I’ve always been complimented on my flatlays, I mean other than being complimented on your outfit is there anything better?! I know they’ve definitely got better over time and I’ve found props to be the key to my success! So if you want to improve your blog photography I suggest you read on!
12 Props That Will Improve Your Blog Photography
Flowers
So this is a pretty standard one. Everyone knows that flowers improve your blog photography, because they improve anything. It’s definitely how you use them though and making sure you strategically place them. I’m not going to stand here and lie and say I just put them anywhere, I probably take about 50 shots each with the flower moved 1mm at a time! The things we do for the perfect shot am I right?!
I recently discovered another great way of using flowers, something I’d seen before but never really figured out how it was done. To take the picture ‘looking through‘ the flowers.I used to think people had got a vase and got a good perspective, maybe they have. But I found just holding the flowers closer to the camera and making the lens focus on the product in the background works really well!
A Good Old Cup Of Tea
Nothing says lifestyle quite like a cup of tea! It makes it look less set up and more, ‘I was just sat here with my cup of tea smelling my flowers and reading my magazine anyway’. Extra points for cute cups. This particular one was a carboot sale find by Mumma Crowe!
Crockery
I love laying make up on a plate, it adds a different perspective and just is another interesting background. This bowl is from Ikea as are lots of my props! And don’t the colour co-ordinated nail varnishes look so much cuter than if they were laid on the magazine?! It’s just these added little touches that make your images stand out from others!
Texture
Texture is great for blog photos. I saw this shot by one of my favourite bloggers ohh couture the other day and I love the way she’s used a pavement. Texture is a way of sprucing things up a bit and improving your blog photography. Rugs and throws are affordable and easy to use at the drop of a hat, we can’t all find perfect pavements now can we?
Magazines
You’ll see a recurring theme in my images, most of them include a magazine. Another background that adds something interesting. You can find something that links to the products your featuring, just a page of text, or I personally love using pictures with a colour that matches my scheme.
Use Your Phone
Phone’s with snazzy cases, or just the phone in general is a great way of improving your blog photography. It does the same job as the cup of tea, making it look more relaxed and in the moment.
Jewellery
I always use jewellery in my shots. Even if it’s just a couple of rings scattered or a pair of earrings. Jewellery fills the gaps and just finishes off the set up! The set up below looks like ‘I just took my jewellery off‘. I always think that flatlays should almost tell a story rather than just being a picture of a product, I talk more about this in my post about how to create the perfect flatlay here!
Make Up
If in doubt always add an open lipstick. An open lipstick is my secret weapon for when somethings not working how I want it to! I always know I can rely on it to pull me through! Make up, particularly pretty make up like this Chanel powder are also great additions.
Coasters
This may seem like a weird one, but you can get coasters in all different colours and textures and I recently realised how much they add to a picture! It’s nice with the watch laid over it or with the cup or even just as an additional little prop! I’m loving these cork ones at the moment!
Macbook
I never put the whole thing in but just the corner of the keyboard will often make an appearance!
Notebooks
I love to use this along with the macbook to create a ‘desk setup‘ if I’m ever talking about something work or goals related. I especially love to use it for my blogging tips as I’m sure you guys will know!
Packaging
Now this may seem a bit sad but I keep the packaging for lots of my make up because I think it just adds something to a make up flatlay. I love lining it all up symmetrically! It’s also a great way of making everything look fresh and new!
Overall I would definitely say for me, when creating a flatlay and taking pictures that don’t include people for your blog, the most important factor to improve your blog photography is to use props to tell a story!
Let me know if you guys have any tips for how to improve your blog photography!? I would love to hear!
Have you checked out all of my other blog tips posts? You can find the full list here which includes tips like 5 ridiculously easy SEO tips, How to build your Bloglovin following and 80 Killer blog post Ideas! I hope you like them! If you do then make sure you follow me on Bloglovin’ so that you don’t miss any future posts!
Follow me – PINTEREST – TWITTER – INSTAGRAM
Great post! Thanks for all the tips and tricks. I’m trying to improve my flatlay’s at the moment and I think one thing I’m lacking is a variety of props! xx
http://www.girlglobalising.com
Author
AH yay I’m glad it came at just the right time for you then!
Such a great post, I usually use flowers, my phone and magazines as props. They are always laying around so it’s easy to just grab them! x
Author
Totally! I think things that are naturally laying around make for the most natural and effortless shots!
There are so many household props that can be used and you don’t need to spend money. Im always searching the house for new props.
Author
Totally! Plates, bowls and coasters. . . who would have thought!
Great prop ideas, thanks for sharing! They all make the perfect flat lays x
FloralsAndCoralsx // Our Blog xx
Author
Thanks lovely!
I love this post! Full of amazing prop ideas. It’s really helpful. I love the look of flowers with beauty products and I love the idea of adding in the laptop and packaging in a creative way too!
Sophie – eselle x
Author
So glad you found it helpful! I think you’re so right! Flowers are truly great for beauty!
I love this, so helpful! This is what I needed to read xx
Sofia | theglamchapter.blogspot.com
Author
Glad you liked it hun and it helped you out!
Love this! I always use cups of coffee or some face succulents from the range!
Author
Ohhh I never thought of going to the range! Such a good place for blog props! I always go to TK Maxx or Ikea!
Lovely post! All these photos are beautiful! 🙂
Author
Thanks so much lovely!!!
These are all seriously amazing props to consider. I love the idea of coasters & textures. They’re less widely used but totally amazing. :]
// ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲
Author
Aren’t they! I think you can get some great like wood and marble or cork ones too!
These are really good ideas! Really enjoyed this post!! kisses:D
http://laurasavenue.blogspot.com.es/
Author
Thanks so much Laura! x
These are really good tips, I’m seriously lacking in blog photography ideas so I’ll be trying these out for sure
Author
Ah so so glad hun!
I’ve noticed that the Macbook gets more attention than regular PC, and thanks for the tips.
Author
It’s definitely way more photogenic!
Really good tips, I LOVE to use flowers! Always make flatlays look so much nicer x
Author
Flowers are like gods gift to flatlays!
Great post! I love reading tips like these, they always get me so insipred! x
Author
glad to have inspired you lovely! That means so much to me!
Thank you for the tips. I cannot throw packaging of my makeup, I think this is the right way to use them 🙂
Author
Definitely!!!!
Author
Ah so glad that you liked them hun! I love that you keep your macbook – I totally would do the same! I love peonies too! And why are they so hard to find and expensive!!! So annoying!!
Author
Same! I save pictures for inspo too! I love pinterest for it I have a whole inspiration page!
Author
I think it’s all about finding the right page!! And making it look like you were in the middle of reading it!!!
Author
Ah so glad you found it helpful lovely! I hope you can put them to good use!
Author
I never normally do this but I am totally doing it way more now!
I think the cup of tea option is my fav, haha. Have to add this one in next time I take some pictures.
Amy
http://www.thenoiseinwonderland.com
Author
A cup of tea is definitely my favourite too!
I’ve been looking into using a few ‘prop’ like photos to inject some creativity into my blog, especially for the snaps of singular products. Fake flowers are definitely a interesting one.
http://www.themakeupaficionado.com
Author
Or real flowers! Fake ones are always there though! I love my little cotton ball sticks! They’re great as an autumn/wintery prop!