This post contains some affiliate links that I may receive a commission on if you make a purchase by following one of the links above. I personally have used all of these products and find them instrumental in my food blogging.
The Photography Lover
The Tasty Food Photography eBookThousands of bloggers have used this book to learn to take better pictures. Pictures are just as important as the recipes (maybe more) for bloggers that want to drive traffic to their blogs and get recognized by magazines and book editors. If the food blogger in your life wants to improve their photos it’s the best way to go.
Price: $19
A New Camera LensIf you love those food photos with a super sharp image in the foreground and a blurry background then you need a 1.8f lens. I rarely use a different lens as this one takes pictures that highlight the food with the least editing. Be sure to find out their camera make and model to choose the right lens.
Price: $125-$250 depending on the camera
Props, Props, Props!
Props are one of the things that make food photography fun. Even the most seasoned food blogger can always use new props. Colored fabric napkins, white plates, silverware, teacups, souffle dishes, mason jars, and baking sheets all make great gifts. Even simple parchment paper can make a great backdrop. Plates with interesting patterns or textures are also great finds.
Price: 50¢ – $15 each
Gadget Girl
Immersion Blender
Great for making sauces, soups, and purees without covering your kitchen in hot soup (we’ve all done it). With attachments it can also be used to make smoothies. The whisk attachment is great and makes whipping eggs whites unimaginably easy and creating homemade whipped cream a breeze.
Price: $50
Double Ended Measuring SpoonsWhen baking often the food blogger finds herself in need of many measuring spoons. To avoid washing mid-cookie it helps to have multiples. These spoons are great because they have a measure on each end taking up less drawer space plus the handy magnet keeps them from getting lost – genius!
Price: $8
Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker
Some tools are just fun to have and play with – this is one of them. Put it in the freezer overnight and then pour in the popsicle batter and you have instant treats! Popsicles are so versatile and a fantastic way to experiment with desserts.
Price: $40
Kitchen Aid AttachmentsThere are so many optional add-ons to the stand mixer. Everyone is helpful and gives the food blogger a whole host of new recipes and techniques to test out. A few of my favorite attachments are the pasta rollers, ice cream maker, and meat grinder. Though there are many more that are excellent.
Price: $50-$250
Boos Cutting Board
Does this look familiar? Probably because you have seen almost every chef on the Food Network cutting on one. The Chopped kitchen is filled with them. They last for years and can be sanded down when they start to look old. The crafty design has handles on the side so it’s easy to flip over to quickly have access to a clean board. Nothing says professional kitchen like a Boos.
Price: $75-$200 depending on the size
The Book Worm
The Smitten Kitchen CookbookThis cookbook, written by Deb Perelman, is filled with fantastic recipes and beautiful pictures. The best part? It’s written by a food blogger! Deb got her start writing Smitten Kitchen, a popular food blog that nearly every food blogger loves. This book is a fabulous way to find new recipes, gawk at new pictures, and support a food blogger in the process.
Price: $25
The Professional ChefThis book, which is one of the textbooks required of students attending the Culinary Institute of America (arguably the Harvard of Culinary Schools). It is dense and reads like a text book but the techniques and recipes it gives as well as the advice make it worth every penny. Every serious home chef should read through this at least once – you’ll definitely learn something new.
Price: $40
Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks, Blogs, Reviews, Memoir, and MoreThis book is a must have for any food blogger. It details just what success food writers do to be successful. The author interviews other food writers and compiles helpful lists that any food writer could use. The book contains passages about restaurant reviews, recipe writing, cookbook writing, and food in fiction.
Price: $12
Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I: 50th Anniversary
This is one of the best known cookbooks out there. If the food blogger in your life doesn’t have a copy get her one STAT. The book covers French recipes in an approachable way and empowers its readers to try new things. Julia breaks down classical techniques and makes them easy to understand and follow.
Price: $15
