How to use props in your wedding photography
When it comes to weddings, couples and wedding suppliers seem to be getting more and more creative: couples are keen to make their day stand out and be as fun and eye-catching as possible, and wedding suppliers are always thinking of ways to improve their services and make every couple’s day extra special.
With this in mind, it’s probably no surprise that the couples I speak to are keen to try more new and creative ideas when it comes to their wedding photography. Luckily, this is always music to my ears as I pride myself on being a creative wedding photographer and I love coming up with new ideas for truly stand out wedding photography. In fact, I recently won an award for Creative Wedding Photographer of the Year!
Something I’ve been doing for a while with my photography is making clever use of props. For a long time, I’ve loved incorporating fun elements such as a smoke bombs and flares into wedding photography, and I’ve noticed recently that this technique is becoming more and more popular. There are even lots of Google searches now for ‘wedding photos with smoke bombs’ and ‘wedding photos with flares’. Hey, Google, over here! I’m an expert in this type of creative wedding photography!
There are also lots of other types of props you can incorporate, some of which you might not have thought of. Here are some of my favourite ways to use props in your wedding photography…
Wedding Photos with Umbrellas
As soon as people hear the word umbrella, their thoughts naturally turn to dreaded RAIN, and who wants to think about rain on their wedding day?! But fear not- featuring umbrellas in wedding photography is actually becoming really popular and there’s a reason why: they can look fabulous in photos!
Working as a wedding photographer in North Wales and Cheshire has taught me that sunshine is never guaranteed! However, rainy wedding days have provided the backdrop to some of my favourite wedding photographs, and it’s a good idea to have umbrellas on hand as the perfect prop for those outdoor shots.
For example, I recently shot a wedding at one of my favourite venues in North Wales, Tyn Dwr Hall. Emma and Matthew’s wedding took place on 11th March 2022, which seemed to be the perfect Spring wedding date. However, as anyone who lives in North Wales knows, the weather can’t always be relied upon, and it rained for most of the day! However, Emma and Matthew just embraced the weather, which made for some beautiful photographs.
Whatever the weather, you can capture some amazing outdoor wedding photography, and wedding photos with umbrellas always look whimsical and pretty. My advice to couples is always just to embrace the weather whatever happens and take the opportunity to work with your wedding photographer to create some unique images.
Wedding Photos with Smoke Bombs and Flares
As previously mentioned, creating wedding photos with smoke bombs and flares has become a bit of a tradition for me, and these type of shots feature a lot in my work. I absolutely love the fun and drama of these shots: they always look so eye-catching, plus they’re a totally unexpected addition as you flick through your wedding album. Wedding photos with flares and smoke bombs
have got ‘profile pic’ written all over them!
Smoke bombs and flares are an ideal way to inject some fun into a couple’s portrait. Wedding photos of you and your partner capture a special moment of your day, but they don’t always have to be serious. Adding a colourful smoke bomb or flare can really enhance the moment.
Choosing the right time of day can also play an important part in capturing show-stopping wedding photos with smoke bombs or flares. That’ golden hour’ just before night falls is a perfect time to shoot smoke bomb portraits as the colour of the smoke really pops in the natural light and the results are striking and romantic.
Your surroundings can be your prop!
As a wedding photographer, I always like to familiarise myself with my surroundings shortly before I start shooting. This is a great opportunity to spot ‘props’ that naturally present themselves in and around the venue, which can make for some great wedding photography.
For example, I love this natural-looking shot of a bridal dress photographed outside in the grounds of a venue.
I’ve also captured some lovely images using the mirrors in the bridal suite as a ‘prop’, and of brides standing near the window overlooking the dramatic backdrop of their venue outside. As a wedding photographer, it’s important to notice every opportunity to capture beautiful wedding photography, and I’ve found that most venues offer their own ‘props’ in abundance!
Other quirky props…
I’m never afraid to think outside the box when it comes to creating wedding photography that is a little bit different, and I love bringing in unusual elements as props.
One of my favourites that comes to mind is this photo of Erin and Sam, along with their wedding party, posing on a tractor outside their venue. Perhaps not the kind of vehicle you’d usually associate with a wedding, but this is why the tractor worked so well: I love how unexpected it is and the element of fun it brings to that photo.
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer who can bring an element of fun and creativity to your wedding day, I would love to chat to you. And if you have any questions about using props such as smoke bombs or flares I am very well versed in this topic and am always happy to help! I’m a wedding photographer based in North Wales, Chester, and Cheshire, but I can also travel further afield. Please get in touch if you’d like any more information.
