DIY Fun & Easy Photography Prop Tutorial

Hello all, I guest posted on tutorial tuesday over at A little Lovely a couple weeks ago.
And if you happen to miss that post, here it is again!

This is an extremely EASY and cheap idea for a photography prop, that also doubles as a way to keep the kids entertained!

As a photographer Im always on the look out for cute new props and ideas.. especially for the little ones! :)

Well I had a shoot coming up that I needed a #2, for! :)
That might have sounded strange.
Let me explain.
I had a "birthday" photo shoot for a little girl  (pictured above) who had just turned 2! Her mom asked if I had any number props. I didnt but said I would be on the look out and be sure to have one for her by the time her photo shoot came up.

Well I looked around, in stores, online.. and couldnt really find any wooden letters!

None at least that didnt cost an arm and a leg! Sheesh. HAHA 

So I had to really think.

I decided to go to Michaels and be inspired!

Thats when I found these cute wooden shapes.

Only $1 each!

I instantly knew that I had to buy them, and what I would do with them!

I went to home depot next and bought some spray paint:

I used the primer first, sorry no picture, let it dry 20 minutes, then gave it another coat.

After another 20 min, I sprayed it with the chalkboard spray paint. 

I gave it 3 coats of the chalkboard paint. 20 min between each coat.

Then let it dry over night!

The next day I seasoned the chalkboard, by turning a piece of chalk on its side and rubbing it all over!

Wipe off with chalk eraser (or paper towel.. thats what I used!)

And do this again several times. 

This way when you actually write something for the first time, it doesnt stay permanent!

After your new cute chalkboards are properly seasoned..

 grab some chalk 

and write! :)

Here is little Bruce helping me with a little test shot. 

And here is a little sneak from the photo shoot I mentioned! 

Roxanne in her cute little birthday dress for her 2 year photos, using the heart chalkboard! :)

Completely ADORABLE right!? 

(for the record, though, I did end up finding a small wooden 2! We did use it in her shoot, but I am so glad I came up with the chalkboards.. they were much cuter than an plain old wooden 2!)

See the rest of her photo shoot {here}

ONE more thing.. Remember I said they were also good for entertaining the kids? 

I gave them to my two oldest to play with during a long car ride. :) 

They stayed entertained for a good hour!

Success!
You gotta love a double use craft!!!

I also just had another idea pop into my head as I was writing this..

I think it would be just adorable for a couples photo shoot! 

With each person holding a side of the heart and an ampersand written on it! :)

I think the ideas are endless... ♥♥♥

Update:

I had another photo shoot since this posted on ALittleLovely

Check out how I used the heart chalkboard. :)

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See more of this Maternity Session {here}