Prop It Up: How to Select the Right Props for Your Business Branding Photoshoot

Written By Guest User


Planning a branding photoshoot for your business? You may want to consider what kind of props you’d like to bring along!

Photo of a woman flipping through a journal with a white and blue mug that has a K on it. An orange candle is burning and there is a book "Astrology for Black Girls" in the foreground.

Mugs, books, and journals always make great props for your business branding photoshoot.

Beyond the right attire and striking poses, carefully chosen props can elevate the images we create during your business branding photoshoot. Whether you seek to enhance your product offerings, showcase your services, or simply inject personality into your professional image, the strategic use of props can work wonders.

From my experience as a branding photographer in NYC, here’s a few different types of props I’ve seen work best for my entrepreneurial and creative clients.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

What are “tools of your trade”, the items essential to how you do work and do biz? Sometimes it’s obvious, like holding a key when you’re a real estate agent, but other times, there may be props and items around us that we don’t even realize are vital to who we are and how we work.

Photo of woman crocheting on a picnic blanket with the nyc skyline in the background
Photo of a woman marking up a crochet pattern. There is a crochet frog plushy that is holding a tiny coffee sitting next to an actual iced coffee.
Joanna is laying on the picnic blanket surrounded by her crochet plushies

In my pre-shoot strategy call with, Joanna of Joella Crafts, we discovered that she’s a big fan of iced coffee. She often has one while she’s crocheting plush toys to sell at markets or writing crochet patterns that she sells online, and often makes TikToks with a cold brew nearby.

We realized - drinking iced coffee is part of her brand! We added an iced coffee to the prop list on her shot list, as well as other props like her crochet hooks, products, and patterns.

With a cold brew on deck, we created several scenarios to help show her audience who she is and what she does. One of my favorites? Joanna working on a crochet pattern with an iced coffee nearby, supervised by a crochet frog of her own creation (another prop!)

Alex puts on a rainbow headband before class.

When talking through the branding photoshoot for Alex of Lavender Blues, I already knew we’d have lots of props on hand to capture her teaching her signature music class for toddlers. But before she gets up in front of the class, she grabs perhaps the most important tool of her trade: her microphone. Alex told me that the simple act of putting on her headset signifies she’s ready to lead the class. I’d say that’s a pretty important moment to capture! We added the microphone to our “prop list” and made sure to get a shot of this moment.

SELF CARE PROPS

A woman is lighting a candle next to a bouquet of roses.
A woman is arranging a bouquet of roses
A woman is extinguishing a candle that is sitting next to a bouquet of flowers.

In my work photographing entrepreneurs in NYC, I’ve learned that many of them feel a profound connection between their self-care practices and their business endeavors, so much so that they like to incorporate self-care into their branding photoshoots. Not only do these photos look beautiful, but they make for perfect evergreen content to have ready to go for social media content, newsletters, or blogs.

During my shoot with Kay of Black Nerd Disabled, we photographed her arranging a beautiful vase of roses. Kay loves to create bouquets as a form of self-care and she often shares videos of her doing this with her social media following.

Now with a library of professional images showcasing her in florist-mode, she could share this aspect of her life and business even more intentionally. In fact, she used these captivating visuals in a social media campaign to promote an event on the theme of self-love.

YOUR BRANDED MATERIALS 

Planner with the last name "Bloom" on it
Atelier by Cat logo printed on a card surrounded by flowers.
A folder that says ReMax City Square

Let’s see your logo! I always ask my clients, - what branded or printed materials do you have? Business cards, flyers, or anything with your logo is great to feature in your shoot.

Images of your packaging, signage, or anything with your company name portrayed always make great evergreen content or banner images on websites.

DECORATIONS

Doing some location specific set design can also go a long way! 

Props can be decorative as well to overall build the aesthetic and theme of your brand. This can look like bringing plants, artwork, or any personal objects that resonate with your brand identity like a musical instrument or favorite mug. Don’t feel like you’ve got to totally redesign your space, but think through what items may help where we shoot feel more like you.

Ultimately whichever props you choose is up to you! I’m here to help you talk it through and figure out which items will help enhance your shoot.

Picture of a woman wearing a purple dress and jean jacket holding a red toolbox, looking off to the left.

Want to level up your business or personal brand with a photoshoot?

Get in touch about booking a branding photoshoot today!

Guest User
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