Posted by At the onset of my journey as a food stylist, I had no idea where to place my food and take the shot. Spending on expensive backdrops was not an option as it was just a hobby then. Yet the urge to make each picture stand out made me forage at home, looking for my options. I would go to different stationery shops hoping to find something.
Dirham shops(Dollar stores) would surprise me occasionally with interesting food styling gear. For example, I remember buying wooden or marble wallpapers, and I would stick them on a foam board.
For starters, here is a list of backdrop ideas for beginners, which are cheap and can make your food stand out.
- Floor tile: Some textured floor tiles can be great for flat lays.
2. Cotton tablecloth: Cotton tablecloth textured or plain can be a great backdrop
3. Wallpapers: Wallpapers stuck on boards can be great backdrops and look great in head-on shots. Marble textured or wooden textured are readily available.
4. Paper: Chart paper, textured papers, and even baking sheets for creative food photography.
5. Wooden table: your dining table or coffee table can double up as a backdrop.
6. Discarded wood: A broken bed frame or old table can leave enough wood for repurposing. You can get it tinted yourself or from a carpenter’s shop.
7. Foam boards: I started taking flat lays on foam boards. They were some of my first backdrops. Basic black and white.
8. Old baking trays: Old trays with discoloration are great for layering and being a backdrop. I turn them over for an even surface.
Do share your easy cheap backdrop ideas which do not involve painting. I hope this helps the upcoming food stylists looking for a start.
Magic Ingredient 
Great ideas!
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Creative ideas for backdrop 👍
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