Props That Can Ruin Your Photoshoot
Romanticising life is important to you. You would rather make a picnic by the sea than just eat a sandwich in front of the tv.
I’m totally like this too! And I love romanticising our photoshoots!
That’s why I like to add my own special touches—props that can make such a big difference.
After all, how much more special is a photo of you sitting on a beautiful chair surrounded by ocean waves? How many times in your life do you get the chance to do something like that?
But does it matter what our props look like?
Is it enough to just grab any chair and any picnic blanket? And whose job is it to prepare for a session like this anyway? Is it your role or the photographer’s?
As someone who collects pretty things specifically for photos, preparing the props for my sessions is my job. But if you also love these kinds of details and have something beautiful at home, of course, bring it to the session! During our pre-shoot call, we’ll figure out who’s bringing what and what the concept is, so we don’t leave anything out.
Vintage basket full of tulips, old copper candleholders, balanced, natural colours - it all together gives a timeless look
And really, how could poorly styled props possibly ruin our shoot?
To create a unique, romantic mood in our photos, we need objects that are just as beautiful—ones with soul. Tacky, cheap-looking items, however, can ruin the whole vibe. Because if something looks cheap and poorly made in real life, it will look that way in photos, too.
I’m not talking about the price of the item here.
I often find beautiful vintage pieces for very little money at flea markets or thrift stores. It’s about the craftsmanship, materials, and design. The choice of color and style is important, too. A rustic woven basket, no matter how beautiful, probably won’t fit into an industrial urban photoshoot. And a metal office chair won’t work for a romantic beach photoshoot.
This may seem obvious, but I still often see photoshoots where cheaply made items have been used.
For example, things from Action—and it shows. The basket is plastic rather than rattan, or the candle comes in a tacky little jar instead of a beautiful decorative candleholder.
And instead of setting the mood, it looks like something was thrown together in a hurry from whatever happened to be lying around in the bathroom cabinet.
My rule is simple: Add things that make your pictures more beautiful. Tell a story. Build an atmosphere. If they don’t add anything to the image, they shouldn’t be there.
In cases like this, it’s better to keep things minimalist and not use props at all than to use shoddy ones. Unless, of course, the theme of the shoot is kitsch—then go wild!
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a simple yet romantic photoshoot based solely on the location rather than on props. You can simply go for a walk on the beach, and it can still be beautiful. It all depends on your preferences and what you’re in the mood for.
Importance of the colour palette.
We can’t talk about styling a shoot without talking about colours.
Color is incredibly important in photography. It sets the mood, and a well-chosen color palette creates a balanced image that is a pleasure to look at.
Even if you don’t have a trained eye and think these things don’t matter to you, when you look at a chaotically colored photo, you’ll probably sense that something is off. You’ll recognize a well-balanced and beautifully styled photo as a “good” or “beautiful” photo, perhaps without even realizing exactly why it works.
That’s why I’ll also help you choose outfits for the shoot—to match them to the concept and mood and to balance the colors. This is especially important when there are several people in the photos, so the number of patterns and colors doesn’t create visual chaos.
We build the images the way an artist paints a picture
We start with an idea, choose the location and mood, select the colours of your clothes and props if we’re using them, and then add moments and emotions—and we have a photograph.
Pink + red + cream is a palette that is well balanced. The eye goes strait to the red dress and the model. The style of the dress and the chair make it look romantic and more special ( it was a birthday shoot!).
It might sound like a lot to think about, but
in reality, it’s a wonderful creative adventure we’re embarking on together.
And all I really need from you is a simple phrase, like:
“I want a romantic picnic by the canal in The Hague or Amsterdam.”
Or:
“I want to sit on a chair surrounded by waves for my maternity shoot.”
I’ll take care of the rest. :)
