Linens are one of my favourite things to incorporate in any food shoot. Whether they’re laid flat to fill the frame, or roughly scrunched and tucked in on one side, they’re the ultimate prop for adding depth and texture. While it might seem like a small detail, they can drastically change the mood and style of a photo, particularly when paired with natural light, and are a great way to soften the overall composition. In this blog post I’ve pulled together a collection of my own images featuring linens to showcase the ways they can influence the overall feel of an image and to hopefully inspire your next food photography brief.

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Using linens as layers

Layers are vital for creating depth in any composition and without these, images can look a little flat. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using linens as layers, either folded or laid flat to create a base for further props. Where possible, I love to feature the frayed or folded edges of a linen in my shots to add further texture and shadow.

Here are some of my favourite shots using linens as layers:

Using linens to add depth and texture by Samantha Couzens Photography

Using linens as a background or surface

Another option is to fill the frame with a linen, using them either as a background for overhead shots or to cover a surface in 45 degree or straight on shot. Again, as you’ll see in the examples below, I like to play with the frayed or hemmed edges by folding them over or tucking them in to add an extra detail to the final shot. It’s important to pay close attention to the creases and folds in a linen too - sometimes the scrunched texture helps to tell a story while other times I prefer that they’re ironed out in order to complete a more simplistic composition. In this way, linens can be both forgiving and challenging, but they provide a beautiful backdrop to catch interesting shadows and highlights.

Here are some of my favourite shots using linens as a background:

Using linens to create colour contrast

Linens are incredibly versatile when it comes to colour and pattern. Softer, paler tones can provide the perfect neutral base that won’t compete with the colours of the food, but they can also be used to create high contrast images too. Bright and saturated colours make more of an impact, while darker toned linens will create a cosier, sometimes moody feel. I’ve also used linens to create a real statement in some of my images, like the purple checked fabric below, used in an Easter celebration cake shoot.

Here are some of my favourite shots using linens to create colour contrast:

Using linens for a pop of texture

The flap, scrunch and tuck - a daily occurrence on a food photoshoot! This is one of my favourite ways to add inject a bit of colour and texture to an image that’s feeling a little flat. I absolutely love the way the light falls over a scrunched linen, highlighting subtle details in the fabric and also creating deep, beautiful shadows in the folds of material. Sometimes I’ll use a contrasting colour to make the image more striking, other times I’ll use a similar colour or shade to the rest of the set up to create a calming and more harmonious feel. It never fails!

Here are some of my favourite shots with linens tucked into one side:

Using linens to play with natural light

The differing textures in a collection of linens make them the perfect partner for natural light. When I want to create really beautiful reflections or patterns in my photos, like the shimmer of light through the drinks in the first image, or the pattern of light through the shutters in the second, I’ll always start with a linen as a background. It helps to give a feeling of warmth to the image and softens what could otherwise be harsh or sharp-edged shadows.

Here are some of my favourite shots using the linens to play with light: