What are some good inexpensive props to use for family and children photos for a studio?

Question

I just recently got a studio, But I dont have to many props. What are some things I can use as props for children and even familys that are inexpenisive. The studio kind of cut me short on money for right now.

Answer 1

The cutest baby picture I ever had taken of my daughter was in an old fashioned aluminum washtub. There was a pink washcloth draped over the side, a rubber duckie sitting in front of it and a bottle of Johnson's babybath sitting in front of it also. They took off her lil dress so she 'looked' like she was getting a bath. It was SO SO SO cute!

Answer 2

Let me be honest, props are often times distracting, and often make a portrait look either cheap or cliche or both. What is worse is that a cheap prop makes a cheap photo look even cheaper, i.e if all you can afford at this time is a garage sale stuffed moose head then save your money . Consider Richard Avedon who made some of the most dynamic portraits of the 20th century, make a note that he rarely used props. If any props were used it was directly related to that persons physiognomy or physiology as in the photos of his travels across the states.

Answer 3

These are all for children... but...



While walking through Wal-mart yesterday I had some brilliant ideas... so I will share them with you.



A bubble machine. It would not be in the picture, but the bubbles would be of course.



Old timey looking washtubs and towels to match boys and girls.





Fairie wings from the dollar store for little girls. Same with boa's.



Top hats and ties to do shots of little boys in their diapers.



Also, like someone else mentioned for the different themes there are many flowers. At the studio I work at we have a whiet silk sheet and a box of fake rose petals and a single rose. For little girls its so cute.



We have all kinds of artificial flowers and petals and leaves...as well as seashells and a basket of fake fruit from the floral dept.



Wagons from the toy dept. Cute antique chairs.



Do what I did, walk around looking at everything and think to yourself, what I could I do with this to make a beautiful photo...



Good luck!

Answer 4

I got my son's photo taken in the fall and they had a small fence with fake leaves. It was very cute. In the winter, they had scarves, hats & mittens with a sled and a snow shovel. Now would be the perfect time to buy up clearance summer items... beach balls, swim rings....



Good luck!