Why Should I use props for my branding shoot?

Tips

Sep 10

Props (short for property) are a big part of branding photography, which is why I think it’s time to talk a bit more about why you should use them as a helpful tool for your personal branding shoot.

When I mention props to my clients they sometimes reply by saying they want natural, relaxed photos nothing staged, but that’s exactly why I always encourage people to use props in the first place.

Here are a few reasons why:

1. Props, if chosen right, will make the photos look more natural and in the moment. The main focus isn’t always on the object, but more on your interaction with it.

2. They are great storytelling tools. If you want to show what it looks like behind the scenes, what a normal day looks like - then a prop can help you do that.

3. They provide context. If you’re talking about services you offer or an experience you had that changed your outlook or made you realise something, which in turn changed your business/career or how you work then a prop can help people relate to your story and provide the context.

4. Variety. Props can also mean that you don’t necessarily need to be (fully) in every image. We can take detail shots, flat lays or cropped lifestyle images of your props that can be used for your blog or social media posts.

5. Extra content. More variety means more content. Similar to outfits and accessories - the more props you bring the more (varied) content we can create. It adds another layer to your branding shoot and the resulting images.

6. Advertising. A prop can simply be one of the products you sell, finished or unfinished. So by using them for your photos, you’re also showing off what your business is about.

So what kind of props would you use during your photoshoot? Mine would be (and have been in the past) my camera, one of my favourite mugs (picturing J.B. Fletcher to show off my love for murder mysteries) and my laptop for some behind-the-scenes.