10 Best Ways to Use Household Items as Photography Props Ideas

 

Inspiring product images above basic white backgrounds requires introducing creative elements to spark viewer curiosity. 

Rather than invest in expensive photography kits, transform everyday objects around your home into DIY props that add visual intrigue without blowing your product photography budget.

1. Spin Kitchen Towels into Backdrops

The flour sack towels tucked inside that kitchen drawer present the ultimate blank canvas for showcasing earrings, makeup compacts, plants, baked goods, and other photogenic products. Drape one over cardboard to introduce soft wrinkles and dimension. 

The neutral hues and textured fabric inject warmth and authenticity into product photography ideas. For added interest, display the exact product against different colored towels to offer viewers palette options.

2. Shape Foil Pie Pans into Reflectors

Light bounces differently off various surface sheens. By strategically placing metal cooking trays around a product, you can amplify and redirect light to unexpectedly bring out dimension and added glow. 

The ultra-shiny interior side of a foil pie pan unleashes maximum reflectivity for adding buttery luminosity or accent shadows.

3. Craft Paper Boxes into Backdrops

For playful product images with a colorful personality, upcycle leftover gift boxes from clothing or jewelry purchases into vibrant, patterned backdrops for only the effort of some strategic unwrapping. 

Or pick out a paper bag in complementary tones to the item displayed. Iron out creases if desired and drape wrinkled paper behind subjects captured overhead for abstract backgrounds brimming with mood.

4. Upcycle Clear Glass Jars and Bottles into Display Stands

Translucent glass drinkware, condiment jars, and apothecary bottles present the perfect neutral platforms for propping up an endless assortment of items for your next product shoot. 

Fill squat jam jars with colorful pulses like lentils or rice to buoy bath bombs and ornaments. Let the distorted glass magnify views of earrings, charms, pins, or other miniature wares.

5. Engineer Wooden Clipboards into Vertical Display Backdrops

Sometimes, demonstrating product functionality requires angled views showcasing usage and components. 

For ad hoc vertical backdrops or photography prop ideas clip assorted products onto the ledge of a humble wooden clipboard elevated by hooks, clamps, or props against a neutral wall.

6. Shape Aluminum Foil into Reflectors

Beyond baking pans, reach for ordinary household aluminum foil as an ultra-affordable photography reflector for adding dimension to product shots. Simply scrunch sheets into loose balls and strategic angles optimized to bounce light onto specific surfaces. 

The wavy texture catches and reflects light for accentuating dimensions and surfaces with increased luminance your camera’s flash alone can’t achieve.

7. Craft Paper Towels and toilet Paper Rolls into Product Stands.

Rather than trashing cardboard paper product tubes, transform these household cylinders into custom photography stands and risers ideal for propping up compact items like jewelry, cosmetics, plants, and trinkets. 

Cut various lengths, stack into plinths, or leave full rolls intact for accenting product heights. Spray paint rolls into solid hues or fun patterns to complement displayed items like metallic gold embellishing a jewelry series or bright white matching a makeup line’s packaging.

8. Bend Wire Hangers into Abstract Sculptures

The ordinary wire hanger transforms into an abstract modern art sculpture when strategically bent into exciting angles. Use unique shapes or Photography Tray as framing elements surrounding products or as textural displays stand underneath. 

Use adult garment racks and miniature child hanger sizes to craft custom wire sculptures scaled to displayed products.

9. Drape Silk Scarves as Bold Backdrops

Vibrant 100% silk scarves block solid colors in the frame as exciting backdrops that aesthetically pop accessories, foods, plants, and other photographable products. 

Unleash those unworn styles stashed inside drawers to inject exotic global textures and rich dyed hues easily manipulated to stage items creatively and elegantly.

10. Shape Aluminum Foil into Reflectors

Crumble aluminum foil sheets into an improvised photography reflector for bouncing light. The metallic sheen and randomly crinkled texture catch and heightened ambient lighting from all angles. 

Sculpt sheets into spheres, cones, or abstract shapes surrounding product subjects to accent dimensions and surfaces with increased luminance beyond your camera flash’s capabilities.

Conclusion

Rather than break budgets on expensive photography lighting kits and backdrops, transform mundane household items into creative photographic props guaranteed to showcase products in visually intriguing environments. 

Construct improvised backgrounds, stands, frames, and reflectors using materials around your home kitchen, closets, and recycle bins.