Useless Stuff Make Excellent Props

I’ve got a soft spot for the things we’re all tempted to throw away.

When coming up with an idea for a personal project really you want to try and get the best photos you can out of the tightest budget possible. What better way to keep cost down than to use something you or someone else considers junk or alternatively stuff you have in the house.

When I was given the idea for a completely separate shoot to this, I needed to get my hands on a bunch of cassette tapes. To keep costs down I scrolled Ebay for broken cassette tapes, as some of them I would be damaging anyway so better that the are already not working. Also who in their right mind would want to buy broken cassette tapes. Even the seller asked what possible use I had for 88 broken cassettes. Of course you can ask family and friends and they more than likely will be happy to hand over their junk. For this though the quantity I needed it was easier to scroll Ebay. Before using them for the shoot I want to see what else I could do with the tapes. So I laid them out in different patterns and took a few photos. Edited them to give a retro feel to them.

Which got me thinking what else in the house I could use as props. A chipped mug at the back of the cupboard. A scrunched-up bit of foil. A half-used roll of tape. A bundle of keys that don’t open anything anymore. The “junk” drawer in the kitchen that somehow contains elastic bands, old batteries, a random button, and a tiny screwdriver you’ve never used. On paper, none of it sounds inspiring. But in a photograph? Seemingly useless items can be absolute gold.

It is really a very simple task; using color, contrast, shapes, textures, pattern and other very basic photographic techniques. Some of those things together might lead to a story being formed by a viewer and that will drive the photo. Go find objects of little or no worth and make interesting photos from them. It makes you think creatively at least during times of bad weather or even if you are unable to leave the house. Give it a go and make something artistic.

They give you permission to play. They take the pressure off. And they’re often the quickest route to making something visually interesting without needing a perfect location or a perfect outfit or perfect anything.

If you’ve ever felt stuck creatively, this is your nudge: stop looking for “good” subjects and start looking for good surfaces, good shapes, and good light. The rest takes care of itself.

Why “useless” items work so well in photos

1) They’re packed with texture

Useless stuff is usually used stuff—and that’s exactly the point.

Scratches, scuffs, worn edges, peeling labels, fingerprints, dents, frayed fabric, rust, dust… all of it adds depth. Texture gives your photo something to say even when the subject is simple. It creates contrast. It catches light. It makes the image feel tactile, like you could reach in and touch it.

A brand-new object can be beautiful, but a worn one is often more interesting.

2) They come with built-in colour palettes

Look around your home and you’ll find colour combinations you’d never think to design on purpose: faded reds next to dull brass, bright plastic against dark wood, a pop of neon packaging in a sea of neutral tones.

And because these items aren’t “meant” to be photographed, the colours feel more honest. Less staged. More real. That’s a great place to start if you want images that feel natural but still visually strong.

3) They’re full of patterns (even when you don’t notice at first)

Bubble wrap. Corrugated cardboard. Mesh fruit bags. Old tiles. A stack of CDs. A tangled chain. A pile of buttons. A crumpled crisp packet.

Patterns are everywhere, and they’re one of the easiest ways to make a photo feel intentional. Repetition gives structure. It guides the eye. It turns chaos into design.

4) They remove the pressure to “get it right”

When you’re photographing something precious—people, a big moment, a paid shoot—there’s pressure. With a “useless” object, you can experiment freely. You can try weird angles. You can push the edit. You can make a mess. You can fail quickly and learn quickly.

That’s where creativity lives.

5) They can tell a story without trying

A single object can hint at a whole life: a worn-out pair of gloves, a cracked phone case, a paint-splattered jar, a dog-eared book, a set of keys, a ticket stub, a broken toy.

Even if you’re not photographing it as a “story” image, that sense of history adds emotion. It makes the viewer pause for a second longer—and that’s half the battle.

What to look for: a quick scavenger list

If you want to try this today, here are a few easy “props” that photograph brilliantly:

• Tin foil (crumpled or smoothed)

• Old newspapers or magazines (great for background texture)

• Glass bottles and jars (reflections + highlights)

• Keys, coins, jewellery bits (small details, great for macro)

• Plastic packaging (colour, shine, weird shapes)

• Fabric scraps, scarves, old knitwear (soft texture)

• Tape, string, elastic bands (lines and tension)

• Tools (metal texture, strong shapes)

• Kitchen utensils (curves, reflections)

• Dried flowers, leaves, seed heads (organic texture)

• Cardboard, egg cartons, bubble wrap (pattern heaven)

You don’t need to find “the perfect thing”. You just need something with one strong visual quality: texture, colour, shape, or pattern.

Simple shooting tips (no fancy setup needed)

Tip 1: Start with window light

If you do nothing else, put your subject near a window.

• Side light (window to the left or right) brings out texture.

• Backlight (window behind the subject) makes glass and translucent items glow.

• Overcast light is soft and forgiving—perfect for experimenting.

If the light is harsh, hang a thin curtain or use a white sheet to soften it.

Tip 2: Choose one “hero” and build around it

Pick one main object, then add one or two supporting items at most. Too many bits and it becomes clutter (unless clutter is the point and you’re controlling it).

A simple approach:

• One hero object

• One textured background

• One small accent (a colour pop or a repeating shape)

Tip 3: Use backgrounds you already have

You don’t need a studio backdrop. Try:

• A wooden table

• A baking tray (great for industrial vibes)

• A plain wall

• A bedsheet

• A piece of cardboard

• A chopping board

• A book cover

• A tiled floor

Backgrounds matter because they set the mood. A “boring” object can look premium on a clean background, or gritty on something rough and worn.

Tip 4: Get close—then get closer

Most people don’t move close enough.

Fill the frame with texture. Crop in until the object becomes almost abstract. A crumpled crisp packet can turn into a landscape of colour and shine if you’re close enough.

If your phone has a macro mode, use it. If not, step back slightly and zoom a little (too close can make it struggle to focus).

Tip 5: Shoot from three angles every time

To keep yourself experimenting, take the same subject and shoot:

1. Top-down (flat lay, pattern-friendly)

2. Eye-level (more “real”, more story)

3. Low angle (makes small things feel bigger and bolder)

You’ll be surprised how quickly the “same” object becomes three different photos.

Tip 6: Look for one strong shadow

Shadows add shape and drama, especially with simple objects.

Move the subject closer to the window for stronger shadows, further away for softer ones. Even a small shift can change the whole feel.

Tip 7: Add a single colour on purpose

If your scene is neutral, add one bold colour: a red elastic band, a blue pen, a yellow label, a green leaf. That one choice can make the image feel designed rather than accidental.

Tip 8: Try a “texture sandwich”

This is an easy way to make a photo feel rich:

• Textured background (wood, paper, fabric)

• Subject with texture (metal, plastic, worn surfaces)

• Light that reveals texture (side light)

Texture + texture + side light = instant interest.

Tip 9: Don’t overthink the edit

A few simple tweaks go a long way:

• Lift exposure slightly if it feels heavy

• Add a touch of contrast for punch

• Reduce highlights if shiny packaging is blowing out

• Add clarity/texture carefully (a little goes a long way)

• Keep colours believable—unless you’re intentionally going bold

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A creative exercise to try this week

Here’s a quick challenge I love when I’m in a rut:

1. Pick five useless items from one drawer.

2. Choose one window in your house.

3. Take ten photos of each item:

   • 3 angles

   • 3 close-ups

   • 2 with strong shadow

   • 2 with a colour accent

That’s 50 photos from “nothing”. And I can almost guarantee you’ll find at least a handful you genuinely love.

The point isn’t the object—it’s the way you see it

The best part about photographing “useless” stuff is that it trains your eye. You start noticing light. You start noticing surfaces. You start noticing how colours sit next to each other. You start noticing patterns in everyday life.

And once you can make a great photo out of a crumpled bit of foil or a scratched-up keyring, you’ll bring that same creativity into everything else you shoot—portraits included.

So next time you’re about to bin something, pause for a second.

It might not be useful anymore.

But it might make an excellent prop.

Thanks for reading. See you again soon.