100+ Prop ideas for your brand stock images and branding photos

Prop Ideas for your Brand & Branding Photos 

I’ve been asked about props to photograph a lot recently, so I thought I’d collate a few ideas to help you out.  Here’s my list of 7 types of props to include, with over 100 prop suggestions…

These ideas cover props for you to hold, to be photographed with, or to go in the background of your branding photos.  And for your brand photos too, the stock kind of images like mine just above, where you photograph a few props for your blog and social media posts. Use the same props for both, and it will help to give you consistency across the different kinds of photos and build your brand so you are more recognisable and memorable. To continue the brand consistency, choose these props in your brand colours where you can, and it will really help to make your photos look more professional and build your brand.  

Prop Ideas for your Brand & Branding Photos #1: Tools of your trade / craft / work.

What do you work with all the time? 

Laptop

Tablet

Mobile Phone

Camera

Reading glasses 

Calculator

Microphone and headset

Relevant books and magazines

Paints and brushes, fabric and cotton reels, other tools, whatever you use/create with

A mannequin

Prop Ideas for your Brand & Branding Photos #2: Your Favourite Stationery

A great way to add a pop of colour.

Notebooks

Diaries and Planners

Journal

Pens

Paper Clips

Sticky Notes

Magnets

Pins

Stapler

Prop Ideas for your Brand & Branding Photos #3: Food and Drink

Share your favourite:

Mug of coffee or tea

Teapots and coffee pots

Glass of wine, cocktail, champagne

Shakes and smoothies

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Snacks/treats – fruit, biscuits, cake, chocolate, sweets

Pretty plates and coasters

Water bottle

Prop Ideas for your Brand & Branding Photos #4: Your Accessories

What do you usually wear, or what will add a pop of brand colour or interest to your outfit or the scene?

Necklace

Earrings

Rings

Scarf

Sunglasses

Comfy socks or slippers

Welly boots or walking boots if you’re outdoors

Scarf and hat in the winter 

Big floppy sunhat

Favourite pair of heels

Bags

Nail polish and make-up

Cushions and blankets

Seasonal accessories – Christmas/Halloween/Easter decorations etc.

Prop Ideas for your Brand & Branding Photos #5: Your Story 

What will add a bit of you and your personality and your stories to your photos?  Do you have/use/do any of these?

Candles

Framed prints/photos

Letter boards and light boxes

Are you a reader? Books, newspapers, magazines

A writer? Journal, notebook, pen

A traveller? Souvenirs from around the world

An exerciser? Trainers, workout gear, yoga mat, water bottle

A gardener? Gardening tools, gloves, twines, flower cutting scissors  

A cook? Pestle and mortar, pretty tray, tea-towels, fancy kitchen implements, ingredients

Time for hobbies? Puzzles, board games, cards

Knitting, crochet, embroidery

Prop Ideas for your Brand & Branding Photos #6: Your Family & Pets

Decide if you will include your partner and your children in your photos.  If you don’t want to, you could always include props belonging to them instead, or not show their faces.  If you have a cute pet though, definitely include them in your photos!

Prop Ideas for your Brand & Branding Photos #7: Plants and Flowers

Finally, definitely include as many of these as you can!  Any greenery will add life to your photos.

Pot plants

Herb plants

Fresh flowers

Fake flowers

Cacti   

Pin it:

I hope that big list of prop ideas for your brand photos was helpful!  Narrow it down to the things that really reflect you, with the more unique the better.  And think about how you want your brand to be represented too, with the colour of your props and also the look and feel you want your brand to have. 

Did you see my blog on why you should take your own brand stock photos?  All the ideas in here will help you what to include in them.   

But maybe you still need some help to take some good looking, professional photos, and/or how to photograph your brand? 

Then get yourself onto my evergreen photography course, From Basic To Brilliant (and On-Brand!), and I will teach you all about how to take fabulous photos, and how to get your brand into them too.

Basic to Brilliant is my online photography course for business owners, helping you take better, beautiful and on-brand photos for your social media and other content online.  All just on your smartphone, no fancy camera needed!  All can be done at home too. 

Here's that link again to find out more and sign up: From Basic To Brilliant (and On-Brand!)

Next Steps:

- Learn to take your own beautiful, brilliant and on-brand photos of your business, from products to stock images to behind the scenes: find out more and sign up to my self study photography course for business owners: From Basic To Brilliant.  

- Ready for more personal mentoring, brand, visibility and marketing strategies that work for you, a community of fellow ambitious introverts, training, and accountability to put it all into action?  Come and join my Brand Plan membership, and get support to show up, stand out, and sell more🤩

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Blog topics / categories: 

#All things brand

#All About Branding Photos, Headshots And Selfies

[This blog was first written in July 2020, then transferred to this website, February 2024]