^{Photo by wundervisuals via iStock} 

Using photography props can enhance your images in many ways - perhaps even some you may not have thought about before. 

Props can add color, texture, or whimsy. They can be used to draw attention to the subject or mask the background, too. 

Using smoke bombs and other fun props is easy to do, as well. It really is a win-win situation! 

Let’s see how you can use these and other props for photography, especially as they relate to portrait photography ideas.

Table of contents:

• Smoke Photography Props
• Movie Clapper Photography Props
• Handheld Light Photography Props
• A Really Good Portable Stool
• Hats, Ties, and Scarves as Photography Props

Smoke Photography Props

^{Photo by GoodLifeStudio via iStock}

Are you at an impasse about coming up with portrait photography ideas? Using various props for photography is an excellent way to get past that problem!

With the holiday season fast approaching (some stores near me think it’s already here), we can ramp up our portrait photography business by using color smoke bombs as photography props.

Enola Gaye is my go-to company for finding just the right type of color smoke bomb or other smoke effect props for photography.Their smoke bombs are perfect for holiday photoshoots such as Halloween, but they can also be used to add a fun element to other holiday photos, like Christmas and New Year’s.

^{Photo by Lorado via iStock} 

Photography props like smoke bombs are also great for gender reveals and for livening up any type of scene for a fun special effect type of portrait photography. As noted earlier, smoke bombs afford you the opportunity to add color and texture to any portrait, along with a sense of fun and liveliness that is hard to achieve with other types of props.

Of course, using smoke bombs requires a good dose of responsibility. If used incorrectly, you might injure yourself or others, cause a fire or property damage, or worse.

Fortunately, using smoke bombs in a responsible manner is easy. Be aware of combustible materials nearby, watch the wind and weather, and carefully read the instructions before popping smoke. Have emergency gear on hand, too (e.g., water and a shovel to put out flames; first aid kit). Go over safety protocols with your portrait subjects as well.

Above is a short video from Enola Gaye that demonstrates their new dual-vent smoke bomb.

Check out Smoke Effect to see how their smoke bombs might spark ideas for your next portrait photo shoot.

Movie Clapper Photography Props

^{Photo by Pofuduk Images via iStock}

A movie clapboard (AKA: Clapper) is a nice item to have for old-school verification of video and sound for videography. They also make for fun and unique portrait photography props. 

A portrait of a harried parent or a set of kids waiting for their portrait can be enlivened by introducing someone (face not shown) holding this prop in front of the subject. Once your subject sees an example of this lighthearted portrait photography idea, they’ll be asking for it before you ever bring it up!

Handheld Light Photography Props

^{Photo by anton5146 via iStock}

Besides having usefulness as a key light or accent light, a handheld LED light that has variable color and power levels can be used to create an interesting effect for portrait photography ideas.

Don’t limit yourself to thinking of only using a small LED light as part of the lighting configuration - also look for ways to incorporate it into the image itself. 

A light like this one is small enough to be hidden from camera view by the subject cupping it in their hands and shedding light onto the face for example. Light painting around the subject is another fun way to enhance a portrait, making this type of light one of the more useful photography props.

A Really Good Portable Stool

^{Photo by PeopleImages via iStock} 

As far as portrait photography ideas and photography props go, a nice portable stool is one of the most valuable props for photography. I like to use a folding stool like this all-black 24-inch high folding barstool.

The black color helps it blend into the background, especially if we control our lighting to help obscure it. I find a stool is better for most portrait photography ideas as it allows the subject to be posed comfortably without it looking like they’re just sitting there. 

Hats, Ties, and Scarves as Photography Props

^{Photo by 75tiks via iStock}

This amusing little set is just one of the ideas for photography props centered on clothing items or accessories. 

I found this on Amazon and it really illustrates the idea, but I usually find my clothing photography props at thrift stores and garage sales. I always make sure to clean items before use, either as laundry or dry cleaning or by spraying disinfectant on them. 

These portrait photography ideas for photography props such smoke bombs, small LED lights, and clothing items, among other things, should help free up your creative thoughts about using various inexpensive things as photography props. The result will be more dynamic and interesting images that you and your clients will enjoy!

Learn More:

• How To Get Started in Smoke Bomb Photography
• Smoke Bomb Photography Ideas
• What Props Should I Use for Halloween Photography?