Building your photography business from scratch can be a daunting task. Let’s be honest, there is soooo much to do! Whether you specialize in indoor photography, outdoor photography or a mixture of both, having a few props on hand can not only help to boost the dimensions or texture in your photos but also, they can make a world of difference in an otherwise boring scene. So, where do these props come from? Whelp, you might already have a few things lying around to work with in your garage, basement and around the house but what do you do when you have a special themed shoot and a lack of relatable props?  If you don’t have an answer, this may be a sign that you need to increase your personal stash.

I have learned that building a repertoire of props can be an expensive endeavor. If you aren’t hip to the stores that have what you need at the best prices, you can easily deplete your bank accounts. I don’t know about you, but I prefer to keep a little money in the bank! For this reason, I’ve done a little extra research to not only bypass the excessively priced props but also, to find unique props that you may not find anywhere else.

Check out the following:

Dollar Tree

Everyone sleeps on the dollar tree but the truth is that they have dozens of items for the low all year around! Additionally, you might even find some name brand and/or premium quality décor for a single dollar per item. Just recently, I found some great décor for my back to school mini session such as mini chalkboards, traditional school supplies, and artificial fruit. Another great thing about the Dollar Tree is that their inventory varies in each of their locations so, if you go to a few of them, chances are that you’ll find something new at each store.

Goodwill

I always go into this store with an idea of what I need but, I never really know what I will find. You’ll need to go into this store with an open mind and a creative perspective. If you do that, you’ll not only come out with the most unique props but also, you’ll have spent virtually nothing to acquire those items. You ever hear of that quote that says, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”? That quote rings especially true here. Just recently, I went in looking for some older encyclopedias and wicker baskets and I came out with both having spent around 7 bucks give or take the change.

Amazon

Assuming you are not anti-Jeff Bezos, this could easily become your one stop shop for many of the staples in your prop collection. Say whatever you want about Amazon but seriously, name another company where you can find almost anything that you are looking for and get it in the mail 1-2 days later for a more than reasonable price and free shipping….. I’ll wait! (lol). Exactly! I had the wildest idea for an enchanted forest mini session and Amazon literally had every faux thing my mind could conjure up to complete my prop set-up. I even got a little spoiled with some lightning deals and coupons for a few items which allowed me to skate to the checkout spending about 40% less than what I had priced out at 3 other vendors.

JoAnn

Sometimes, the prop that you need will require some creativity and assembly on your part. Joann is good for paint, wood, paper, glass, fabric and so much more. What’s even better is that you will rarely need to pay full price for what you need because they usually have several coupons that you can use in combination with the various sales and Clarence’s you’ll find throughout the store. This store also has curbside pick-up now so, if you are in a hurry or you are just feeling flat out lazy and don’t want to go in, you can shop online for what you need and pick it up at your convenience.

Utilizing these 4 stores has been a monumental money saver for me as I have worked to build my business and I know it can do the same for you. I’d love to hear more about the amazing things you find at amazingly low prices. Drop a comment and let us know what you find!

Written by: Teah Ojeda