Want to know the secret to making your family photo outfits look more elevated, interesting, and completely your own? Add accessories.

Welcome back to What Moms Should Know!

I’m Lacey, and I’ve been a professional family, newborn, and maternity photographer for well over a decade. This weekly series was born from all of the questions I hear from moms who want beautiful photographs and a beautiful, enjoyable experience while they’re creating them.

And this week, we’re talking about one of my favorite secrets for creating an outstanding family photo outfit gallery.

The kind of gallery that makes you look at the images and think:

“Wow. Look at their outfits!”

The secret might not be what you expect.

It’s accessories.

The Secret to Elevating Your Family Photo Outfits

When you’re planning what everyone will wear for family photos, it’s easy to focus on the big pieces.

Mom’s dress.

Dad’s shirt.

The kids’ outfits.

And while those pieces are certainly important, it’s often the little details that take your outfits from looking nice to looking beautifully styled and multidimensional.

Accessories add visual interest.

They create layers.

They give us more to photograph.

And, perhaps most importantly, they make your family’s outfits feel more personal and unique.

You don’t have to completely reinvent everyone’s wardrobe. Sometimes, adding just one or two thoughtful accessories can completely change the look and feel of your gallery.

Here are some of my favorite ways to do it.

Add Accessories to Your Daughter’s Outfit

For little girls, accessories can be especially fun.

Think about:

• Bows or ribbons in her hair
• Little tights or stockings
• Sweet socks
• A cardigan
• A headband
• A cute sweater
• A delicate necklace
• A pair of special shoes

Imagine a simple romper on its own.

Now add a little cardigan.

Suddenly, you have another layer and another texture. It creates visual complexity without making the outfit feel overly complicated.

And here’s the best part: accessories can be removed throughout the session.

Your daughter might wear her cardigan for some images and take it off for others. We can photograph her with the bow in her hair and then without it.

You aren’t committing to one look for your entire gallery.

You’re creating options.

Layer Your Little Boy’s Outfit

Accessories and layers work beautifully for little boys, too.

One of my favorite combinations is a simple white shirt underneath a button-down shirt that is left unbuttoned.

Suddenly, you’ve added another color, another layer, and another dimension to the outfit.

You can also consider:

• Suspenders
• Overalls
• A cardigan
• A sweater
• A vest
• A hat
• A bow tie
• A textured jacket
• Special shoes

I especially love suspenders and overalls for little boys because they add so much personality to an image.

Again, the goal isn’t to add everything.

It’s to choose one or two details that give the outfit a little more dimension.

Don’t Forget Mom’s Accessories

When you’re planning your own family photo outfit, accessories can be one of the easiest ways to create variety throughout your session.

Think about the accessories you already love wearing.

Maybe it’s:

• The perfect pair of shoes
• A beautiful shawl
• A cozy cardigan
• A fun hat
• A statement necklace
• A delicate pair of earrings
• A beautiful coat
• A belt
• A textured scarf

And here’s a little secret:

You don’t have to wear everything for the entire session.

If you have a beautiful hat, bring it.

If you have a gorgeous coat, bring it.

If you have a shawl you love, bring that, too.

We can incorporate it into a few photographs and then move on to another look.

This is one of the reasons I love having options during a photography session. A small accessory can completely change the feeling of an image without requiring you to change your entire outfit.

Give Dad Some Layers, Too

Men’s outfits can sometimes feel a little more challenging to style, but layering is an easy solution.

Instead of choosing one shirt and calling it done, think about adding dimension.

For example, you might pair:

• A long-sleeve shirt under a button-down
• A henley under a jacket
• A sweater over a collared shirt
• A textured cardigan
• A vest
• A casual jacket

Layering creates visual interest while still feeling natural.

And it gives us more options during the session.

Dad can wear a layer for some images, remove it for others, and suddenly you have a gallery with more variety without needing an entirely different outfit.

Don’t Forget Your Newborn’s Accessories

Accessories aren’t just for older children and adults.

They can be beautiful for newborn photography, too.

Imagine your baby wearing a simple outfit with a little denim.

Now add a beautifully textured, soft blanket that we can drape around or over them.

The blanket becomes an accessory.

It adds texture.

It creates dimension.

And it gives us another element to incorporate into the photograph.

For newborn sessions, accessories might include:

• Soft blankets
• Textured wraps
• Knitted pieces
• Simple hats
• Headbands
• Bows
• Overalls
• Soft cardigans
• Special heirloom pieces

When choosing newborn accessories, I always recommend keeping the baby’s comfort in mind. The goal is to add beautiful details without overwhelming the baby or taking attention away from the tiny features you’re there to remember.

Sometimes the simplest addition—a beautiful blanket or a delicate headband—is all you need.

Accessories Don’t Have to Be Complicated

When I talk about accessories, I don’t mean that you need to go shopping for an entirely new wardrobe.

You probably already have more options in your closet than you realize.

Before your family photography session, look at your outfits and ask:

“What could I add to create another layer?”

Maybe it’s a cardigan.

Maybe it’s a hat.

Maybe it’s a beautiful pair of shoes.

Maybe it’s a blanket you’ve had tucked away in your linen closet.

Maybe it’s a pair of suspenders your son already owns.

Think about texture, layers, and small details.

These are the elements that can take an outfit from one-dimensional to multidimensional.

The Best Family Photo Outfits Feel Personal

One of my biggest tips when helping families prepare for their photography sessions is to avoid thinking that everyone needs to look perfectly matched.

Instead, think about how your outfits work together.

You might have a soft neutral color palette, but each family member can have a slightly different texture or accessory.

One person might wear a cardigan.

Another might have suspenders.

Someone else might wear a hat.

Mom might have a beautiful shawl or statement shoes.

The result is a gallery that feels cohesive but not cookie-cutter.

Your family should look like your family.

Accessories are simply a way to add personality and visual interest while keeping everyone connected.

How Many Accessories Should You Bring to Family Photos?

If you’re wondering how many accessories you actually need, my answer is simple:

Bring a few options.

You don’t need to wear every accessory at once.

Instead, bring the things you love and let your photographer help you decide when and how to incorporate them.

A few ideas might include:

• One or two hair accessories for your daughter
• A cardigan or sweater for layering
• A pair of suspenders or overalls for your son
• A hat for mom or dad
• A beautiful shawl or coat
• A special blanket for your newborn
• A pair of shoes that you love

Having a few options gives us the ability to create variety throughout your gallery.

And sometimes, the accessory you weren’t sure about ends up becoming one of your favorite details in the entire session.

The One Thing That Will Elevate Your Family Photo Outfits

If you remember just one thing from this week’s What Moms Should Know, let it be this:

Accessories can take your family photo outfits from flat to multidimensional.

It’s the little things—the bows, the cardigans, the suspenders, the blankets, the hats, the layers—that can make your gallery feel more thoughtful, personal, and unique.

So, as you’re planning what to wear for your next family photography session, don’t just think about the main outfits.

Think about the details.

Think about texture.

Think about layers.

Think about the little pieces that make your family your family.

And then bring them with you.

You don’t have to wear everything the entire time. We can play with different accessories throughout your session and create a gallery with more visual variety and dimension.

Because sometimes, it’s the smallest details that make the biggest difference.

Frequently Asked Questions About Accessories for Family Photos

How can I make my family photo outfits look more elevated?

One of the easiest ways to make family photo outfits look more elevated is to add accessories and layers. Consider cardigans, shawls, hats, suspenders, textured blankets, special shoes, hair accessories, or layered shirts. These details add texture and visual interest without requiring completely different outfits.

What accessories should I bring to a family photography session?

Consider bringing accessories that complement your outfits, such as hats, cardigans, shawls, coats, suspenders, overalls, hair bows, special shoes, or textured blankets. You don’t need to use everything—your photographer can help you decide which pieces work best during the session.

Should everyone wear accessories for family photos?

No. Accessories don’t need to be evenly distributed among every family member. The goal is to create visual balance. One child might wear suspenders, while mom has a shawl and dad wears a layered shirt. Choose details that feel natural for each person.

How do I accessorize my daughter’s outfit for family photos?

Try adding a bow, headband, cardigan, tights, textured socks, or special shoes. Layering a cardigan over a romper or dress is a simple way to add dimension and create a second look during the session.

How can I accessorize a little boy’s outfit for family photos?

Suspenders, overalls, cardigans, vests, hats, and layered shirts are great options. A white or neutral shirt underneath an unbuttoned button-down can create a simple, timeless layered look.

What should I bring for my newborn’s photography session?

For newborn photos, consider bringing soft blankets, textured wraps, simple hats, headbands, bows, or special heirloom pieces. Accessories should be comfortable and safe for your baby and should complement rather than distract from your newborn.

Do I have to wear accessories for the entire photography session?

No. One of the benefits of bringing accessories is that you can use them selectively. A hat, coat, shawl, cardigan, or other layer can be incorporated into a few images and then removed to create more variety in your final gallery.

When you’re planning your family’s outfits for your next photography session, remember that you don’t have to make everything complicated.

Start with outfits that coordinate.

Then add the details.

The accessories.

Those small touches can create layers, texture, personality, and visual interest—and they may be exactly what takes your gallery from beautiful to “Wow!”

If you have a question you’d love to see answered in a future episode of What Moms Should Know, send me a message. I’d love to answer it personally or turn it into the next episode of the series!

Follow along with more photography tips and behind-the-scenes inspiration at @laceyrene.studios.

And if you’re looking for a Kansas City family, newborn, or maternity photographer, I’d love to help you create a photography experience that feels just as beautiful as the images you take home.