10 Accessories and Items to Bring to your Photoshoot
Bringing along clothing accessories or special items can be a great way of diversifying your photo gallery and can make your photos both more interesting and more meaningful. Here are some suggestions I have of items you could consider bringing along to a photoshoot to help your photos be extra special. I do also usually bring along a few items of interest myself, but if you have a specific vision in mind it’s easiest to bring these items along yourself, and of course meaningful personal items can only come from you!
Clothing Accessories to bring to a Photoshoot:
Number 1: Jackets or other Long Sleeved Layers
Layers make a photo more interesting by creating texture in the photo and drawing your eye to different areas. It’s also a great way of being able to wear a dress or short-sleeved outfit while still saying warm enough in the Spring, Fall or Winter.
Number 2: A Hat
Leave the ball caps at home, but a nice wide brimmed straw hat or cowboy hat can add interest and again layers to a photo. It also creates photo variety by being able to have some photos with or without the hat, or some where you are just holding the hat. Just make sure it doesn’t mess up your hair!
Number 3: Scarves, Belts or Necklaces
Adding little accessories such as a necklace or scarf can be a great way to again add texture and interest but also use the color to coordinate better with other members of your family. For instance in the winter, a scarf might be the same color as the shirt your child is wearing to help coordinate the two of you.
Bring Special Personal Items as Memories and Keepsakes
Memorial items, baby items, special stuffed animals, or even that Disney princess dress that your daughter wore for 6 months straight can be great to bring to a photoshoot. It lets you memorialize the important and meaningful things in your life. What is going to be more meaningful for you in 10 years: A picture of your son in a brand new shirt he only wore for this photoshoot, or a picture of him hugging his sticky and slightly mangled stuffed tiger that he brings everywhere? I promise it will be the latter!
Number 4: Baby Items or Ultrasound Pictures
Whether to a maternity, newborn or family session, if you have a baby or toddler, it can be a great idea to bring meaningful baby items. These can be both prospective (looking into the future) or retrospective (looking into the past). Holding a tiny baby pair of shoes while pregnant is just as meaningful as a 2 year old holding the first outfit she ever wore.
Number 5: A Special Stuffed Animal or Toy
Most kids will have a special toy that is their very favorite, whether a stuffed animal, toy car or doll. No matter their age, bring that toy along to the photo session. Not only will it make your child happy to have the item along, but these create amazing memories for the future.
Number 6: A Memorial Picture or Item
Remembering our loved ones that have passed on is so important and having pictures with and of special memorial items can be an important and beautiful part of the grieving process.
Miscellaneous and Seasonal Items to bring for Photos
Number 7: A Bouquet of Flowers
Flowers aren’t just for weddings! A pretty bouquet of flowers can be bought at a grocery store for just 4-6 dollars and can really beautify your photos. They are great for maternity or milestone sessions and letting your kids play with flowers is a great way of getting amazing photos while keeping the kiddos happy too!
Number 8: Balloons or Bubbles
Again these are great items that allow your child to play and have fun while also making really interesting and playful photos.
Number 9: Holiday Decorations or Costumes
If you are having photos taken near a major holiday such as Halloween, Christmas, Easter or 4th of July it can be fun to incorporate a few decoration or costumes items for a few photos in your photoshoot. These add variety to your gallery while commemorating the holiday which is especially fun and meaningful for photos of young babies and toddlers.
Number 10: A Favorite Book
I love books and one of my favorite family shots is a picture of the parents reading a favorite book to their kids. Its such a great way of photographing an intimate and cuddly moment, its a great memory to look back on and the kids love it too!
Finally here is a quick list of additional items you could consider: feathers, leaves, a mirror, a special photo frame, fairy lights, costume items, sparklers, a lantern, an instrument or any item that relates to your hobbies or those of your family.
