When it comes to building a personal brand, photography is non-negotiable in my eyes. Even a quick browse of my projects shows the importance of photography in combination with branding. A personal brand recreates the in-person experience, and there’s no better way to do that than gorgeous photos.

The best brand photography captures your essence and shows us who you are without even needing to meet you. And, to me, the best brand photography has one secret ingredient: props.

Props create atmosphere. Props give you, the subject, something to do with your hands. Props take us, the viewer, into the space with you. Props paint a picture of what you’re like in person, and props can also show us what's important to you. Often an afterthought, a single prop can be a game-changer for communicating your brand.

A prop is more than bringing a coffee cup to your shoot. Here are some client examples to further convey powerful props in action.

Examples

Our client Ric Lindberg’s photoshoot embodies the power of simple props. A quick visit to a Stockholm coffee shop with a notebook, pen, latte, and pastry (very Swedish might I add) conveys a visual mood. This scene paints an image of thoughtfulness and productivity, and we can imagine what it’s like to share a table with Ric.

Ric’s brand is reserved, and I’ve got a polar opposite example. One of my favorite instances of props in personal brand photography features Dean Banowetz, the Hollywood Hair Guy, who used hair rollers and mannequin heads. These objects add up to a bright playfulness, which captures Dean to a T.

Our client Judy Stakee recreated her morning routine—reading the print LA times with a bowl of blueberries—for her recent photoshoot.

A printed newspaper might not be something you’d think of as a good prop, but remember: Your props don’t have to be beautiful. The worn-in quality of the newspaper captures the intimacy of Judy’s calm morning routine, which sets the tone for her day and work.

In developing her personal brand, mommy blogger Jillian Forte posed for this picture-perfect moment of chaos below—overflowing bag in one hand, bottle and phone in the other—all while laughing it off. (Any mothers seeing this photo will relate.) The abundance of props captures a day in the life of momhood in a relatable way.

Our client Rachel Begun is a nutritionist, but you won’t see apples used here. Props can be used to tell a story. Rachel isn’t going to tell you to drink green juice if it’s not your thing. I’m not sure about you, but the kind of nutritionist I want to work with is one who enjoys the odd cookie and latte, just like Rachel.

In photos where faces aren’t visible, props play a particularly important role in conveying the person’s values and perspective. My Brand Therapy podcast episode below digs into this and more. Have a listen!

Brand Therapy

131. What are some prop ideas for your personal brand photoshoot?

Wondering what to do with your hands when you get photos taken? The secret comes down to props! In this episode, Brand Therapy hosts Phil and Lauren reflect on (hundreds of) client photo shoots to narrow down the ultimate props list. Get ready to be inspired—because these ideas will take your photos to the next level!

Our client Chandresh Bhardwaj is a spiritual healer. This example below demonstrates the power of a single accessory. A gift from his guru, Chandresh proudly wears the same bright orange bracelet in person daily, so we captured in photos to connecting his digital footprint and real-life presence.

Christy Miller is a coach for coaches, and food has a double usage in these personal brand photos. Not only is food fuel, but it’s used as a fake microphone, which encompasses Christy’s fun approach to healthy lifestyle choices. These images give us a peek into her process, and I’m here for it.

Now, let’s turn the spotlight on your personal brand photoshoot. When it comes to props, I’ve developed some recommendations and handy tools to help you plan:

Shot list template

My free shot list template is going to make your life easy. You’ll win your personal brand photoshoot in pre-production, so use this life-saving template to prepare.

Notes app

Keep things simple. Give yourself a few days to note items that might lend well to your photos. I often recommend that clients take note of all the objects they touch in any given day.

Consider your brand

Without being matchy-matchy, of course, give some thought to your visual brand. You can choose similar tones to your brand for clothing or objects like this example of our client Kate Payne. In this case, the photos coexist beautifully with her bright yellow accent color. But seriously, don’t overthink it. Sometimes the best branding instances happen from colors that aren’t necessarily “on brand” for you (like the bouquet below).

Pack your props in a suitcase

The most underrated object for your photoshoot is not even being photographed—a suitcase to hold the objects, or as we call it, your shoot case. Pack everything you need in it and wheel it to the shoot. Some of the best brand photos we’ve ever taken have a wide variety of props, and it’s part of what makes those photos so great.

Share props with your photographer

Don’t forget to share your props with your photographer. They’re the hired creative, so let them decide what objects to use in the photos. Since your photographer is behind the camera, defer to their vision of what objects work (and what don’t). Of course, if there's a particular object of importance to you that you’d like to have in your photos, tell them. Otherwise, trust their process.

What unexpected prop would you bring to a photoshoot? Let me know in the comments!