Why We Don’t Use Props For Portrait Sessions

Adding props to your portrait session photographs became really popular when we were first getting into photography 15+ years ago. At the time we were all about it! Admitting that makes us cringe just a little now, but raise your hand if you remember adding chalkboard signs to your save the dates or baby shoes to your first bump photographs.

As we’ve grown as photographers we’ve really come full circle in terms of how we photograph our clients. We both love clean, natural feeling imagery. So if its up to us, we suggest you leave the props at home.

In our opinion props take away from the most important part of the image - the human.

All that extra acts as a visual distraction.

That’s why we like to keep it simple when it comes to photographing people.

As photographers our passion lies in capturing honest moments in a minimally intrusive way. We really believe there is something beautiful about simplicity in portraiture.

We truly want your photographs to still look and feel beautiful to you twenty, thirty, or forty years from now.

Hence, you won’t find us adding in props very often. If we do, it’s usually something very subtle like a neutral blanket for an infant portrait session, a soft plush lovey for an unsure toddler, or a natural wood stool or bench.

If you’re booking a brand shoot for your business, we will work with you to create a list of props that serve in helping tell your story well rather than visually distract from sharing about your business.

If you’re drawn to this type of classic imagery we would love to work with you! Email us at hello@loftcreative.co or get in touch via our contact form linked below.