
1. Fishing line (nylon/acrylic thread)
If you enjoy designing elaborate sets for still life objects or products, then thread is your best friend! Acrylic string contains the power of invisibility and optical illusion. With the right lighting and post-production techniques, it can make things appear as if they are magically floating in the air.
2. Magnets
Fashion designers often use them to pick up stray pins and needles, but on set they can be used to hold up metal jewellery and fasten lightweight props onto upright surfaces.
3. Sticky tack and bubble gum
This one’s for you improvisers and MacGyvers out there! When all else fails, these two adhesives are the most reliable. Imagine trying to photograph an upright pencil without string or tape. Chewing gum will solve that problem real quick.
4. Lucky socks
“Dude, where’s my lens cap!?” is the age-old internal dialogue of a photographer. Critics may disagree, but I always bring a pair of socks with me on set in case I lose a lens cover or need to cushion it on a hard surface. Think about socks like a lens-cozy. Fuzzy socks or slippers can also be a great substitute for dirty sneakers on light-coloured, seamless backdrops.
5. Party horn (noise-makers)
Not your conventional studio tool, but these can come in super handy when you’re trying to get toddlers and pets to focus on the lens.
6. Bristol board
Whether you’re on a budget or on the go, buying some black and white bristol board from a dollar store will never fail you. This versatile paper board can become a reflector, flag, or even a backdrop. The options are limitless!
7. Binder clips
Nowadays these nifty little things come in all kinds of colours and sizes, and they are perfect for fitting clothing to a model, attaching fabric backdrops to each other, or fashioning a bristol board flag to a stand.
8. Plastic wrap
Another optically illusive tool, this kitchen staple can act as a protective lens barrier for spit-takes, wet dogs, or any situations where the camera can be exposed to splashes. Plastic wrap can also create some glaring effects, so you may need to use a polarizing lens filter to avoid those.
9. Mounting tape
Regular tape does most jobs, but mounting tape has the added bonus of being double-sided and super strong!
10. Beaded jewellery
Not a necessity, but definitely a surefire way of simulating lovely lens flares and beautiful bokehs when you’re feeling creative.
11. Water
A friendly reminder to stay hydrated! But it’s also good to keep spray bottles of water handy for adding a dewy effect to products or to quickly wipe down surfaces.

This story featured in our FASHION X FUTURE edition, a special curation by Djenabé!
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