Great Food And Wine

Photo Prop

Disney Tinkerbell Green Fairy Costume or PHOTO PROP 66F $37.45

Valentine’s Day Flower Baby Girls Headband Hair Bow Toddler Girl Photo Prop $9.00

CROCHET BABY POM POM HAT cap knit beanie green boy/girl photo prop MADE in USA $8.99

CROCHETED BABY HAT cap beanie knit newborn toddler brown photo props $8.99

CROCHET BABY POM POM HAT cap knit beanie blue boy/girl photo prop MADE in USA $8.99

0-3 month “grey heather” diaper cover. Great photo prop!! $5.00

5 Feather Boas Yellow Red Orange Dark Green Hot Pink cosplay photo props $12.99

NEW BABY CROCHET PUMPKIN HAT cap beanie photo prop $13.99

BABY CROCHET BUNNY HAT beanie cap toddler photo prop $15.99

BLUE BABY DIAPER COVER SIZE 2 CROCHET PHOTO PROP ♥ $9.99

*** NEWBORN BABY 3 PIECE ~MERMAID OUTFIT~CROCHET PHOTO PROP**** $29.99

NEW BABY CROCHET MOUSE HAT cap knit toddler photo prop $15.99

NEW BABY CROCHET EAR FLAP HAT stocking cap knit beanie girl photo prop $12.99

NEW CROCHET BABY POM POM HAT cap knit beanie boy/girl USA photo prop $8.99

0-3 month baby BOY BLUE OWL HAT AND DIAPER COVER CROCHET photo prop ♥ $22.99

Black Feather Angel Wings Halo Halloween Costume Sexy Photo props $18.99

CROCHET BEAR BABY HAT cap beanie knit toddler brown photo prop $15.99

B&W Photo L5086 Sailor on boat by airplane prop $5.98

White Feather Halloween Angel Wings Photo props costume Fairy photo props $13.99

Toddler Baby Hat Photography Photo Prop HANDMADE red $0.95

1 Feather Boa Royal Dark PURPLE Photo Props Costume halloween party $4.97

Baby Hammock,hand knitted photo prop L@@K Great gift for your photographer $15.99

Toddler Baby Hat Photography Photo Prop HANDMADE red $0.95

Newborn Baby Crocheted Teddy Bear beainie hat cap gift photo prop brown 0-3 mon $9.99

Crochet Baby Stork Pouch Hanging Pod Photo Prop In Windsor (very dark blue) Boy $22.00

Crochet Baby Stork Pouch Hanging Pod Photo Prop In Light Blue Boy $22.00

Babys Bear Ears Beanie Hat – Newborn Cute Photo Prop $10.27

Babys Bear Ears Beanie Hat – Newborn Cute Photo Prop $11.78

Babys Bear Ears Beanie Hat – Newborn Cute Photo Prop $10.99

Girls Boutique Clothing HOT PINK Lace pettiRomper photo prop Birthday outfit 2T $13.99

NEW Crochet Headband FITS Infant Newborn Baby ~ Toddler Photography photo Prop $2.25

PHOTOGRAPHY PROP CHILD SIZE BENCH PHOTO PROP $27.07

Crochet Baby Stork Pouch Hanging Pod Photo Prop In Lavender (orchid) Lt Purple $22.00

Crochet Baby Stork Pouch Hanging Pod Photo Prop In Light Pink (Petal) Girl $22.00

Crochet Baby Stork Pouch Hanging Pod Photo Prop Aran Fleck (cream) Ready Ship $22.00

Crochet Baby Pom Pom Hat Photo Prop In Peruvian Ready To Ship $26.00

Crochet Baby Pom Pom Hat Photo Prop In Aran Fleck (cream) Ready To Ship $26.00

Crochet Baby Pixie Hat With Braid Photo Prop In White Ready To Ship Boy Or Girl $20.00

Chunky Crochet Diaper Cover And Hat Set Photo Prop Navy Blue Baby Boy $28.00

Toddler Baby Hat Photography Photo Prop HANDMADE $0.95

White Feather Angel Wings Large Photo Prop Cosplay HALO $39.99

Crochet Baby Hammock In Shocking Pink (hot pink) Hanging Swing Photo Prop Girl $21.00

Toddler Baby Hat Photography Photo Prop HANDMADE red $0.95

Crochet Baby Hammock In Blue Tones Hanging Swing Photo Prop Boy $21.00

NEW BABY CROCHET HAT knit newborn toddler photo prop $8.99

Red Hat & Cloth Diaper Cover Set – Great Photo Prop $18.00

Red Hat & Cloth Diaper Cover Set – Great Photo Prop $18.00

Red Hat & Cloth Diaper Cover Set – Great Photo Prop $18.00

Red Hat & Cloth Diaper Cover Set – Great Photo Prop $18.00

Red Hat & Cloth Diaper Cover Set – Great Photo Prop $18.00

Red Hat & Cloth Diaper Cover Set – Great Photo Prop $22.00

Red Hat & Cloth Diaper Cover Set – Great Photo Prop $22.00

Toddler Baby Hat Photography Photo Prop HANDMADE red $0.95

VINTAGE BAK PROP VANITY TRAVEL SET COW HIDE CASE GRACE MOORE PHOTO ON MIRROR $24.95

Kids Vintage, Antique Glamour Photography Sailor Hat Photo posing / Poser Prop $1.50

Girls Boutique Romper onesie Lace romper photo prop Birthday outfit 18-24mo 2T $13.99

NEW 3-6 Mts Toddler Baby Crochet HANDMADE Beanie photo prop hat cap rjmssd etm1 $0.65

Monkey hat and diaper cover set newborn baby photo prop $30.00

BABY CROCHET OWL EAR FLAP HAT cap beanie photo prop $17.99

Toddler Baby Hat Photography Photo Prop HANDMADE $0.95

Photo Prop Newborn Baby Crochet Lion King Hat & Diaper Cover, Photography Prop $24.99

newborn crochetsnail hat cape photo prop photography boy girl $32.00

SALE $5 off newborn crochet turtle hat cape photo prop photography $27.00

INFLATABLE GUITAR Birthday PARTY FAVORS Photo Prop Toy $4.33

Toddler Baby Hat Photography Photo Prop HANDMADE red $0.95

1 blue hand dyed cheesecloth newborn photo prop must have $7.00

Newborn mohair lace crocheted crown photo prop FREE SHIPPING $6.00

CROCHET BABY POM POM HAT cap knit beanie boy/girl photo prop MADE in USA $8.99

Caramel faux fur newborn photo prop $15.00

Newborn ivory crocheted crown photo prop FREE SHIPPING $8.00

Photography Prop Newborn Bed (Nightstand) , All American Doll Bed Photo Prop $67.99

1 purple cheesecloth wrap newborn photo prop must have FREE SHIPPING $7.00

RARE CDV 1860s Boy w/ Pants Dog PHOTO Civil War Era The FIRST PAIR Clothes Props $9.99

NEW ~ TEA PARTY Photography PASTEL Backdrop Photo Background KIDS PHOTO PROPS $24.95

Baby Hammock,hand knitted photo prop L@@K Great gift for your photographer $15.99

Photo Prop

Making the Most of Locations and Props

Spring is here! Summer is approaching! Let’s go outside and play for a while!

Remember how exciting summers were as a kid? Running in and out of the house, chasing down the ice cream truck and smacking at mosquitoes nibbling on our ankles — ah, now those were the good old days! But being stock photographers, we have a license to embrace spring and summer with a childlike zeal, having the same kind of fun we used to have every time we ventured outdoors.

When it comes to getting the most out of our outdoor shots, I always try to remember two things: props and location. Bringing along just the right item, or spending a few minutes of your drive to head to an out-of-the-way spot can lead to stock shots that sell–and can lead to some great stories to tell at your next barbecue.

Not sure how to get started? Here are a few ideas on how to use props and location to get your best shots yet this summer:

On Vacation

Before heading out for a weekend getaway or a week-long road trip, take a few moments to think about the surroundings you will be visiting.

For example, I recently took a road trip to Sedona, Arizona, and in my suitcase along with my hiking clothes and toiletries I packed an assortment of Southwestern- dishes and tableware. Why? So I could photograph Southwestern food on location in the desert. The end result was salsa and tortilla chips nestled against a cactus growing in the famous red rocks of Sedona. I also brought along a folding camp chair, my son’s dirty old hiking boots, and other types of outdoor gear for still life shots depicting the necessities for an outdoor adventure.

Heading to the beach? Bring along some drinking glasses, a colorful beverage, and paper umbrellas, set them in the sand and photograph them with the surf in the background. Planning on a little water-skiing this weekend? Get some shots of your gear on deck, before you get suited up. Is a raucous weekend in Las Vegas in your future? Use your imagination!

At Home

Believe it or not, backyards offer a whole world of on-location opportunities. What’s in your backyard? Lush green grass or a swimming pool perhaps? But you don’t have to wait for a picnic, pool party or vacation to photograph these types of events.

I live in a sparsely landscaped apartment complex, with a backyard that consists of a parking lot and swimming pool — A typical concrete jungle in the city. But that didn’t stop me from producing food photos that make people believe they were shot at a vacation resort or pool party. The kids who lived downstairs from me were swimming in the pool, I had some fresh steamed crab in the fridge for dinner, and a photo was born.

So make a pitcher of lemonade, slice up some watermelon, fix a few sandwiches, and set them on the lawn along with some flowers and linens. Stage the kids’ outdoor toys before asking them to put them away. Before turning on the sprinklers, grab a pot of flowers that need watering, maybe some gardening tools, and place them in the grass. Turn on the water, and voila! Instant rain without getting wet.

Wherever you go, whether it’s a vacation or a short trip to the backyard, bring along a few extra props that will tell the story of the location’s scenery and atmosphere. Be creative! Pack some dishes in your suitcase, or put tonight’s dinner on a picnic blanket in your front yard — summertime stock photo opportunities are all around!

About the Author

Karin Lau is a professional stock photographer based in Sacramento, California. Specialties include food, beverages and agriculture; people with disabilities with a focus on the visually impaired and blind; travel in Northern California and the Western United States; neon signs; and textured abstracts and backgrounds.

Karin’s photographs have been widely published in magazines including Scientific American and Forbes; websites including the United Nations and Smithsonian’s American Museum of Natural History; and books including Every Garden Is a Story: Stories, Crafts, and Comforts by Susannah Seton, 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die by Patricia Schultz, and Simply Elegant Flowers With Michael George.

Newborn Photography Props