I cannot count the number of times that I’ve had a high school senior and parents come into the studio for their appointment and one of the parents has requested the big number 10 (or 11 or 12). Seriously? Did you even LOOK at my website? Where in the world did you get the impression that I use the big numbers or any other prop for that matter?
Props drive me crazy and unless a client brings a specific item to their session, I do not use them. At times a senior will bring a musical instrument or some other item that represents their interests and these are not the types of props I’m talking about.
What I’m referring to are the props that are used for the sake of having props. Like leg warmers on babies. Seriously? That is like the stupidest look ever! I’ve NEVER seen a baby in a pair of these things in real life, only in a photography studio.
For awhile tutus and striped tights on little girls were all the rage. Ugh! Or how about those big wide crocheted headbands with flowers hot-glued to them that are almost as big as the head of the newborn who is wearing it? Just shoot me now.
Now before you get your big girl panties in a wad – let me clarify.
The photograph should NOT be about the prop. The photograph should be about the client – not what he/she is wearing. If the client has something special to wear that means something to them personally, then by all means, go for it. But if the client is being dressed in accessories provided by the photographer that have no meaning whatsoever to the client, then I have issues with that.
Too many times I see props take center stage in a photograph and clients get all “OhEmGee!” about the photo, when realistically, the prop is doing nothing other than pulling the attention away from the fact that the photograph is under or over-exposed, poorly posed and has wonky color balance.
Learn to properly pose and expose a photograph before you jump onto the prop bandwagon. I’m more likely to give you a little less guff.
My grandfather is always telling me “Dont be so artsy-craftsy. It’s about the person and what’s coming through their eyes.”. I’m always forgetting this :/
While I agree with you about not overdoing the props, sometimes, they can be kind of fun, when done with a theme and with keeping the subject as the main focus and not letting the props totally take over. At times, it’s the use of these props that can really separate what a pro photog can do over what a mom with her decent camera and a good eye can do to make a really pleasant snapshot.
Using great lighting skills along with good props (again, not overdone so as to lose the subject in them) can make for a great sale on a product mom couldn’t get otherwise. Of course there are fads for these things, but it’s been that way throughout photographic history.
It is important to stick with your “style” though. That will help keep clients from expecting things you really don’t want to offer. So if you’re not into props, great, don’t use them and certainly don’t show them in your portfolio. If you like props, try to keep things more classic so that they don’t look too dated down the line and the clients go, “OMG, what WAS I thinking!?” Just always remember any props you use are meant to accentuate the emotion and feel of the shot and compliment the subject. You have to be able to see the person in the image for it to be a portrait, after all!
I enjoy the use of “wonky” in this article in re: to color balance. 🙂 (And good point about the “props do not a photo make.”)