Why I Encourage Families to Bring Meaningful Items to Their Photography Session

What matters to your family?

When people think about preparing for a family photography session, they often think about outfits first.

And while clothing certainly helps create a cohesive look, there is something else that can add an incredible amount of depth and meaning to your photographs.

The things that matter to your family.

A favourite toy.

A well-loved book.

A blanket that's been dragged everywhere for years.

A pair of gumboots.

A basket for collecting treasures.

The slightly battered stuffed animal that somehow manages to appear in every family outing.

These things might seem ordinary now, but they often become some of the most meaningful details captured in your photographs.

The Little Things Tell Big Stories

One of the things I love most about family photography is that it isn't just about what your family looks like.

It's about who you are.

The small details woven through your everyday life help tell that story.

A favourite toy isn't really just a toy.

It's the thing your child sleeps with every night.

The thing they insisted on bringing to the supermarket.

The thing that has travelled with your family on holidays and car trips and countless adventures.

I still smile when I think about my own daughter's favourite toy. She had a little bunny called Hop who went absolutely everywhere with us. I have photos of her holding Hop tightly on countless outings and adventures. We loved that bunny so much that we bought a second one, just in case the original ever got lost. Of course, she eventually discovered the backup bunny and promptly named it Flop.

At the time, it felt like such a small part of everyday life. Now, those memories and photographs mean so much because they instantly transport me back to that season of childhood.

Years from now, that toy may no longer be sitting on a shelf. It may be forgotten entirely.

But when it appears in a photograph, it becomes part of the story of who your child was during that season of life.

Meaningful Doesn't Have to Mean Perfect

Sometimes people hear the phrase "meaningful item" and immediately think of heirlooms or carefully chosen props.

It doesn't need to be anything like that.

Some of my favourite session details have been wonderfully ordinary.

A child's favourite dinosaur.

A treasured teddy.

A collection of sticks gathered during the session.

A beloved picture book.

Rain boots.

A family picnic blanket.

A basket used for collecting leaves and treasures.

The things that matter most to children are often surprisingly simple.

That's exactly why they matter.

They Help Children Feel Comfortable

Meaningful items don't just add to the story of your photographs.

They can also help children feel more relaxed during a session.

Walking into a photography session can feel like a big experience, especially for younger children.

Having something familiar nearby often provides comfort and confidence.

Sometimes a favourite toy becomes part of a game.

Sometimes a book creates an opportunity to sit together and share a quiet moment.

Sometimes a treasured object simply gives a child something that feels safe and familiar.

These small comforts often lead to genuine connection and natural interactions, which is exactly what I'm looking to capture.

They Create Opportunities for Connection

The most meaningful photographs are rarely about the object itself.

They're about what happens around it.

A parent reading a favourite story.

Siblings sharing a treasured toy.

A child proudly showing their collection of treasures.

A family wrapped together in a blanket.

These moments happen naturally when families engage with things they genuinely enjoy.

The item becomes part of the story, but the connection is what makes the photograph meaningful.

Some of My Favourite Session Items

Every family is different, which means every session is different too.

Some meaningful items families have brought include:

• Favourite books
• Stuffed animals and comfort toys
• Blankets passed down through generations
• Bubbles
• Ponchos and rain boots
• Small baskets for collecting treasures
• Family picnic rugs
• Nature journals and sketchbooks
• Special handmade gifts
• Toys children are currently obsessed with

There is no right or wrong choice.

If it's important to your family, it's worth considering.

What Will Your Children Remember?

One of my favourite questions to think about is this:

What would your child choose if they were telling the story of their childhood?

It probably wouldn't be perfectly coordinated outfits.

It might be their favourite toy.

Their collection of rocks.

The book they asked to read every night.

The blanket they dragged through the house.

The things that feel ordinary right now are often the things that become most precious later.

Bringing Your Story Into Your Session

When you book a family photography session with me, I always encourage you to think beyond outfits.

Think about the things your family loves doing together.

Think about what your children are interested in right now.

Think about the objects, traditions, hobbies, and little details that make this season of life uniquely yours.

Because years from now, those details may be the very things that bring these memories flooding back.

And those are the stories worth holding onto.