Wednesday, June 25, 2025 | By: Pittsburgh Area Photographer including Mars and Cranberry Township
A prop gives a child something tangible to hold and explore, turning a photo session into a playful experience rather than a posed one. When children aren’t asked to look at the camera and smile, they relax and enjoy the moment — and that’s where the magic begins.
Sometimes, all it takes is one simple instruction and the right prop to unlock a child’s imagination. Like this little four-year-old boy, who walked down a quiet path holding a bright blue metal airplane. Wearing an authentic brown leather aviator hat and goggles, he was ready for takeoff. The only prompt I gave him was to pretend he was flying his plane while walking toward me—and just like that, magic happened.
Sometimes the best photos happen when toddlers aren’t even aware you’re photographing them. I use simple props to gently guide their attention or spark curiosity—just long enough to stand still for that one perfect moment. That’s often all I need to capture a natural, unposed image.
📸 One of my favorite examples is a one-year-old wearing a Winnie the Pooh inspired outfit, standing next to a rock where a tipped-over honey jar with a few of his favorite snacks was placed on the surface of a rock. The honey jar caught his attention just enough for me to catch his wonder-filled expression and then he reached into the jar—and the result was pure magic.
From soaring imaginations with airplanes to exciting adventures with maps and swords, simple props open the door to a child’s world of play and storytelling.
I use simple props like binoculars, an old map, and a toy sword. This session was all about two brothers and the beginning of their exciting treasure hunt. With just one simple instruction—“Pretend you just found a map and are going on a treasure hunt”—I was able to create fine art images that look like they were taken straight out of a storybook!
A small teddy bear can be the perfect companion—giving little hands something to hold and creating a sense of comfort and calm. In this session, a sweet little girl in a soft blue dress stood quietly by the creek, gently clutching a well-loved bear. This image carries a timeless, nostalgic feel—like a childhood memory you don’t even realize you’ve forgotten until you see it again.
A butterfly net may seem like a simple toy—but in the hands of children, it becomes the spark for a game of tag, a chase, an adventure. One child runs ahead, laughing while the other clutches the net with determination. With just a simple direction—“Run across the field and try to tag your brother with it”—the race is on. These unposed, joy-filled moments are where the real magic lives, and a playful prop like this helps bring it to life.
These are just a few of my favorite props that help turn photo sessions into storytelling adventures. If you’re curious how I select the props I use, be sure to check out my next blog, where I’ll share my process and philosophy behind creating these magical scenes.
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