The 50 Best Props for Photoshoots: Bloggers and Influencers

Are you looking for the best props for your photoshoots as a blogger or influencer? Here’s a list of 50 props that bloggers and influencers can use in your photoshoots at home or anywhere. And you probably already have many of them lying around your home!

As a travel blogger and influencer who isn’t always used to taking lifestyle photos, using props makes it so much easier for me to take interesting photos at home.

I also like to take small props with me when I travel to make it easier to create unique and visually interesting photos during my trips.

Plus, using props helps with that age old question many bloggers and influencers have – what can I do with my hands in photos so they don’t look like awkward claws?

Keep reading for the ultimate list of the best photoshoot props for influencers and bloggers!

The Best Props for Photoshoots by Bloggers and Influencers

Prop #1: String lights

String lights can make any photo feel more magical and are one of my favorite props for photoshoots. Whether you string them along the headboard of your bed, around a bathtub, hold them in your hands or put them in a jar, the possibilities are endless.

I like small string lights like these that can be easily packed in a suitcase when I travel.

Prop #2: Glitter or confetti

Glitter and confetti are so much fun to play with! You can toss them, spread them out on the floor around you, or even stick them to your face (how cute is this star shaped confetti?) for a festive and playful look.

Prop #3: Balloons

Balloons are a cheap way to add some fun and color to any photo! You can use traditional round balloons like these. Or, you can use letter balloons or number balloons to spell out “happy birthday” or announce a milestone when you hit a certain number of followers.

Prop #4: Bubbles

Bubbles instantly make any photo 100% more playful!

Prop #5: Food

I absolutely love posing with food, and I find these photos perform really well on Instagram.

Some ideas for food you can pose with include pasta, cereal, pancakes, croissants, citrus fruits like lemons and oranges, pizza, charcuterie boards, cookies, fruit, candy and colorful smoothie bowls. The possibilities are endless!

Prop #6: Wine + Wine Glasses

I love posing with wine and wine glasses – and I love working with wine brands as an influencer. Getting paid to drink wine is one of my favorite things to do!

Prop #7: Mugs, Coffee + Tea

Whether you’re in a 5-star hotel, in your bedroom, or at a cute cafe, holding a mug of coffee or tea always looks good. Some great places to find cute mugs are Anthropologie – I love this cute pink tea cup, Urban Outfitters – I love this llama mug, and Target – which is where I got this color changing Harry Potter mug.

Prop #8: A French Press

If you’re styling a photoshoot with coffee at home, why not also include your french press in the photo to add more visual interest?

Prop #9: Serving Trays

If you have one or two serving trays, you can reuse them over and over again in your photos. I like bamboo serving trays and woven serving trays that give any photo Bali vibes.

Prop #10: Flowers

Flowers look gorgeous in photos, whether you’re holding a bouquet, filling a bathtub with them, scattering flowers around you or taping them up to create a flower wall.

And here’s a secret – a lot of influencers and bloggers use faux flowers in their pics to save money! I like these long stem faux roses and have them in 3 colors.

Prop #11: Houseplants

If you have plants in your house, gather them all in one place and show off your plant flex.

Dried pampas grass, dried palm leaves and faux monstera leaves are also low maintenance and reusable options that look great in photos if you don’t have a green thumb.

Prop #12: Vases and Baskets

The vases and baskets you already have in your house are perfect for adding variety to any photo. For a boho look, use woven vases and baskets.

Prop #13: Party Favors

Have you hosted a party in the last few years? If you have any leftover party hats or a tinsel fringe curtain, you can easily create a party themed photo at home.

Prop #14: Board Games

Why not set up a game night themed photoshoot? Grab your favorite games like Scrabble or Monopoly, for a fun and playful photo.

Prop #15: Playing Cards

A deck (or multiple decks) of playing cards is also a cheap and fun photoshoot prop.

Prop #16: Books / Bookshelf

When I don’t know what to do with my hands in a sitting down photo, I’ll often grab a book. My favorites books to use as props for photoshoots are the Puffin in Bloom hardcover books designed by Rifle Paper Co.

If you have a bookshelf at home, you can also use it as a backdrop to make it feel like your photoshoot is in a library.

Prop #17: Magazines

If you’re more of a magazine gal, magazines look great in photos too.

Prop #18: Makeup + Makeup Brushes

Are you a beauty lover? Your makeup and makeup brushes can add beautiful color and texture to your photos.

Prop #19: Perfume Bottles

An elegant perfume bottle – think Chanel No. 5 and its iconic bottle for example – instantly glams up a photo.

Prop #20: Mirrors

Taking a photo of your reflection in an ornate mirror can have a big impact. If you’re feeling extra creative, take the mirror outside and include the sky with your reflection!

Prop #21: Framed Art

Framed photos and posters are great props for photoshoots – don’t be afraid to take them off the wall and lean them on a dresser or shelf, on even on the floor.

Prop #22: Pillows

Decorative pillows area great way to add color and texture to your photos. Just like with your wall art, don’t be afraid move them around your home.

A lot of influencers will set up a scene for their photoshoots using items from all over their home, take their photos, and then put everything back where it actually belongs.

Prop #23: Blankets

A chunky throw, a faux fur blanket, or a casually rumpled linen or cotton blanket adds visual interest to a bed or couch photo.

Or, you can use put them on the floor (or the ground if you’re outdoors) and set up a picnic shoot.

Prop #24: Rugs

Move the rugs in your home around to style your shoot. You can even thinking about layering them to add a unique touch.

Prop #25: Picnic Basket

An indoor or outdoor picnic shoot is always charming, and a wicker picnic basket is the perfect prop for your photoshoot.

Fun fact – a picnic basket was the only “Instagram prop” my husband let me add to our wedding registry! He knew the chances of us actually having a perfect pre-planned picnic were small, and that I only wanted it for styling photoshoots!

Prop #26. Cutting Boards

If you’re styling a picnic photo or other photo with food, wooden cutting boards are a beautiful addition. I like to use a variety of sizes and shapes in one photo.

Prop #27: Musical Instruments

Have a guitar, piano, ukulele or other musical instrument? Why not use them as a photoshoot prop too?

Prop #28: Candles

I love to use candles of varying sizes and shapes in my photos.

Prop #29: Old Camera or a Fujifilm Instax Mini

If you have an old camera you don’t use anymore, it can add a vintage vibe to your photoshoot. You can hold it up to your face, or have it placed on a table or other surface around you.

I also love the Fujifilm Instax Mini – both the camera body and the polaroid style photos you can create are super cute props.

Prop #30: A Suitcase

If you’re a travel blogger or dreaming of travel, why not use a suitcase as a prop? I’m dreaming of buying vintage style luggage one day, and I also love a good pink hardsided suitcase.

Prop #31: Bathrobe and/or Towel Turban

Ahhh dah-ling, nothing says glamor and 5-star hotel level service like a plush white robe and a towel turban… even if you’re just at home in your bedroom!

Prop #32: Sunglasses

Sunglasses are great props, especially plastic cat-eye style ones. You can wear them, hold them, or rest them on a table or other surface.

Prop #33: Hats

I wear hats all the time and they are one of my favorite props for photshoots. You can wear them, hold them, or place them next to you. I think I”m almost guilty of using hats in my photos too often!

My favorite hat is the Lack of Color Rancher, which I have in multiple colors.

Prop #34. Bubble Gum

If your style is playful, a photo of you blowing a big pink bubble is irreverent and adorable. If you can’t master actually blowing the perfect bubble, you can cheat and use a pink balloon.

Prop #35. Landline Telephone

A landline phone is a stylish prop for at home photoshoots in your living room or bedroom. Bonus points if it’s one of these cute pink ones from Wild Wood or Crosley.

Prop #36. Record Player + Records

If you have a turntable and some vinyl, why not create a vintage style photo? This Crosley record player is cute and affordable and easy to move around. I have it in off white!

Prop #37: Pets

Well, our furry friends aren’t exactly props, but including your dog or your cat in your photos is always adorable!

Prop #38: Department Store or Branded Shopping Bags

If you’re a fashion blogger/influencer, shopping bags from your favorite stores are a great prop for photoshoots. You can either hold them for a standing up photo, or sit down and surround yourself with them.

Prop #39: Newspaper

Yesterday’s newspaper is a super cheap and easy prop for photoshoots! Hold it like you’re reading it, or cover a wall and part of your floor in newspaper for an easy photo backdrop.

Prop #40: Laptop

No working from home boss babe photo is complete without your laptop!

Prop #41: Jewelry

Your favorite jewelry is a great prop for photshoots – you don’t have to even wear it but can style your dresser with it.

Prop #42: Notebooks + Pens

You probably have a cute notebook and pen in your home office (or… if you’re like me… your kitchen junk drawer). Use them in a working from home styled photo or a cute flatlay.

Prop #43: Postcards/ Vacation Souvenirs

Can’t travel right now but want to create a travel themed photo? Use postcards and vacation souvenirs to create travel content at home.

Prop #44: Handbags

There are so many ways you can use your handbags as props for photoshoots. You can hold it towards the camera and swing it to create motion, you can place it on a table next to a beautiful coffee or tea for a cafe (or at home cafe style) photo, or you can include a bag in a chic flatlay.

Prop #45: Stuffed animals

Going for a cute girly theme with your photoshoot? Add a cute stuffed animal, or, a more grown up faux-rose bear.

Prop #46: Yoga Mat

Have a yoga mag at home? You can easily do a wellness themed photoshoot at home or outdoors. Bonus points if it’s a cute color, like this one.

Prop #47: Cinema Light Box

If you’re like me and you don’t have cute writing? Use a cinema light box to spell out what you’re thinking.

Prop #48: Chalk Board

If you have nice writing, a chalk board is a versatile prop for photoshoots you can use over and over again!

Prop #49: Photography Backdrop Stand

If you don’t have an open wall in your house or apartment that you can use for photoshoots, invest in an inexpensive photography backdrop stand. You can then hang pieces of fabric, backdrop paper or (see #50) a sheet to create a clean background for your photo.

Prop #50: Bedsheets/Bedding

Wrap yourself up in them, hang them on your photography backdrop for a cleaner background or create a super cozy layered bed.

My favorite sheets are linen bedsheets because they have a softer, effortless and slightly rumpled look. Our Casper linen sheets are no longer available, but these look similar.

That wraps up my huge list of the best photoshoot props for influencers and bloggers.

Did I miss any of your favorite props for photoshoots? Let me know in the comments!

Want to Keep in Touch?

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Looking for More Influencer/Blogger Tips?

• Why not check out my guide to posing for Instagram photos?
• Or my guide to self-photography?

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