Cheap Photography Props You Can Make

Anyone who owns a professional or home photography studio knows how difficult it is to find cheap photography props. When I first started my studio I was shocked at the cost of “professional” props. How is anyone suppose to be able to afford a studio full of the current popular props when each of those props cost hundreds of dollars each? Unless, you are wealthy to begin with you won’t be able to afford professional props for your start-up studio.

Whether you have a new studio or are an “old professional” here are some cheap photography props that you can make for just a few dollars each.

Oversized, Colorful Pillows
Buy a few yards of solid colored cotton fabric in at least three coordinating colors and some polyfil. How much fabric you will need is based upon how large you want your pillows to be and what your budget is for each pillow. Cut the fabric into two equal sized squares or rectangles. With the right side facing in sew around three of the edges. Before sewing the fourth edge fill the to your desired consistency. Turn the edges in and sew the fourth edge closed. Repeat for as many pillows as you desire. Creating these cheap photography props are fun and can add a splash of color to any photo. Use a few pillows together for the background and as a posing prop. The pillows also work great for baby photography.

Prefer to buy pillows? Purchase them online at Backdrop Oulet for $49.99 or do a search on Ebay for “Posing Pillows”.

V-Neck Drape
Glamour shots don’t have to be difficult or expensive to dress for your clients. With a v-neck drape in many different colors you can create beautiful and flattering poses for just dollars. Purchase some solid colored non fraying fabric. A gently stretchy fabric works best. The best way to create you v-neck is to fold the fabric in half from corner to corner, this will form a triangle shape. Using a few pins and a model that is the average clothes size of most of your clients, pin the fabric to mark where the models shoulders fall, also place a pin a few inches above the bust line. Use some fabric scissors to cut a triangle into the fabric starting and ending where the pins are in the fabric. It is best to make the hole to small than to big, so when in doubt cut the hole small and test the drape out. You can always make the hole larger if needed.

Prefer to buy your drapes? You can find them online at Photography Props for $54.99

Baby Poser
Babies are lots of fun to photograph, however they can also be difficult to photograph. Babies that are not able to sit up without support can sometimes look awkward if not supported properly. The C-shaped poser is cheap and easy to create. To make your baby poser you will need an easy to sew stretchy fabric, any color will do. You will also need some more polyfill. To create your cheap photography prop start by cutting your fabric into two identical “C” shapes with approximately a six inch center, with a diameter of about four inches, and an overall size of about twelve inches. Now sew around all sides of the C leaving a 6 inch section unsewn so that you can stuff with the polyfil. Once stuffed to a fairly sturdy consistency you can sew the opening shut.

No sewing skills?: You can buy a baby poser at Belger Photography for $29.95.