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Instagram & Blog Photo Ideas (guide to props & backdrops)
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As a (previous) professional Interior Design for over 14 years and a self-proclaimed photography nerd who runs this stock photography site you’re on, I tend to look at situations, rooms, and objects through a stylists eye, and always seeing things that are photo-worthy.
There are moments or scenes I want to capture everywhere I turn. I’ve been addicted to making things look pretty since I was a young kid sketching and painting, and that’s probably why I’m mildly obsessed with Instagram! It’s such a perfect place to showcase your creative side. your art, design, style, and photos.
You can read more about creating pretty flatlays here in this blog post but know that you don’t have to be addicted to pretty flat lays to have a great looking Instagram or blog photos though. In fact, all that you really need to do is have the proper lighting and a massive list of potential photo opportunities, great locations, props, backgrounds, and miscellaneous items that represent your blog’s niche. In order to help you get all of that nailed down, I decided to compile a massive list of photo props and locations – complete with examples!
Now you can use this list of examples as a guide to creating your own photos to use on your blog, Instagram, or any social media.
Locations Ideas (Photography backdrops)
Ocean
Cars / Trucks
Train / train tracks
Café / Coffee shop
Flower field
Bridge
Street
Blanket
Bench
Indoors
Photography Backgrounds & Backdrops
(for Styled Photography)
Table Tops
White Boards
Weathered Wood
Fabrics
Colored poster boards
Wall paper / Wrapping Paper
Chalkboards
Photography Props (For any kind of Photos)
Handbags and coin purses
Journals and Post it Notes
Pens, Pencils, and Paint
Tech Tools
Dishes and bowls (with or without food)
Something to Drink or Eat
Flowers
Storage Containers (small Jars, Boxes, Trays and Baskets)
Your hands
Thread, Ribbons and buttons
Rulers and Scissors
Books
Vintage Cameras
Balloons
Treats (Ice cream, Cookies, cupcakes, Cake)
LOOKING FOR MORE PHOTOGRAPHY OR INSTAGRAM TIPS AND TRICKS? HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITES:
Be sure to check out our other photography related blog posts, our Instagram account, and even our latest YouTube tutorials.
Make sure you read this blog post about creating 30 days worth of Instagram content here and learn how to create a colorful month of content in as little as 5 minutes.
Plus, check out these Instagram tips:
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10 Comments
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I love this! I will definitely taking your advice!
These are all great ideas. I was just wondering if you had any suggestions for photographing from bed? I’m bed-ridden and currently use a favourite blanket as the backdrop but it can be tricky to get everything to stay in place!
Good question! Get yourself a tray with legs for eating breakfast in bed. This should provide a relatively flat surface for putting the blanket over or for taking pictures of another kind.
Thanks! Great Ideas!
Awesome tips!
xo
Allie
https://alliesfashionalley.com/2016/05/the-skirt-form-of-sweatpants/
Beautiful shots, thanks for the inspiring ideas. I’ve neglected my IG accounts for a little while now…not so much because I”m uninspired, but simply too busy with other aspects of life. I’m trying to step back in slowly and regularly now…and your tips are helping me plan my return to a consistent feed.
I’ve been giving my instagram feed some serious thought lately; my dark, boring, iphone photos aren’t doing it for me anymore lol! Thank you for the rad ideas! 😀 Here’s to instagram success!!
I always love your articles and this one is no different. I have an eBook all written and ready to go, cept for the photos. Trying to legally find photos for an organizational theme is almost impossible. So you have inspired me to take my camera to task. Thank you.
Aw, thanks Clearissa! We still need to chat, I haven’t forgotten ? Can I provide another fun tip? Do you have any model homes in your area? I love walking other people’s model home design work to find design ideas and storage ideas. You could probably take a pic with your phone to save the ideas too.
I love the look of your photos. They are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing and adding these suggestions. I will definitely be sharing this post.
-Courtney from thirty30courtney.com