Best Photo Shoot Accessories of 2025

I often get asked by clients if it's okay to bring props to their photo shoot. The answer is always "Yes, of course!", but there were a few accessories and props this year that really stood out as having spectacular results. I share a few of my personal favorites from 2025 below:

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Ring Sling

Combining my two favorite things: style and function, a Ring Sling is your answer to an easier family shoot with a young child. A simple cloth sling held together in place by two metal rings, it features a long trailing segment of fabric artfully draped over one side of the body. Say goodbye to awkwardly figuring out how to hold a squirming infant while still showing off your good side, and say hello to a stylish family photo with a cozy, comfy baby!

Available from most major retailers and offered by a variety of brands. ​Price: $35-$150

Bubbles

Hardly new or revolutionary, but nonetheless one of my favorite and most oft used accessories of the year. Bubbles are a great engagement tool for children under 10. Any kind of bubbles: small bubble sticks, big bubble wands, bubble guns... they're fun and keep kids focused: it's play time, at the photo shoot! And best of all, they're colorful and visually charming, so your photos have a little extra whimsy.

Available from most major retailers and offered by a variety of brands. ​Price: $1-20

Umbrella

Specifically: A clear plastic umbrella with a curved handle. November through February sees scattered (and briefly, heavy) rains in the Central Valley. A stylish umbrella makes for a great photo shoot prop to emphasize the moody, seasonal weather while also keeping you dry; and a clear plastic one offers the added benefit of more light on your subject, and a good view of all the raindrops clinging to the plastic.

Available from most major retailers and offered by a variety of brands. ​Price: $10-$30

Stuffed Animals

Everyone, meet Foxy. I've had the privilege of photographing this charming little girl and her favorite stuffy for two years, now (and in each session, Foxy was included). I remember my favorite childhood stuffed animal, and I sometimes find myself looking back and wishing I had more photos with him before he wore out beyond rescue. So much of what child photography is about is capturing kids at a distinctive and fleeting time in their lives - and part of that time very often includes having a favorite stuffy they haul around everywhere they go. So why not include them in the photos with you, while they're still around?

Wedding Veil

Whether its for a one year anniversary shoot or your first maternity session, a wedding veil can add a lot of visual interest as well as symbolic meaning to your shoot.