Props are often very important in images. They often help make the photo. Here are a few examples.

Props can either be:

• “What they’d normally do” (business person with note pad and pen; a child with a favourite toy; a sportsperson with his bat; a photographer with a camera), or…
• “Juxtaposed”, eg a pretty girl with a sledge hammer, for artistic or even funny photos.

Both are good, as long as the effect you achieve is the effect you desire. Props help tell the story, put your person in the place you want them (a 1950s shot would use an old telephone, for instance). They can be very simple and obvious (shot 1 below) or they can make you think.

Without further ado: a few examples to get you thinking about using props.

August 13, Joseph Marranca and I will be doing a Creative Light workshop where I guarantee we’ll use props. There is still space if you book now!