8 Outstanding Prop Ideas to use in your next Personal Branding Shoot
Using props are a great way to share your branding story if you’re planning a personal branding photoshoot.
These are my 8 Top Prop Ideas you can use for inspiration for your next session – and tips on how to choose the best ones for you and your brand.
Although props play a bit part of someones photoshoot, please remember that every person/brand is different, and although some props work well for one person they may not work for another.
Props need to be relevant to you and your business in order for them to be effective in your branding. Please use this as a guide only and it will hopefully get you to think a bit harder about what you could use that is relevant in your own business.
Benefits of using Props in your Personal Branding Shoot.
1. PROPS HELP YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA
Most people worry about not being sure what to do with their hands in a shoot. One of the reasons to use props is to actually give you something to do with your hands. It feels more natural sometimes to be holding or playing with something, which can distract and relax you from the being in front of the camera.
2. PROPS HELP YOU TELL YOUR BRAND STORY
One of the purposes of brand photography is to help you communicate and connect with your audience. Beautiful, professional photos capturing just you and your magnetic smile are a part of that, but those are more like your introduction, or your book cover, if you will.
To really give your audience a peek inside and share your brand story we need to get more creative. Props will help your audience get to know you and what you do.
How to choose the best Props for your branding photoshoot.
It’s important that the props you use make sense and communicate the right message consistant with your brand. You don’t want your photos to leave your audience confused.
The props you use should do at least one of the following:
show what you do in your business
share something about your personal life your audience would be interested in
communicate part of your brand message or brand values
show your personality/your brand’s personality
PERSONAL BRANDING PROP IDEAS TO INSPIRE YOU
Now that you know the “why” and “how” of choosing and using props, here are my Top Eight Personal Branding Photoshoot Prop Ideas you can use as inspiration for your next personal branding session!
Lets get the most obvious props out of the way - 1. Laptops, phones and ipads
Yes, these props are used a lot in branding photos, but that is because they serve a purpose. Most people I photograph work from home, or service their clients online, so showing how you work and interact with clients is a very relevant way to share your messaging. Although laptop images are relevant for most people, they only the tip of the iceberg in terms of they types of props you can use in your personal branding photoshoot.We want to go beyond the laptop shot, and delve deeper into who you are.
2: TOOLS OF YOUR TRADE
What item do you use everyday in order to do your job?
Are you a health coach? Use colourful nutricious food.
Are you in realestate? Use your client gift hampers or house keys.
Can you think of anything that you use in your business frequently that could help you tell your story with your audience?
3: BOOKS OR MAGAZINES
These could be related to your industry or something you’re reading for pleasure. Sharing what books you enjoy reading is a great way to share your beliefs and values with your audience.
People also love sharing book recommendations so its also a great way to start a conversation with potential customers.
Have you written a book? You’ll want to include that for sure!
4: Celebratory or 'just for fun' props
Celebrating milestones we achieve in our businesses, is a great way to share our journey with our audience. Things like balloons, champagne and confetti are all fun ways we can share our successes, or even just sharing our fun side with our customers.
5: Chairs
Yes, chairs are also a great prop to use in your images. It can add colour, stop you from feeling awkward or even just give you a different 'look'.
6: Props to add colour
A great way to subtly include your branding colours, or just adding colours to your images is through props.
Things like:
- flowers
- scarves or earrings
- coffee cups
- bags
- colourful walls
- journals and pens.
These props can all bring colour to your images, aswel as tell part of your brand story.
7: Using other people as props
Other people are a great addition to your images for a number of reasons.
Firstly, if it someone that you already know they can make you feel more comfortable and hopefully make you laugh and feel a bit more relaxed.
Also, for those that operate on a face to face basis with clients then you can use them as a 'fake' client eg having a consult. Even if that person doesn't want to show their face, over the shoulder images can be equally effective.
8: Props that are specific to you!
These are the things that make you, you. A chance to showcase your personality and values through showing what you like to do outside of 'work' and connect with your audience on a personal level.
These props add a more lifestyle element to your images. Are you a dog person? Or a hat person? What do you like to do in your spare time? All of these things can be shared by using the relevant props for your passion.
Have you been inspired?
That was a pretty comprehensive list of they types of props you could use in your next persoanl branding photoshoot.
There are no hard and past rules to what you can include, as long it is relevant to your you and your business, and plays a part in your brand story then I would say include it - the more unique the better!
If you think you are ready to uplevel your business with your own unique branding images, then book in a discovery call so we get started on creating these types of images for you!