26 Easy Blog Photo Background & Prop Ideas

  

I often get asked on my blog and Instagram where I get my blog props and backgrounds from, so I decided I'd do a post showing you what I use as they're either really cheap or just everyday items. I'm going to shoot the same lipstick (MAC Jubilee) with all the different backdrops so you can get an idea of how you can play around with just the one product. 


Obviously I'm not saying I'm the best photographer ever (some of these are questionable, it gets boring shooting the same lipstick over and over...) but these are just some of my ideas! I'm sure a lot of you could take these ideas and do something a lot better with them than I have in this post.

1. Artificial Flowers

I picked up these from IKEA for a couple of pounds each - I think this is a really good idea with Spring/Summer on the way and there are so many ways you can incorporate them.

2. Magazine

Fashion magazines have gorgeous covers, adverts and editorials so grabbing one for a few pounds is a good investment as you can shoot against a new background just by turning to a different page. You can even pick these up for free, like the ASOS and Topshop magazines I often use.

3. Favourite Jewellery

Dot around the jewellery you've been wearing recently in the shot. Mine is just affordable costume jewellery from Accessorize and River Island.

4. Decorative Plate or Tray

There are loads of ways you can incorporate a pretty tray or plate into the shop and here are just a few. In the first image is an IKEA candle holder (less than £3), the middle image shows a H&M Home marbled plate (I think this was £4) and the final one is a tray from George at Asa (£12). 

5. Dressing Table

A simple classic: just show the product on your dressing table! This is a nice way to get to know you a little better by having a peak at where the makeup magic happens.

6. Favorite Candle or Tea Lights

A variation is to have your favourite decorative candle burning in the background. If you don't have one you think would work then try H&M's Home section for affordable, Instagram-worthy candles. If you prefer flat shots you can light some tea lights or buy some decorative ones like these floral ones from Urban Outfitters.

7. Favourite Fragrance

My third variation is to show the product with your favourite perfume or fragrance in a stylish bottle. 

8. Wallpaper Sample

You can pick up free wallpaper samples from large DIY stores, this one is from B&Q.

9. Flooring Sample

I'm sure you'll have come across this one! This is another B&Q sample, this time of laminate flooring and will set you back just £2.

10. Makeup Brushes

This is maybe one better for relevant products you'd use the brushes with, but still! Pretty brushes like these from Zoeva can really add something to your image.

11. Fairy Lights

Another really easy way to add a little extra to your image is to throw some fairy lights on it! These are from Urban Outfitters.

12. Placemat

If you've been reading my blog for a while, this Sainsbury's placemat will look familiar! If you don't have some pretty placemats lying around your house, you can pick up some lovely ones from any supermarket.

13. Fabric or Bedding

Pick up a fabric sample or use your bedding! I sometimes use my bedding from George at ASDA or Urban Outfitters and in the above image I've used a throw from Primark that only cost me around £12.

14. Paper

Simple, but seeing the product swatched on some paper can be really helpful.

15. Photo Frame & Postcard

Grab a pretty photo frame and if you're feeling extra creative, put a pretty postcard in it too. In my image I've put a postcard from Paperchase in a photo frame from Urban Outfitters.

16. Beauty Storage

 

You can photograph a product standing up in front of your storage, or if you have acrylic drawers like these ones from Muji you might want to try putting some pretty products in them and laying the product on top. If you have removable drawers you can also take a photo of the product in the drawer.

17. Trinkets or Ornaments

Any kind of ornaments you can find around the house. In the first image I've used the lid off a glass jar from Home Bargains that I store cotton wool pads in. In the second, a decorative seashell I got on holiday. If you can't find anything lying around the house you can pick up decorations very cheaply, like the filigree heart in the third image for £2.50 from Primark.

18. Notebook

If you have a pretty notebook, try using that. Mine is from Paperchase.

19. Book

Coffee table books generally have really nice photos and illustrations so can  make great backgrounds. Here I've used the cover of Fleur de Force's Glam Guide.

20. Poster Paper

Mine is in a poster frame, as I have these for my wall decorations it would've been too hard to get it out again but you can get stuff like this from Paperchase and Urban Outfitters.

21. Potpourri

You can use a bowl of potpourri in the background of busier shots or put the product in it. My bowl and potpourri were both very cheap from Matalan.

22. Matching Accessories or Products

If you have a product with gold packaging and brushes with a gold finish then you can pair those together or put similar products in the shot (just make sure it's clear which one you're talking about!)

23. Purse (and Contents)

If you have a nice purse then it might be an idea to include it in your shot. If you used a points card to buy it then you could include that too.

24. Shopping Bag

I often include the shopping bag of where I bought the product in haul posts.

25. Makeup Bag

The one I've used here is from Alphabet Bags, however if you don't already have a pretty makeup bag, Primark has some lovely ones for as little as £2.50.

26. Brochures or Adverts

Promotional materials can look really stylish and you can get them for free easily (I was randomly sent this one from Jo Malone in the post). If you have one for the brand/product you're featuring then even better!

Of course you can experiment and mix things up to work out what you like but I hope these little ideas are a good starting point if you've been lacking in inspiration. It's always good to have a refresh, as I think most of us tend to default to doing the same thing. Even writing this post has given me some new ideas! I really recommend Homesense, Matalan, Primark, H&M Home, IKEA and Asda if you need to buy anything but don't want to spend too much money.

What props and backgrounds do you use in your blog photos?

 

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