Instagram is the perfect place for growing your visual brand and building a consistent connection between your followers and yourself. Since Instagram is visually focused, it is important to create clean and consistent brand imagery for your followers to fall in love with. When shooting your own brand photography, it can be difficult to determine what subjects and objects you should be shooting. Props, backgrounds, and subjects can vary based on your niche. I created this guide as reference for the perfect props, backdrops, and subjects for your Instagram theme. Download your Free MoodBoard Templates at the bottom of the post, to help you brand your Instagram. 

Fashion, Beauty, & Lifestyle

Shot List

• Portraits - Full body outfit portraits & Selfies (to show off makeup or hairstyle) 

• Flat Lay & Still Life - products, clothes, electronics, accessories 

• Environmental - to show retail store, home, trendy settings

Aesthetic & Colors

• Sophisticated - black & white, gold 

• Bold and Edgy - Red, Black, White, Hot Pink, shiny  

• Feminine and Youthful - Pastel colors 

• Youthful - Vibrant colors 

• Grunge and Goth - Black, dark reds, and purples, gray, textured, gaudy  

Background & Backdrop

• Solid colors - Walls, seamless paper, cardstock, table/desktop and poster board

• Flooring - Wood, marble, and carpet 

• Trendy environments - Walls covered with gallery styled wall art, urban interiors, offices, workspace, coffee shops, retail store interiors and exteriors, urban environments 

Props

• Trendy clothes and accessories. I see sunglasses and fashion bags are very popular. 

• Beauty and hair products - makeup, bath products, nail polish (Just make sure everything has nice packaging and looks new) 

• Fashion magazines, books, planners, notebooks 

• Food - Coffee, chocolates, and bottled drinks 

• Electronics - Cell phones, computers, laptops, tablets 

• Electronic accessories - Cell phone covers, laptop covers 

• Plants - Flowers and fake leaves (check out Ikea and dollar stores) 

Photography, Design, Illustration, & Technology

Shot List

• Environmental - studios, workspace, desktops, office environment, coffee shops, coworking spaces 

• Flat Lays - Equipment, drafting materials, stationery, small electronics 

• Portraits - Of you working on things, shots with you using products or things related to your brand, environmental portrait 

• Photo & Design Work - Work In Progress (WIP) shots, finalized work, screenshots of software programs & coding, drafts 

Aesthetic & Colors

• Feminine - Soft, clean, light colors 

• Modern - Black, white, cool tones, desaturated colors, high contrast 

• Urban -  brownish tones, warm, rustic, saturated tones with matte blacks 

• Illustration style - colorful, vibrant, clean, bold

Backgrounds & Backdrops

• Solid Colors - walls, seamless paper, cardstock, table/desktop and poster board 

• Flooring & Tabletops - wood, marble, solid, carpet, stone 

• Environments - Workspace/desk, Coffee shops, Coworking spaces, workplaces, workshops, networking events, interior

Props

• Equipment - cameras, camera & video equipment and accessories, computers, graphics tablets (Wacom) 

• Materials - sketchbooks, drafting paper, notebooks, pens and pencils 

• Design/Creative Magazines and books 

• Misc - Food, coffee, watches, stationary

Travel, Outdoor, Urban & Nature

Shot List

• Environmental - locations, landscape, underwater shots, interiors, architecture 

• Flat Lays - travel stuff, food, and souveniers 

• Portraits - Of yourself, people you travel with, locals and natives 

Aesthetic & Color Palettes

• Urban - brown, deep green, saturated colors with matte blacks  

• Classic - clean colors, black & white shots (avoid stylistic filters focus on accurate color correction and contrast), HDR 

• Modern - black & white, desaturated colors, minimalistic 

• Happy & Feminine - Vibrant colors, soft tones, bright images with light contrast

• Natural Environments - Landscapes, waterscapes, woodlands, mountains 

• Tourist Attractions - Museums, Historical Buildings, Street Photography, Shops and Restaurants, Hotel, Interiors and Architecture 

Backgrounds & Backdrops

• Backdrops - Maps, Bedding, Tabletops, Wood, Carpet, Marble 

Props

• Travel stuff - luggage, maps, bags, clothes, hiking gear, tickets, passport 

• Souvenir items 

• Food - Cultural foods, snacks 

• Camera & Video Equipment - cameras, tripods, lenses, and accessories 

• Electronics - Laptops, cell phones, tablets, earphones

Arts, Crafts, Sculpture & DIY

Shot List

• Think Martha Stewart haha :P

• Portraits - Playful selfies and portraits, working portraits, portraits with your crafts or people using them 

• Environmental - studios, workspaces, woodshops, workshops, craft stores, and booths 

• Craftworks - WIPs, finished work, product shots, sketches and artwork 

• Flat Lays - materials, tools, products

Aesthetic & Color Palettes

• Feminine - soft, clean, light colors 

• Industrial - brownish warm tones, metallics, 

• Youthful/Child-like - vibrant and colorful 

Backgrounds & Backdrops

• Solid & Textured - walls, seamless paper, cardstock, tabletops 

• Wood and metal flooring and table tops 

• Craft papers, art papers, handmade papers 

• Art tables (with tool marks on them or paint marks)

Props

• Craft materials - tools, paintbrushes, sculpting tools, sewing materials, yarn, beads, glitter 

• Arts & Crafts books, sketchbooks, art papers, planners, stationary 

• Finished work - sculptures, crafts, handmade goods, paintings, jewelry, candles, etc.

Parenting, Maternity, & Childcare/Child Education

Shot List

• Portraits - maternity, family, baby 

• Environmental - nursery, baby/kids bedrooms, outdoors, playground, classroom 

• Flat Lays & Still Life - Baby & maternity clothes and stuff, toys, etc.

Aesthetic & Color Palettes

• Baby - soft, clean, pastel colors 

• Kids - Vibrant, bold colors, multicolored 

• Maternity - soft, warm or cool tones, clean, deep tones

Backgrounds & Backdrops

• Solid - walls, seamless paper, cardstock, blankets 

• Flooring & Table Tops - wood, marble, solid, carpet, craft tables

Props

• Maternity stuff 

• Baby stuff - bottles, teething rings, clothes, pacifiers 

• Celebration - balloons, cards, presents 

• Toys & Recreation - bubbles, flowers, stuffed animals, glitter 

Food & Cooking

Shot List

• Portraits - Cooking shots, environmental shots with finished food, eating shots 

• Environmental - Kitchen, Restaurants, Dining rooms 

• Flat Lays & Still Life - Food, ingredients, cookware

Aesthetic & Color Palettes

• Modern Chef - Clean tones, bold or minimal style  

• Bakery - warm tones, vibrant contrast or matted blacks 

• Sweets - soft and colorful, pastel 

• Healthy/Vegan - vibrant greens, clean color correction, and contrast 

• Food Blogger - urban tones or vibrant tones

Backgrounds & Backdrops

• Table tops - wood, stone, metallic, granite/marble, 

Props

• Food & ingredients 

• Cookware and dishware 

• Small appliances 

• Napkins, kitchen towels, placemats, foils and cooking paper 

• Candles 

• Garnish, sprinkles, plants 

• Fake foods and fruits 

Fitness & Wellness

• Portraits - Gym environmental shots, selfies in fitness clothes, progress shots, action shots

• Environmental - Gym, Field, Park, Fitness stores, Smoothie shops, Healthfood stores & restaurants 

• Flat Lay & Stills - Gym clothes & workout equipment

Aesthetic & Color Palette

• Urban Athlete - Deep tones, matte blacks, warm colors, black & white 

• Clean Eater - Vibrant, clean tones, bright, neutral tones,  

• Motivator -  Bold, mostly desaturated with punched skin tones, high contrast, high clarity for muscle tone emphasis 

Background & Backdrops

• Gym floors 

• Grass & gravel 

• Flooring - Concrete, wood, tile, carpet 

• Bedding & towels 

Props

• Clothes - sportswear, tennis shoes, sports bras, swimwear 

• Electronics - phone, tablet, step trackers, fitness apps, and gadgets, earphones 

• Food - healthy & clean foods, snacks, energy drinks, bottles, protein bars, shakes, smoothies 

• Accessories - armbands, socks, headbands, towels etc 

• Equipment - weightlifting, weights, tires, jump ropes, bands 

• Fitness books, magazines, food journals/guides, fitness journals/guides, printed schedules 

• Motivational signage, stationary, motivational phrases are written on dry erase boards or notebooks

Business, Startup, & Entrepreneur

Shot List

• Portraits - Professional portraits, selfies related to profession, meetings, team group portraits, portraits of people working 

• Environmental - Office, Workplace, Workspace/Desk, Coworking place, Networking events, Coffee shops, 

• Flat Lay & Still Life - Branding materials, Office supplies & materials, stationary  

Aesthetic & Palette

• Urban startup - deep tones, matte blacks, warm tones, textured 

• Motivational Startup - Bold vibrant colors, clean branding 

• Corporate - Black, white, silver, pale blue, desaturated, cool tones, minimalistic

Backgrounds & Backdrops

• Table tops - Desktops, wooden tables, marble 

• Solid - Seamless paper, walls

Props

• Office Supplies - pens, notebooks, portfolios, planners, stationery, printing papers 

• Brand Materials 

• Electronics - Computers, Laptops, Phones, Tablets 

• Printouts & notes