Looking for new ways to spice up your fashion photography or portraits? Here are five ways I use budget-friendly props that add visual interest to my photographs!

Gemstones

Gemstones are a great way to add interest to your subject matter! They can be used on the hair, face, body, as well as the clothing itself.

Model: Hazel Ramirez

You also don’t need to spend a lot of money on them either. The gems in these photos are from the dollar store! They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. The most helpful thing with these is that they already had a sticky backside and didn’t require additional glue.

Add these to any portrait for a youthful and nostalgic look! These definitely remind me of images from the early 2000s and 90s.

If you can’t find these at a dollar store near you, I’ve seen similar gems and pearls at stores like Micheal’s, Joann’s, and Amazon.

(Tip: At Micheal’s, you can find some in their dollar section for around $1.29)

2. Statement Earrings

Many times I like to use bold earrings that help add color and contrast to portraits. Color blocking with color theory in mind can add contrast to the subject matter.

Models: Braxtyn Chapman (left) and Brooklyn Bassett (right)

As shown here I used bold red earrings in both portraits. I did so because I knew I was tying in the color green in the wardrobe and makeup. Green and red have a very strong contrast and complement one another. This is due to their location on the color wheel. You can do this with any color! Some of my favorites are purple & yellow, orange & blue, and yellow-green & magenta (or red-violet).

Photographers use color theory a lot in their work as it creates a cohesive color palette. By understanding a bit about how colors work, you can create elaborate color palettes in imagery that feels cohesive without being overwhelming.

Tip: Check clearance sections!! There are always big statement earrings that go on sale at Target, usually between $5-$10.

3. Ribbon

Ribbons are something I have always been inspired by and I find them quite useful adding to fashion portraiture.

Models: Megan Goulding (left) & Lizzie Smith (right)

On the left, I added a long piece of black velvet ribbon to create an elevated choker necklace. The ribbon and bow detail added a feminine and romantic tone to these photos. I purchased one yard of the ribbon from a local sewing shop for less than $2.

In the image on the right, I used two strips of sheer blue ribbon to create bows on the sleeves. The texture complimented the fabric of the dress nicely and added to my contrasty street princess photos! This ribbon was also purchased from a local shop but similar ribbons can be found at any craft store.

I also recommend adding ribbon to hair, laces of shoes, and other accessories. There are so many intricate styles and colors that also inspire me to use them in my photoshoots!

Tip: Check thrift stores! There are usually a lot of leftover craft supplies that get donated. This way you also find something unique that no one else has in their photoshoots!

4. hair clips

Although these are small hair accessories they can pack a punch for portraits when they’re layered and stacked!

Model: Lizzie Smith

Lately, I’ve been able to find so many funky and colorful hair clips! They definitely bring back some nostalgia for childhood. In these images, I took the colorful clips and transformed them into fashionable editorial looks!

The hot pink clips on the right made for interesting color-blocking that resulted in creating a pink eyeshadow makeup look. They also didn’t come advertised in the ‘X’ shape. After playing around with them I thought the two X-shapes would frame the face nicely.

The image on the right went for a maximalist approach to hair accessories. Playing into the nostalgia and youth feel, I used hair clips to create some visual interest around the head.

Whether it’s one or one hundred hair clips, they can elevate any portrait!

Tip: I’ve found Dollar Tree has elevated its hair accessories since the newly increased pricing. The image on the left uses almost all hair clips and bands from the dollar store.

Also, don’t be afraid to check the kid’s sections in various stores for accessories! Target has a section of hair clips, jewelry, and bags in the kid’s area that always piques my interest.

5. Fabric

Pieces of fabric can upgrade any photoshoot whether it’s on the clothing or the background set.

Model: Braxtyn Chapman

Fabric is a great tool to use in photoshoots and it’s also relatively inexpensive! I always recommend going to your local thrift store before buying new. There are always tons of scraps of fabric at thrift stores and usually, the size works great for photography.

In these images, a scrap of tulle fabric was used to show movement throughout the imagery.

Tip: If you have a Saver’s thrift store near you go check their selection of fabrics. I’ve always had the best luck finding fabrics there compared to other second-hand shops.