What props should you take to your personal brand photo shoot?
Props can really help set the scene in your brand images. They can tell your audience a bit more about you and what you do, making your images personal and informative. They can also give you something to “do” when posing. And they can be used to decorate the set aswell.
But what props should you take to your personal brand photo shoot?
Well, first of all, make sure they are relevant to your business. And secondly, if you’re shooting outside, don’t take too much or anything that’s too heavy as you’ll have to carry it around!
But to be more specific, here are some ideas for props that you could take to your brand shoot.
Devices.
Whether you use a laptop, an iPad/tablet, or work mostly on your phone, having images that show you using your devices can come in handy for a range of content. It’s always useful to have images of you working and they can also give a sense of how you communicate with your clients (great to use on your contact page!)
Tools of your trade.
Tools of your trade or anything that helps to show off your skills are probably the most important props of all! These are the props that really help make your images personal and tell your story. Whether it’s jewellery, a microphone, cameras, paintbrushes, a yoga mat, your products, or something else, bring along items that are personal to you and your business!
Projects.
If you’re an artist, maker or creator of any kind, bring a half-finished project or the items you use to create, so we can show you “working” on something.
Branded items.
If you have any items with your branding on, they might be useful to place around your set. You might also want to do some shots of you holding, using or wearing them, depending on what they are.
Stationary, office stuff, books.
Stationary can be great to put around your desk so it doesn’t look too bare in the photos. It can also reference to the type of work you do. Having some of your favourite business books or ones relevant to your offerings can also be great for holding or putting in the background of shots.
Mugs & glasses.
Depending on your beverage of choice and the type of mood you're going for, having some nice mugs, cups or glasses to choose from can be a great idea. You could hold a warm drink in your fav mug, have a glass of water placed nicely on a near by table, or you could hold up your wine or champagne glass and cheers your audience.
Flowers or plants.
Flowers can really brighten up an image. If it’s relevant to your business, holding a nice bouquet of flowers is one way to use them. But having flowers or plants in the background of your images is useful for pretty much all businesses, just because they add a nice pop of colour & make your background look lovely. They can also come in handy for covering up ugly things like plug sockets!
My Top Tips.
So now that you’ve got your props sorted, here are a couple things to keep in mind.
Make sure your items are clean! Dirty items don’t look great in photos, and although I can retouch images, getting rid of sticky laptop fingerprints in a couple hundred images is not fun, and not always cheap.
Maybe invest in a new cover for your phone or laptop to make them look extra snazzy.
If we’re shooting inside, maybe bring some items to dress the set, like plants, blankets, cushions etc
Think about your brand colours!
Don’t bring anything random, make sure it’s relevant to your skills & truly represents you.