Forest Scenes.Props for these portraits might include
logs, rocks, or tree stumps (all artificial, lightweight, and
commercially available). These are used to build a forest
scene or wooded-glen set, for example. To garnish the
portrait, artificial leaves, plants, and flowers can be posi-
tioned near and around the children. Small props, like
woodland animals, frogs, butterflies, birds, and so on are
also used to add to the illusion of the fantasy portrait.
Small garlands of artificial flowers are often used as head-
bands. Garlands are also sometimes loosely arranged
within the photograph as color accents.
Antiques.Small antique suitcases are also a popular
prop, used to create the illusion that the child is traveling
to some exotic location. Some studios also have antique
rocking horses, tricycles, and more—stuff the photogra-
phers have picked up over time.90 CHILDREN’S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY HANDBOOK