#123 - How to create powerful photos without using props

If I told you, you cannot have any props in a photo, only the backdrop. How would you feel?

Working without props is usually a struggle.

Think of a composition completely devoid of props. 

 Maybe you’re confident, or maybe it makes you sweat. 

Either way, here are 2 easy ways to work with a food subject if props are limited or there are no props at all. What you'll find interesting is that these 2 ways are the exact opposite of each other, but they can be the go-to ideas in your hip pocket, if you’re ever shooting without or with limited props.

1. The Power of Many : 

The first way to work without props is to tap into the power of many.

Now, props are limited, but not your food. Simply  work with more number of the food subject and ideate a creative composition with them on your backdrop.

Use “many” of that food, use composition guides to help with placement, make the composition look geometric or natural to create more interest in your photo, and make it striking.

The role of props is to make the photo more interesting and basically, create or complete a story. 

Adding more numbers of the food subject creates a sense of abundance; it makes the viewer move through the frame, and while you might have worked under the constraint of no props, the viewer won’t even realise if anything is missing. For them, it would still be a visual treat, and the story would be complete.

So, when you’re posed with a constraint of props, use many foods or many of the food subjects creatively and strategically on the backdrop to create a powerful and striking photo.

2. The Power of One : 

The other way to work with a “propless” concept is to work in the exact opposite way - tap into the power of one.

The mighty single, the stand-alone super hero - using one piece/portion of the food and showcasing it in all its glory.

This works better for food with beautiful details.

For example, a slice of black forest cake with cream and chocolate shavings and a shiny cherry on top. So much to zoom in on. Go macro and create a stunning photo of just that one slice of cake. No need for props. It’ll be a masterpiece.

When working without props, focus on the details of food. Capture the details of texture or zoom in on one piece of that food to tell the story.  

Remember, the subject determines the strategy for photographing without props. If the food subject is visually plain, using many numbers of that subject might work better.

For subjects like curries or beverages, don’t count the serving container as a prop or the backdrop. Other than that, the way to go “propless” would be not to add any extra props like spoons, napkins, etc.

The concept of “no props” depends on the food subject & how it is served.

Conclusion : 

These are 2 ways of creating stunning photos without props.

Either tap into the Power of Many or the Power of One. Never sweat or feel limited if you don’t have access to props.

Have these ideas forever in your hip pocket, whether you’re at a client shoot or working on a personal project.

** In fact, just to spice things up or have fun, why don't you try it?

The next time you’re shooting, try going propless.

Create 2 photos - one with many of the food subject and the other with only one.

Change backdrops if needed, and see how your creativity flows when you can’t fall back on props. I always feel that we surprise ourselves when posed with such constraints.

Who knows, you might fall in love with the propless style.😍