If it isn't obvious already –
My instagram feed is rarely instant.
I previously shared that I prefer batching tasks, and taking photos for instagram is one of the things that I tend to do in batches to save time. Also, since my “ideal” natural lighting happens mid day, taking a lot of photos at once helps me to get more consistent (and better) lighting. Throughout the week I might share photos of things that are more “in the moment” like when there's a really pretty sunset or a cute photo of my dog, but most of my photos are taken ahead of time.
For me, instagram is a curated gallery / highlight reel of my life and behind the scenes look at my business, so I'm very intentional about which photos I decide to share.
Whether you're styling your photos for instagram or your website, it's helpful to have a prop box of items on hand to help you create more interesting photos. To build your own prop box, think about what types of items you already have around your home and gather them together in one place. From there, you can start to purchase additional props within your niche – for example, I work with a natural beauty brand that incorporates a lot of “natural” elements like flowers and greenery to complement their products.
Often I want to take a photo of a particular product like lipstick or jewelry, and having things like trays and coffee table books around helps to make my photos less blah. I try to only buy “props” that are things that I will actually use in real life and that relate to my brand – so you'll primarily see polished, feminine, and modern accents in black / white / gold / pink anywhere that's associated with wonderfelle.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Whether you're styling your photos for instagram or your website, it's helpful to have a prop box of items on hand to help you create more interesting photos.” quote=”Whether your styling your photos for instagram or your website, it's helpful to have a prop box of items on hand to help you create more interesting photos.”]
PROPS + BACKGROUNDS
You can find almost anything on Amazon, Target, or Etsy
For specific props here are a few ideas that you can use for styling flatlays or behind the scenes shots:
Office supplies (pretty pens + pencils, notebooks, planners, folders, paper clips, scissors, post it notes, notecards, stationery, etc.). Find fun office supplies at:
Small home accessories + kitchenware (candles, trays, coffee table books, picture frames, decorative objects, coasters, plates, glasses, mugs, bar accessories, etc.) A few great places to find home accessories include:
Small personal accessories (jewelry, watches, keychains, scarves, wallets / clutches / pouches, makeup, glasses, headphones, etc.): Find cute options at:
Other: flowers, succulents, food / beverage items, technology (phones / tablets / etc.)
If you’re looking for resources to make the backgrounds of your photos more visually appealing, consider these:
- White foam board or Savage Paper (I use with this stand) for a clean white background
- Tiles from your local home improvement store (affordable options for background when you need something like marble / stone / wood / tile, etc.)
- Handmade backdrops from various sellers – I've used these (great for food), these (lightweight + portable), and these (incredible quality)
What are your favorite resources for Instagram props?