Newborn, Family & Maternity Photography - Sutherland Shire & South West Sydney Maternity Photographer
More Than a Prop: Objects as Storytellers
Many people think of props in photography as decorative objects, added to tie into a theme or elevate the image visually.
But in truth, a thoughtfully chosen object can do far more than that.
Itcan deepen the storytelling and enrich the moments, becoming a key part of the narrative, something that holds memory, emotion, and artistry.
In my Sydney Newborn, Maternity and family sessions, I choose items that don’t just look beautiful, but carry meaning.
A mirror, a balloon, a picnic basket, or even a handful of flowers can shift the atmosphere of an image, bringing with them symbolism, nostalgia, intention, and depth.
Reflections of Connection: The Mirror
A mirror is more than glass. It is both self reflection and a looking glass into how others perceive
us. In a photograph, it feels like a portal into the soul, timeless in its ability to show not just what
is seen, but what is felt. A mirror reflects back the present moment, yet invites us to pause and
consider the layers of perspective: how a mother sees herself, how a child gazes at her, how
connection is mirrored between them.
It transforms a frame into something multidimensional, a scene that carries both intimacy and
artistry, drawing us deeper into the story unfolding.
Prompts with mirrors:
● Position it to catch both mother and bump in maternity portraits, showing present and
future in a single frame.
● Use it to frame a parent gazing at their child, the reflection layering the intimacy
through their eyes
● Experiment with two mirrors bounced off one another, capturing different scenes at
once for a surreal, multi-perspective image.
● Use it for a classic multigenerational shot, layering grandmother, mother, and child
within the same reflective frame.
The Joy That Lifts: Balloons
A balloon is one of the simplest objects of childhood, yet it holds a surprising weight of meaning.
In photography, it can symbolise milestones, celebrations, and the pure delight of youth.
Balloons carry with them a childlike innocence, the way little hands cling to a ribbon, or the way
colour floats effortlessly against the sky. More than a prop, balloons become a shared emblem of celebration and connection, they effortlessly tap into childlike wonder and encourage
playfulness in a session.
Prompts with balloons:
● Let children run while holding the ribbon, capturing both movement and laughter.
● Encourage a parent to crouch and hold the balloon alongside their child, drawing them
together in the frame.
● Capture the balloon drifting skyward as a symbol of release and fleeting innocence.
● Cluster multiple balloons in different colours and let them partially obscure the
subjects, creating a playful peekaboo effect.
Beauty in Bloom: Flowers
Flowers are one of nature’s most timeless props, delicate yet powerful in the way they transform a frame.
They symbolise beauty, growth, and the cycles of life, reminding us of both the transience of life and the beauty of being in the present.
Flowers also welcome nature and grounded emotion into a session, shaping the mood through their tones and colours.
With so many shapes and varieties, they offer endless ways to influence the feeling of an image.
They also carry deep personal meaning. Birth flowers can be a beautiful touch in maternity or motherhood sessions, marking the season of life being celebrated.
Flowers often hold memories too, perhaps someone’s loved one always gave them a particular bloom, or a relative who has passed was known for their favourite flower. In this way, flowers become more than decoration, they are threads that weave memory, love, and legacy into the moment.
Prompts with flowers:
● Place a single bloom in a child’s hand and capture how they turn it, study it, or smell it.
● Incorporate a small bouquet into a maternity pose, resting lightly against the belly as a symbol of growth.
● Encourage families to walk through a field holding stems, capturing movement and seasonality.
● Play with the shadows flowers cast across your subject, using petals or stems to create an artful, timeless touch.
Gathered Together: The Picnic Basket
A picnic basket carries with it layers of nostalgia, the warmth of afternoons spent outdoors, the comfort of food shared, the rituals of family traditions. In photography, it becomes a symbol of community and connection, grounding the frame in something familiar yet timeless. Styled carefully, it can also bring a vintage, old-world charm to the image. More than an accessory, it suggests belonging, the joy of gathering, the tenderness of nurture, the simple beauty of being together.
Prompts with picnic baskets:
● Let children run while holding the ribbon, capturing both movement and laughter.
Have the family sit cross-legged around the basket, reaching in together, creating natural gestures of sharing.
● Style the basket with vintage touches such as old books, lace cloth, or seasonal fruits to create an editorial, heirloom-inspired portrait.
● Ask a child to hold the basket and wander, collecting flowers or fruit, capturing a sense of play and discovery.
Closing
Props don’t need to be elaborate or costly. Sometimes they are objects already owned by the client, a child’s favourite toy, a mother’s heirloom scarf, a blanket that has been part of family picnics for years. Other times, they are inexpensive finds chosen intentionally to add to the mood or narrative of the session. What matters most is not their value, but their meaning, the way they fold seamlessly into the story being told.
It is thoughtful and intentional inclusions like this that elevate an image, transforming it from a portrait into a story. Each piece becomes a vessel of meaning, a subtle touch that adds artistry and a point of difference to your work. When chosen with care, these objects don’t just fill space, they infuse photographs with layers of symbolism and soul, ensuring the memory captured lingers long after the moment has passed.
About
Angelina Amelia is a Sydney based maternity, newborn, and family photographer who specializes in natural light, story telling and warm soulful imagery.
