Props Matter: Case Study with Royal Horizon Media

When you book a branding shoot, there are so many things to take into account. You need to find the perfect setting with furniture and textiles that match your brand, you need to select your outfits, and you need to have the perfect props. Many people don’t think of props when they think of professional photos. Headshots from the waist or chest up, smiling and looking directly at the camera, comes to mind. But there are so many more image opportunities to be had with a branding shoot and that means props matter!

When I worked with Chelsea Marrs and Rob Grann of Royal Horizon Media, a social media management and influencer marketing firm, I followed my three step process to develop a curated prop list that would serve as visual cues it to  inform clients of their services with their new images. 

Here’s how we came up with props for their shoot:

1) Develop Story Ideas & a Shot List

Each of my clients fill out a questionnaire and we hop on a call to develop story ideas. For Royal Horizon Media, we came up with three separate story ideas. These story ideas informed my shot list. 

2) Develop a Prop List

From the detailed shot list, we developed a list of props (see below) that helped to tell the stories they wanted to share. For the hard working professional look, props would include a laptop, phone, notebooks, pens, books and desk materials. To celebrate Royal Horizon Media’s first year in business, the prop list included champagne, glasses and balloons. Get the picture? (Pun intended!)

3) Assemble a Shoot Plan 

Once we determined the stories to tell, the shot list and list of props, I put it all together into a shoot plan, which I customize to each client, and I include inspiration images to make sure that we are on the same page. You can see the shoot plan that I assembled for Chelsea and Rob below.

And here are a few of the images from our shoot! You can see how the props like the hashtag, printouts, pens, doughnuts, balloons, camera, photos and the champagne bottle, really add to the stories that Royal Horizon Media is trying to tell through the images.

Just check out how their new images, filled with the props we had curated, make their website pop!

HOME PAGE BEFORE

HOME PAGE AFTER

ABOUT PAGE BEFORE

ABOUT PAGE AFTER

SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES PAGE BEFORE

SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES PAGE AFTER

Now that you’ve seen the difference the right items can make in photos, let’s work together to come up with a great prop and shot list that tells your story. Click to book now!