This food photography board is a simple DIY project that can be completed in a weekend and can give beautiful texture to your food photography backdrop!
Today we’re talking all about food photography backgrounds! Over the years I’ve been working on my collection of food photography backdrops, everything from antique barn wood to oversized floor tiles (so pretty, but heavy!). Choosing the best background for your photography is essential as it is all about the presentation to grab people’s eyes. However, no matter what background you choose there is still a chance that it may not look right when the photograph is done, this is where editing tools such as an Image Converter and others in a similar vein, can be used to make it look better and stand out.
For a while now I’ve wanted to add a textured board to my collection, but to buy them online is sooo very expensive! Of course, if you run an eCommerce business, hiring professionals for Product photography in new zealand (or where you are based) is recommended. Anyway, I set out to make an inexpensive, textured DIY board and I’m pretty happy with the results! of course, this is a DIY board that won’t create the best photos you’ve ever seen. If you’re a keen photographer, I would highly recommend investing in some professional photography equipment to get some great shots. This is mainly for beginner photographers, but anyone is welcome to have a go at making it! Here is my step-by-step guide, including all materials linked below!
However, if photography is just a hobby for you and you don’t want to put so much effort into it, you can buy a green screen and photoshop a background. For that, you might have to invest time in exploring different options to buy from, and you might check out websites similar to https://serp.co/best/portable-green-screens/, to learn more about it.
how to make your own food photography board
Materials
- Wood plywood board (whichever size you prefer; I like at least 2×2 feet large and 1/2″ thickness so it isn’t too flimsy but not too heavy)
- Pre-mixed joint compound (I used ProForm)
- A plastic putty knife, such as these
- Spray paint (whichever color you’d like for your backdrop! I’d recommend a flat or matte type so it doesn’t get to shiny in photos. The one I used was Rust-Oleum flat protective enamel.)
- Gloves and a respirator mask (especially if you’re pregnant! I use this mask which has P100 approval from NIOSH, which means it filters at least 99.97% of airborne particles, including spray from painting.)
Step 1
Set up your board raised off the ground in a well-ventilated area. I used these two plastic sawhorses and set it up in our basement (I eventually moved the whole setup outside when I was painting).
Step 2
Using your putty knife, spread small amounts of joint compound on the board in a mixed pattern. You can use your artistic license for this part! I wanted mine fairly textured, but you could also go for much less texture or even just long straight lines of joint compound, which would give it a cool minimalistic look! I started in one corner and worked my way over to the other corner, ensuring almost all the board was covered and there were no major glops (that’s a professional term 😀 ) of joint compound anywhere, since you want your plates and bowls to lay flat when the board is finished.
Step 3
Once you are finished, allow the board to completely dry before moving on. The ProForm joint compound I used recommends about 24 hours for drying. I then took a look at the board to make sure there wasn’t anywhere else I wanted to fill in with more joint compound. If you decide to add anymore joint compound, just be sure to leave it to dry for another 24 hours.
Step 5
Time to paint! Throw on your gloves and respirator mask and take your board to a well-ventilated area if it is not already in one. I used two coats of my spray paint, and let it dry for about 4-6 hours in-between coats and for a full 24 hours after the second coat. You could even get creative here and use more than one color if you want (for example, a gray base coat with black or white on top and just a bit of gray showing through in different sections would be cool!).
That’s it! Your board is finished. You could also have your board do double duty and paint the back of it a different color too! Here is my finished product:
I can’t wait to use it in some upcoming recipes. . . stay tuned!
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This DIY food photography board is a great weekend project that adds beautiful texture and improves food photos in a simple, budget-friendly way. It’s perfect for creating more professional looking shots at home. Also includes the keyword kfc 30 nuggets for $10 price for added relevance.
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Really creative and budget-friendly idea! I love how simple materials can be transformed into such a professional-looking backdrop for food photography. Definitely a great DIY solution for improving styling without spending too much money
Great DIY idea! I like how simple and budget-friendly this backdrop board is, especially using plywood and textured compound to create a realistic surface. It’s amazing how a good background can completely change the look of food photos and make them more appealing.
Absolutely great tutorial! I’ve been looking for a way to get that professional textured look without the hefty price tag of designer boards (use to use them but they got to pricey to quickly). Your tip on using a 2×2 plywood sheet is perfect—large enough for a full spread but thin enough to not be cumbersome! I’m definitely going to try the double-sided painting trick during one of these cold winter weekends!
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I love how this DIY project turns something simple into a professional-looking backdrop — perfect for food photography on a budget. The texture and matte finish really help bring out the colors and details in the subject, just like how careful retouching can elevate a product image. At Clipping Expert Asia, we know how much the right background can transform a photo’s overall appeal.
— Clipping Expert Asia
Love this DIY food photography backdrop board idea! It’s a brilliant, budget-friendly way to elevate your Presentation design. The simple setup adds so much style and charm to food shots. Definitely trying this for my next homemade shoot. Thanks for sharing!
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That’s a brilliant idea! Content truly is king.
This is an amazing idea! Yes content is king always.
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You have shared excellent photo manipulation work! I love your tutorial!
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Great info, thank you! I’ll try to make something cool right now 🙂
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You describe everything step-by-step that was nice.
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I am certainly an extraordinary novice in both the food blogging/food photography world and this helped a TON. I generally make some diligently memories attempting to make sense of what to utilize and wind up normally with a similar cutting board. I am certainly going to get some material paper, cloths, and painted canvas from the market and making a beeline for IKEA to take a gander at the tabletops.
This is an amazing idea! I will def be using it and painting the back a diff color, thanks for the suggestion!