Making the Most of Your Brand Photography Session with Props
Introduction
Brand photography is a great way to show off your company in a creative and engaging way. But, if you really want to take your brand photography session up a notch, props are essential.
You want to choose items that accurately represent you and your brand and reflect your personality, showcase your professional accomplishments and style. More than anything, props give you something to hide behind as we are creating the photos and plant the seeds of a creative session. You need to start somewhere so having a comfort item you can act with is golden.
Props That Show Off Your Personality
When it comes to selecting props for your personal branding shoot, you want to choose items that reflect your personality. This could include beloved items like a book, an article of clothing, or a special piece of jewelry. Think of items that show off your passions, hobbies, and interests. You want your props to tell a story about who you are and what you love. If you have any sentimental items, such as a special gift from a loved one, these are great items to bring to your shoot as they can add a personal touch.
Props That Showcase the Brand's Values
Including props that convey the company's values can be a great way to showcase the brand's identity. For example, if the company is eco-friendly, it may be beneficial to incorporate props that demonstrate sustainability, such as reusable water bottles or a potted plant. These props can be effective in illustrating the company's commitment to its values, and they can also help to add a unique touch to the shoot.
Props That Showcase Company History
To evoke a sense of nostalgia in the shoot, it can be effective to use props that reflect the company's history. If the company has unique items that were used in its earlier days, such as vintage typewriters, cameras, or phones, these can be a great way to illustrate the company's journey. Additionally, if the company has been around for a long time, you could consider using props that have been around for a while, such as old books or antiques that are associated with the company. All of these end up telling your story as they are the history surrounding you.
Props That Showcase the Brand's Culture
In addition to props that represent the company's history and values, it can be a great idea to include items that reflect the brand's culture. For instance, if the company is known for its team-building activities, you could include props such as a puzzle or a game board to capture the collaborative spirit of the company. Additionally, you can include items that reflect the company's creativity, such as art supplies or a musical instrument. These props can be a great way to showcase the company's culture and can make a branding photo shoot truly unique.
Props That Show Off Your Style
Finally, you want to bring props that represent your unique style. This could include items like a hat, scarf, sunglasses, or even a laptop or tablet. These items will help to show off your individual style and make sure the photos look great. Choose items that reflect your personality and that you feel comfortable using. Clothing in particular is a very individual prop so wear the items that make you feel fantastic as it comes out in the photos.
Props to Add Context
Props can be a great way to add context to your brand photography session. For example, if you are a marketing agency, you could bring a whiteboard and markers to show the creative process. Or, if you are a cafe, you could bring some pastries to add context to your shoot. Think about how props can help add context to your brand photography session.
Dont forget the usual
As much as some people all groan at the idea or even refuse to use them, bring items like a laptop, tablet, journal or pen and paper. They fantastic props to use for images that will appear in newsletters or social media. They may be similar to a lot of other peoples photos, but that doesn't mean that they aren't as useful in showcasing you and your lifestyle brand. Everyone uses a computer and everyone writes shit down. These can sometimes be the foundation for many articles and can serve as a backdrop to a lot of content. They are the rice and beans of branding photos.
Conclusion
Props can be a great way to make your brand photography session more interesting and to produce better and more engaging images. Consider what message you want to send with your photography session and how props can help reinforce that message
Choose props that show off your personality, professional accomplishments, and style. With the right props, you'll be sure to create images that you can use to promote your brand and represent who you truly are. Use the props as a starting point and then act out a situation. It can be as simple as “Im answering an email and then a client calls to chat on the phone. Bam, thats 3 different images just in that one situation. Be silly, laugh, play and most of all have fun with it.