How to Plan and Gather Props for your Brand Photoshoot

When you’re planning a brand photoshoot, it’s important to think through what props you’ll need ahead of time. At first this can seem intimidating and so I wanted to create a list of things for you to think about as you plan what you’ll need.

First of all , you’ll want to think through a color palette. Color helps to set the vibe for your photo shoot. Is your brand fun? Go with a bright and colorful palette. Is your brand cozy? Go with some warm, rich colors. Sophisticated? Stick with minimal colors, maybe adding a pop of royal blue, maroon, or gold to a mostly black and white color scheme. Color is also a great way to enhance a seasonal feel if you’re launching a seasonal product or like to have photos done quarterly. In addition, your brand color palette is important here, make sure to pick colors that coordinate well or match your brand color palette and logo. As you’re picking out props, you can incorporate things with the colors you’ve brainstormed. One great way to do this, is to have linens in these colors available.

If you have a product that has flavor, whether it’s a scent or actual food, it’s always a good idea to have the fresh/raw form of that flavor on hand. For example, you’re selling a rosemary grapefruit candle? Pick up some fresh rosemary and a few grapefruits for the photo session (don’t forget a cutting board and a knife so we can show off the pretty inside 😉). Or if we’re photographing a cinnamon apple cake, we’ll want some apples and cinnamon sticks to style it with.

Brand image shot for Anchor Oats

If your brand is centered around food, you’ll also need to think through what dishes, platters, silverware or glassware you’ll need for the shoot. My best tip on this is to go with simple dishes, and a variety of accents like silverware to keep each image feeling new and fresh.

If you have a personal brand, prop gathering will look a little different. For personal brand sessions your big thing to think through will probably be clothes. This is a whole different topic for another day, but one thing I’ll mention is that simple and classic is best for clothing. Back to props, here are some things to think about for personal brand props. What items sit on your desk? What items do you use on a daily basis? If you’re in a creative field this may be a paint brush, or if you work with content in some way, it could be your planner. If the office supplies you reach for on your desk are more functional than pretty, it might be time to hit the stores for a pretty replacement! In addition, for personal brands, it’s nice to add some super personal touches like a favorite coffee mug, a stack of books you love, a cozy throw blanket, etc.

Brand image shot for myself of my office space

Some of my favorite places to shop for props are local stores and gift shops of course. In addition, if I have the time I love to go to antique shops to find one of a kind items. As far as bigger stores, I find Target and TJ Max to be convenient and have a wide range of affordable props (hello, Target dollar bins) and World Market and Anthropologie to be great for things like dishes and linens.

Prop gathering will be different for each unique brand and each unique photos session. I hope this post helps you start thinking through some of the things you’ll need to gather for your brand photo session. In addition, I LOVE to shop for the perfect props, so if you’re scheduled for a brand photo shoot with me, let’s brainstorm this together and I’ll help you find the perfect props to make your photoshoot come to life!