Are you putting off booking your family photoshoot because you’re still trying to figure out what to wear for your family photos? I totally get it — that decision can feel like the biggest hurdle.
But here’s the good news: I’ve photographed hundreds of families and kids as an experienced family photographer, and I’ve picked up plenty of easy tips and tricks to help you feel confident and prepared.
You’ll hear me say this again in your booking email — because it works every single time. When in doubt, go neutral. Neutral colors and palettes flatter almost every skin tone and make a perfect base for any outfit. Stick to the basics, and choosing the proper attire for family photos becomes so much easier. Whites, creams, and tans are beautiful for a light, airy Spring or Summer look. For a cozier Fall or Winter vibe, choose blacks, grays, and richer browns. Once you’ve got your neutral base, it’s so much easier to mix in a few pops of color or playful patterns.
What to Wear for Family Photos: Choose the Right Fabrics
When planning your outfits for your family photos, don’t overlook fabric choice — especially for kids. Make sure their clothes let them move and play. Kids feel much happier in front of the camera when they’re dressed in soft, comfy fabrics they can move freely in. Bonus: those soft textures create beautiful movement and visual interest in your final images, perfect for what to wear for family photos.
When Choosing Your Outfits: Consider the Season
Your session location can shape your outfit choices. This family of five had done grassy field sessions before and wanted something with more edge — so we went for city vibes. Their darker neutral outfits fit perfectly with the urban architecture of this historic neighborhood. It’s a great example of how your setting can guide your outfit choices, making what to wear for family photos a seamless decision, helping create a look that feels cohesive and true to you. We even found a moody alleyway nearby that added a unique city element to their gallery.
Let the Location Inspire What to Wear for Family Photos
This family of five wanted city vibes for their session after doing seasons of grassy field photos. Their choice of darker neutrals was perfect for the architectural background of this historic neighborhood. This family shows how your location can guide your outfit choices for family photos. Their outfits communicated a city vibe, creating timeless and authentic images. We even found a cool-lit alleyway nearby that added an urban element to their gallery.
Let’s recap what to wear:
- Start with neutral colors as a base so that adding additional colors will be easier.
- Throw on a hat, jacket, or beanie — accessories like these are such an easy way to add personality and make your photos feel more ‘you.’
- Dress for the season and the environment you choose to photograph for photos that feel authentic and reflect what to wear for family photos.
- Don’t want to commit to one outfit? Bring a backup! Extra outfits will only add more interest to your gallery.
- Keep it simple. Focus on what feels good to you, not what’s trending on social media.
If you’re looking for an Orange County family photographer to guide you every step of the way — from styling to location to natural posing — I’m here for you. When you book a session with me, you’ll get access to my detailed styling guide to make this process easier and way less stressful. Visit my online booking page to learn more about my session packages or head over to my contact page to start planning your session. And one more thing — for a limited time, I’m offering 20% off my session packages for spring photoshoots — good until the end of June!
