients you want!

This came naturally because I have always collected things I like and want to use in photos. So when it came to styling my studio, I was able to fill it pretty quickly with props and furniture I already had in storage just waiting for the right shoot to be pulled into the light.

At its best, your studio will represent who you are as an artist and a business. The atmosphere I've created in this space is equally inspiring and functional for producing high-quality work. I have so much space for hosting shoots with clients, stylists, and assistants without feeling cramped.

My studio is also optimized for my work style. It has everything I could want and need, so it's a great place to shoot. Some of my favorite clients collaborate with me remotely. They send their products to me and I have the resources and artistic environment to create stunning images for them.

Having some of my favorite furniture and props on display is fun and functional. I have a couple of sitting areas in my photography studio setup where I can talk with clients, relax with friends and family, and host a studio open house! I even have a desk set up so I can spend some productive laptop time at the studio.

Prop Shopping Tips

Looking back at your portfolio, what are some elements you really like? What photographs well with the way you like to light and style? You can save yourself a lot of hassle (and cash!) by narrowing down your style first so you don't buy everything.

On the other hand, you may have clients with a range of styles, so it's good to have a solid variety. I like to organize my props by color and type of item so I can–at a glance–see any holes in my collection.

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🍴Sharing by popular demand! 🍴 A little sneak peek of my prop room! ❤️ … just one of my happy places🥰. Sign up for the newsletter at www.littlerustedladle.com – I have a free food photography ebook with the sign up! 😘 #foodphotographer #foodphotographyprops

A post shared by Jena Carlin🌿 Food Photographer (@littlerustedladle) on Feb 24, 2020 at 2:33pm PST

The Kitchen

The kitchen in my photography studio setup is set within speaking distance of the bays to keep the lines of communication open and ensure work efficiency. We built an extra 8-foot island in a well-lit area ideal for food styling.

I highlight my brand colors: green, gray, and tan, throughout my studio to give my clients a cohesive experience when they walk in. The shelves in my kitchen have a curated collection of items that reflect Little Rusted Ladle charm.

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🌿Doing some rearranging around the studio after unpacking from a location shoot. My props are feeling a little more at home. . . #foodphotography #foodstyling #milwaukeefoodphotographer #foodfluffer #foodstagram #foodblogger #bhgfood #f52grams #huffposttaste #foodgwaker #thekitchn #sweetmagazine #droolclub #gloobyfood #forkfeed #stilllife #nothingisordinary #theartofslowliving #onthetable #gatheringslikethese #thefeedfeed #garherandfeast #midwestbloggers #bhg_community #kitchendesign #kitchenremodel #kitchendecor #homedecor #dslooking #ilovecolor

A post shared by Jena Carlin🌿 Food Photographer (@littlerustedladle) on Mar 13, 2019 at 7:57pm PDT

Where's all your equipment?

While I like to display a lot of my props, equipment is just not my style. There are plenty of studios (almost every one I've been in) that have their lights, softboxes, light modifiers, and grip ready and hanging on the wall to be grabbed at a moment's notice. It's definitely efficient, and I don't have anything against it. I just prefer to have mine in a walk-in closet next to my shooting area. It's really the same distance and just as fast, but walled off because, frankly, I don't care to look at it.

Displaying my props is much more rewarding to me, but that is just my style. You may love a clean, white contemporary look displaying all of the techy gear. If that is what creates a space that you love, go for it! And send me photos, because I love seeing peoples shooting spaces! That's why I am sharing mine. Back to the goods… Here is a detailed list of what is in my equipment room with links on where to buy!

Studio Timeline

I haven't always had this much photography studio space. In fact, I started out with very humble beginnings. Here is the timeline of the evolution of my studio…

2009: Free and Scrappy

During the first few months of my first photography internship after college, I was couch surfing! Not only was I moving between various friend's apartments, but when they were away for awhile I would set up test photo shoots in their apartments and would scramble to take them down before they got home and discovered my secret!

• PRO: Free! Teaches you how to work fast and be scrappy with materials, space, and time.
• CON: Total hassle. Have to work around everyone's schedule.

2010 – 2011: Working for others and for yourself.

I moved to a small apartment but there was not enough room for a studio. I would stay late after work and come in my on days off to test shoot at the studio where I worked.

• PRO: Free! You get to work with GREAT equipment and maybe even get to use their props!
• CON: You HAVE to earn this opportunity and it may be the most valuable experience…so this is really a pro too! I had internships and assisted at many studios. You have to work HARD, show your enthusiasm, and ask for these types of benefits.

2011 – 2014: Spaces within your home.

After getting married my husband and I bought a small two-bedroom house. In the spare bedroom, I would store a lot of my props and edit my photos. A photographer from work was renting a studio outside the city, but was willing to share some space as a way to offset their rent. I moved all of my props into the studio and my husband was so happy to get back precious space around our house!

Well, a week later I started this blog to share and document my passions. My studio roommate saw the blog and decided that, due to conflicting passions, we shouldn't share space together. (This is with no hard feelings and this person is still a dear friend of mine.) After a total of one week, I was moving out and much to my husband's chagrin, I was back with all my props to set up my photo shoots in the second bedroom!

• PRO: Free and so convenient if you have any extra space! Think office, garage, basement…
• CON: As you grow this can get crowded. And, our home wasn't the ideal place for clients. I did all of my client work on location or rented out larger studios (which can be costly for the client).

2014 – 2015: Budget-Friendly

We discovered that we were pregnant with our first child and needed the spare bedroom to become a nursery, so the hunt was on! Money was tight and we knew it would be even more scarce soon. After scouring the area, we found an old dentist's office that was in our budget to rent out. It took quite a few cans of paint to get it looking great. My husband took out the old dentist sink and built a little makeshift kitchen. It was most definitely not ideal, but I made it work!

• PRO: Finally having your own space is freeing! It was small, but charming.
• CON: Budget was tight and the kitchen was small to say the least. My food stylist did not like this situation.

2015 – 2017: Upgrade within your home.

Shortly after our first child was born, we moved further out of the city into a larger home. The basement was very large and I was able to store all of my props in the basement and used the rest of the space as my makeshift studio. My husband did not enjoy sharing our family kitchen, but I loved finally having all of my supplies in one spot!

• PRO: Free and so convenient if you have any extra space!
• CON: In our home, which was not ideal for clients. I did all of my client work on location or rented out larger studios (again, can be costly for the client).

2018 – Present Day: Dream life and studio.

With our family growing, I moved back to my home town in Central Wisconsin and started working out of this beautiful historic building. It has so much character and the whole thing means so much to me! I will share more right after the pros and cons.

• PRO: Moving out into the country allowed me to have a larger space without spending the big-city prices so interior clients can come or ship their product to me. They get big-city quality for a small-town price point.
• CON: Monthly overhead by renting.

You have questions. I have answers. Ask me anything in the comments below!

Stay tuned for more on my prop room and on the evolution of my studio to see what is coming next! Yes indeed, we are already planning something new and special for you, my clients, colleagues, and students!

Join my newsletter to receive updates on workshops and get a free ebook on Next Level Food Photography!

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Future views from an old farmhouse. ❤️ This is the beginning of a new project for the Carlin family. I went over to the farm we are purchasing from my Dad to see how it looked right after a fresh snowfall. ❄️ It did not disappoint although I did end up having to call my dad because I got stuck! ❤️ Tell me below… What house projects are you working on? . #farmhouserenovation #rusticchristmas #barnrenovation #rusticfarmhouse #countrychristmas #redbarn #foodphotography #familyfarm #farmhouselife #shadows #foodphotographystudio #nothingisordinary #startwithwhy #thehappynow #flashesofdelight #calledtobecreative #doitfortheprocess #postityfortheaesthetic #abmlifeisbeautiful #livemoremagic #winterwonderland #theslowdowncollective @fixerupper_hgtv

A post shared by Jena Carlin🌿 Food Photographer (@littlerustedladle) on Dec 9, 2019 at 2:15pm PST

Interested in viewing more food photography posts?

I gotcha covered:

• 6 Tips for Better Food Photos in Restaurants
• How to Photograph Drinks like a Pro!
• Interview with a Food Photographer

Before you leave, tell me all about your studio or dream studio in the comments below! I would love to hear!