Bondage Photo Shoot Props
Anna discusses the use of props at a typical bondage shoot at Brandibondage.
Being a technical theatre major myself, it’s hard to not notice little bits of detail that dot and decorate each photograph in a bondage shoot. Actually, perhaps the use of the word “decorate” is not giving enough credit to the usefulness and creativity that props offer, not just in theatre, but in photography. Throughout my time modeling for Brandibondage, I’ve had the pleasure of dressing up and wearing so many different costumes for differently themed photographs, from office secretary to little girl to ballerina, but sometimes, it’s the tiny details like a specific painting on the wall behind the model’s head, or the large stuffed animal that really puts the theme forward. After all, where would a shoot with a French maid all tied up be without that feather duster? Would a scene from Deviant Dining seem complete without plates and utensils on the table? If there was a photograph with a secretary bound, tied, and gagged, wouldn’t she look a bit out of place without a mess of papers on the desk, perhaps even with a computer or laptop where something she was working on still shines on the screen? Props lend that slight bit of realism and believability to a photograph, and that is important in bondage, as it reminds the viewer that the models, bondage artists, photographer, and helpers involved in the shoot are indeed real people, and shortens the distance between those involved in the shoot and their *ahem* adoring fans.
My favorite photo shoot of all time (well up to today, I suppose, as there will be many more photo shoots to come in the future that I will love, I’m sure) involving props was the little girl in pink pajamas hogtied on her very pink-clad bed, surrounded by her beloved stuffed animals. This shoot was absolutely hilarious, especially with the stuffed animals, all ranging in size from the small beanie baby types to the larger stuffed sheep that ended up acting more as a pillow. The involvement of these props definitely made for situations and opportunities that no one involved in the shoot, not even I, the owner of these said stuffed-animals-turned-props, could have foreseen or predicted. If I remember correctly, there were between six to ten different stuffed animals on the bed during that photo shoot, including a teddy bear, a stuffed sheep, a couple of pigs, some skunks, a large dog, and even a moose. During one part of that particular shoot, the stuffed animals were arranged so that it looked as if the little girl was being held down by her darling stuffed animals. Interesting reference of sorts to Gulliver’s Adventures in the miniature world, anyone? I must say, even I wanted to snuggle myself when I saw the photos that were taken at that shoot - I looked so comfortable! Of course, without the stuffed sheep being present, the little girl wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pull the sheep toward her head with her teeth (which, thankfully, wasn’t tied) and rest her weary little head on the sheep’s plump belly. Mmm…time for a nap, little girl!
xoxo Anna