If you love cooking and taking food photos but your budget doesn't always allow for the best props, fear not! Here are 10 budget friendly food styling props that you can use to take your food photography game to the next level.

1. Wooden Spoons - I’ve bought wooden spoons from the dollar store, thrift store and places like H&M home! These are an essential part of my capsule prop collection.

2. Kitchen Linens - Kitchen linens or tablecloths make a great background or accent to any food photo. Choose a pattern or neutral color to bring texture and depth to your pictures.

3. Wooden Cooking Utensils - A set of wooden utensils like spatulas and kitchen spoons won't break the bank, but can bring a rustic charm to your food photos.

4. Pinch bowls - I love my collection of pinch bowls! I’ve collected a variety over the years from H&M Home, Indigo, and Etsy. They come in handy when telling the story of their recipe and highlighting different ingredients.

5. Small tins / metal bowls - Metals bowls , especially aged rustic metal wares can add a rustic vibe and some contrast to your set up.

6. Serving Utensils - Serving utensils like spoons, spatulas, stir sticks, spreaders, etc , are handy to help your audience understand how the dish is meant to be served and enjoyed! For example, if a dish with noodles has a spoon over a fork, you know the dish resembles a soup more so then a thick pasta dish.

7. Cutting Board / Serving platter - These are great to feature finger foods, comfort foods or any food that is ideal for entertaining. I have a collection of stone and wood boards I use often.

8. Ceramic spoons - I don’t have many of these, but I use the few I have often. I like using neutral ceramic spoons to soften a look and help the serving ware fade into the background.

9. Glass cups - Essential for any cocktail / mocktail, smoothie or other beverage recipes. I have 2 sets of glass cups in my capsule prop collection - a simple clear drinking glass set, a more exotic glassware with detailing and a coffee/tea set. The drinking glasses should be versatile enough to style smoothies, juices, teas, cocktails and parfaits.

10. Ceramic Creamer / Glass jars - I have one ceramic creamer I use all the time! It's a neutral gray and great for holding sauces, syrups and gravies. In a pinch, cleaned out jam jars could work wonders for a fun and affordable serving vessel.

With these 10 budget-conscious props, you can make amazing food photos without breaking the bank. Start experimenting and make your food photography amazing!