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The goal for any good Personal Branding and Lifestyle Headshot Session should always be to give the viewer a clear idea of who the subject is and what they do.

Carefully Chosen Props Can Make All The Difference

Many times, incorporating a few carefully chosen props can really help in doing so.  In my experience, the use of props in a curated and considered way will really make the images more dynamic and authentic.  Above all, you want the props to enhance but not dominate the images.  With that in mind, here are a few simple ideas for taking your Personal Branding images to the next level.

Include some items you would routinely use for work.  Of course, a phone, notebook and laptop are great.  And we have all seen the image of a business owner casually holding a coffee mug with a cute message.  But let’s think a little deeper.  For example, an Interior Designer might want to use color swatches, fabric samples or design drawings to enhance their professional photos.  Perhaps an event planner might like to use some carefully curated wedding magazines, champagne and confetti.  The possibilities are truly endless.  If you sit down and really think about it, I am sure you can come up with some pretty unique and fun ideas.

How You Use The Props Is Also Important

There are several different scenarios where it might organically make sense to use carefully curated props.  First of all, a still life or flat lay of work tools or featured products might make for some great social media images.  It could also be a feature photo on a website.  Detail photos of you holding or using the Props would also be a nice idea, as well as pull backs of you using the Props.  Just be sure that the Props you choose seamlessly work with your brand.

Make sure the props you choose are on Brand. Karen is a Graphic Designer, so using her desk with her color deck and books on design just made sense.

Friends and Clients—the Ultimate Props

Having a friend join you to play the role of a client can be very effective.  One of the purposes of a Personal branding shoot is to help clients be more comfortable with the idea of working with you.  You can stage a few images of you interacting with this “client” to help potential customers feel a little bit more at ease.

Including images of you interacting with clients can be very effective in your Personal Branding Photos

Authenticity Is Key In Personal Branding Images

Whatever you choose to include for Props, it is vital that you are authentic.  By that I mean that you should look comfortable with what you choose and it should have a natural placement in the photo.  You want to look confident and project professionalism.

I love that Angela used her microphone in her Personal Branding Session–she is a natural.

Are You Ready to Schedule Your Own Professional Headshots and Personal Branding Photos?

You can schedule a quick consultation call by using our online Calendar. You may also contact Saratoga Headshots by using our Contact Form or by calling (518) 584-4237 today.  If you enjoyed the post on Props for Personal Branding, you might also enjoy What Should I Wear For Professional Headshots.

Susan Blackburn of Saratoga Headshots is a Professional Headshot and Personal Branding Photographer located in Saratoga NY. She services clients from Albany up to Lake George. Susan is also available for travel out of area for an additional fee.