"Turning someone into a prop" is a metaphorical statement. To conclude the act matches a dictionary definition of something is taking rhetoric way too seriously

"Turning someone into a prop" is a metaphorical statement. To conclude the act matches a dictionary definition of something is taking rhetoric way too seriously. Any act can be metaphorically described in a way that sounds like that but if you want to attach moral judgment you really ought to focus on original facts and not the projection onto a metaphor. The woman is clearly still treated as a human being, even if not given enough respect. If the filmer did something like forcefully moving her body and limbs for posing to achieve dramatic effect, or deliberately humiliated her with insulting commentary, you may have a point that it's "dehumanizing", but he didn't go that far.