Each time I’m on a shoot, someone from the crew, Ad Agency, or even the client comes to our work area to look at my kit and tools, and always comments at all the odd and fun things I have in there.
They ask me how I use some of the crazy things I have, and are always fascinated.
As unusual as some of the things are, they are my tools and I couldn’t style without them!
I’m going to give you the low down on all of it so you can build your kit, and know what you need, and why.
Tweezers are probably my most used tool. I have several different sizes, but use the chef tweezers the most. They fit nicely in my hand and have small tips that fit into tight spaces to grab a stray hair or an out-of-place crumb.
I got my first pair from a chef I was shooting with, and now can’t work without them.
I always keep a few spoons in my kit for mixing or spreading, pens to take notes, and Sharpies work well to touch up scratches and marks on black items AND…mark your water bottle or cup on set, so it doesn’t get mixed up with someone else’s.
Brushes, brushes, brushes! All sizes!
Small and medium sized brushes are good for painting or oiling some food items. The larger brushes, I use to sweep crumbs off the plate or set.
I also have a very soft brush for smoothing chocolate.
Skewers are vital. I use them to stabilize meat, fish and sandwiches, and to add support for food that might have to lean on something to keep it from bending.
I always keep at least one drinking straw in my kit for making chocolate look silky.
Of course you need cutting tools.
A variety of knife styles and sizes. I keep these small knives right in my kit and then take larger knives when I have a more substantial cooking shoot.
I don’t take expensive knives to shoots, just the cheapies, in case the get lost.
Scissors, of course. In fact, I usually have two or three pair so I can keep them in different areas.
And wire cutters. I cut the skewers with them, and hard flower stems or wire.
Glue and a variety of tapes.
I use regular tape for a few things, but mostly, I use double sided tape. I have some with mild stick and some with extreme stick.
You could use them from taping down the edge of a flaring napkin to literally sticking a sliding dinner roll to a slippery plate.
I use super glue often. I have cause to glue cracks together in meat, tortillas so they stay closed, seeds to buns or glueing stems and leaves to fruit.
I keep a fabric glove mostly for handling chocolate and glass, it keeps finger prints off.
Eye droppers and medicine droppers can suck extra liquid out, or apply small dabs of sauce where you need it.
I keep food coloring for impromptu drink needs, such as making lemonade or punch. I have also used the brown color to antique or color cutting boards.
I like to use rubber bands for the base of a bunch of flowers to keep them standing upright, plus, you always need a rubber band!
Matches come in handy for candles, or to light a torch the needs help.
Like skewers, toothpicks can be used to stabilize and hold together sandwiches and a variety of foods. I slip one in under a hot dog in a bun to keep it from falling down too far.
Q-tips are so great to clean off small drips or smudges.
And…..You have to have bandaids! I always seem to either knick myself, or flat out cut myself. You can’t style anything if you’re going to get blood all over it. (yuck)
I like to have a needle and thread on hand. Sometimes I need to sew some things together on a chicken or a turkey, or tightened up the loose skin.
Pins! All shapes and sizes. You will use pins in so many things. I use them mostly for burgers and sandwiches. They keep each layer together as I build.
And, goo. You need goo to prop things up, or maybe to stick a fork to a plate. I use a lot of goo. The best goo mixture is half blue and half white of the poster putty, mixed together!
These are items I can’t live without.
Evian spray, for a fine mist on drink glasses or fruit, and glycerine for bigger droplets.
Kitchen bouquet browns meat and makes a great coffee substitute.
Goof Off gets all the sticky tags off of glass, and Windex wipes clean the grease off of your hands and dishes without smudging.
Lastly, the bigger items I bring to shoots.
My heat gun always goes with me, to revive and melt cheese or warm the solidified oils that form in soup. Also, a great butter melter!
Torches and grill markers help give the look of grilled foods, without the grill.
I have many more gadgets, tools, lotions and potions I may bring, depending on the shoot. But these are the go-to tools I take with me each time!
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List of 35+ essential must-have food styling kit tools and supplies for professional food stylists. These are the tools and supplies I bring on all my food styling projects. I have other supplies, potions, and tools I bring based on the shoot--but THESE 35+ food styling supplies are what I bring EVERYWHERE.
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- Tweezers
- Spoons
- Cutting boards
- Knives
- Wire cutters
- Medicine droppers/eye droppers
- Food coloring
- Chocolate glove
- Rubber bands
- Syringes
- Scissors
- Torch tip
- Skewers
- Brushes
- Straws
- Pens/Sharpies
- Super glue
- Tape-varieties including double sided
- Band-aids, matches, Q-tips, needle and thread
- Pins-varieties
- Goo
- Evian Spray
- Goof Off
- Windex Wipes
- Glycerine
- Kitchen Bouquet
- Heat gun (paint stripper)
- Grill marker
- Propane torch
- Culinary torch
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