How to Choose Outfits for Family Pictures in 3 Steps, based on Color, Style and Fit

Deciding what to wear for family pictures can be overwhelming. This guide will help you choose clothing and outfits for family pictures. How to choose outfits for family pictures in three easy steps: Choosing Color, Deciding on Style and Considering Fit. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide for putting together clothing and outfits for your family photos, using the season and location of your session, along with some tips and tricks to make your family session go as smoothly as possible. You’ll find what to wear for family pictures in the fall, spring, summer or winter in Houston!

Step: 1 First Choose 2-3 Colors that Complement the Season of Your Family Pictures

When deciding what to wear for family pictures, choose clothing colors that fit the season in which you’re getting photos taken. If your family photo session is in summer and spring, wear clothing in softer tones like pink, green and soft blue, along with neutrals to offset the greens and vibrant colors of these seasons. For fall family photos, opt for warmer, richer color tones that complement the vibrant, warm hues of fall. Warm neutrals, like chestnut, brown and ivory work well to complement the warm and earthy tones of fall. For winter photos, when natural surroundings are white or brown, opt for one vibrant pop of color and build outfits around that. Below, I go into more depth about colors for each season.

In General, Wear Muted or Dark Clothing Colors for Your Family Photos, Avoiding Neons and Pastels

Muted and darker colors work best in photos. Neon or super bright colors can cast color onto skin in photos, and really light colors tend to wash people out. Muted, soft hues, like soft pinks, browns, tan and ivory can serve as lighter neutrals without washing skin tones out. With that in mind, here are some season-specific clothing color ideas for you to wear for family photos.

The Best Colors to Wear for Fall Family Pictures are Rich Earth Tones

Good clothing options for fall family photos are burgundy, navy, browns, and ivory. Fall is also a good time to layer up with different textured sweaters and vests. Aim for warm colors and deeper earth tones. Fall can still be fairly warm, so layers are perfect for warmer temps that transition to chillier evenings.

Don’t be afraid of mixing in some unexpected colors with your warm fall hues, like this family did: and remember I help every step of the way so if you are set on any color, we can always make it look amazing

Wear Soft Blues, Pinks and Greens for Summer and Spring Family Photos

The best colors for summer and spring family photos are soft blues, pinks, soft yellows and cooler greens. As the trees bloom and the lush greens come out for the summer, these tones are always safe bets. Neutrals also complement this season well, like tan, ivory or gray. 

Choose lighter fabrics for family photo sessions in the spring and summer. Think about cotton dresses, linens and short sleeve button-ups.

Other Color Tips: Skin Tones, Extended Family Photos and Colors for Your Home Decor

Wear Colors for Family Pictures that Enhance Your Skin Tones

Overall, when choosing what to wear for family pictures, pick colors that you would normally wear. If you look in your closet, I’m guessing you have some outfit staples that fall into a few different colors that you know you look good in.

When you plan outfits for family photos, don’t choose a color to wear that you would never wear in your normal day-to-day. Chances are it will not complement your skin tone and you won’t love how you look in your photos.

Have a mix of various cool and warm skin tones in your family? You can mix cool and warm tones by adding in neutrals. For example, if your family consists of some members have warm skin tones and some who have cool tones, you could choose a palette of a warm brown plus sage and neutrals. I find that pinks, blues and tans also tend to bridge the warm/cool gaps easily. You can always pick different shades or tones within a specific color to make them work for different skin tones as well. 

Step 2: Once You’ve Chosen a Color Palette, Mix up Clothing Styles and Patterns Within that Palette

After You’ve Chosen a Seasonal Color Palette of 2 or 3 Colors, Vary Textures, Patterns, Styles, and Tones Within that Color Palette Among Family Members

• Mix up textures and patterns to add variety to your family photos. For example, have one or two people in solids and add in a simple pattern or a chunky knit sweater to add texture. 

• Each color has several tones or shades. In addition to varying textures and patterns, you can also vary shades within a specific color, like various shades of blue. 

• Please do not put everyone in the same color or in matching tops or in matching bottoms. This creates a visual line in your photos that is distracting. This is also a very outdated trend that needs to stay in 1992.

• Do look like you’ve shopped at the same store. Try to keep the same level of dressy/casual among family members. You don’t want Dad in a tux and the kids in t-shirts, for example.

Quick Tip: One easy trick for planning family photo colors is to start with one outfit, like Mom’s, and use it to build the rest of your color palette.

More casual clothes can also work well in natural settings. If dresses aren’t your thing, opt for jeans and mix up clothing style among family members. 

Step 3: Opt for Classic Clothing That Fits Well When Choosing Outfits for Your Family Pictures

Fit is Super Important, Both for Comfort and for Aesthetic 

Wear Fitted Clothing that Isn’t Too Baggy or Too Tight

Make sure clothing fits well so that kids aren’t tugging on things or adults aren’t fixing things constantly during the session. Avoid baggy clothing. Baggy clothing makes you look larger in photos. Instead, opt for tailored or fitted clothes. Clothing that is too tight will show every flaw. Generally, longer, fitted tops or full-length dresses with fitted waists look best on women. Avoid dresses that have no shape at the waist. Baby doll dresses, gunny sack waists, and prairie dresses without fitted waists are not flattering in photos. Longer layers over the top of fitted clothing can add dimension and hide flaws you might be self-conscious of around your midline.

Look for Modest Necklines and Wear the Right Bra for Your Outfit

You don’t want to be constantly worrying about pulling up your shirt or readjusting during your family photo session. Crew or modest v-necks tend to be the most flattering for photos. Please wear the right bra for your outfit. If your bra is showing up in the mirror at home, it will show up in your photos. Make sure straps aren’t visible there aren’t harsh lines from undergarments that show through your clothing. 

Sleeve Length

You might have perfectly toned arms that you love to show off. If you don’t love your arms, opt for three quarter-length sleeves or long sleeves. 

Avoid Shiny Fabrics and Avoid Velvet

Shiny fabrics, like shiny rayon and pure polyester, velvet and velour show every single wrinkle and roll. They also draw the eye to those places because they catch light. Opt for matte fabrics instead, like cotton and cotton blends. This is one very good reason to read the detailed description of something you are buying online. 

Avoid Tight Patterns, Pinstripes and Logos

Tight patterns create a moire effect that makes your photos have wavy lines when viewed on a screen. Ninety percent of the time, this happens with men’s shirts or jackets. Steer away from logos, which can quickly date your photos. Tiny pocket logos are fine. 

Make What You Wear to Your Family Photo Session about YOU

As always, please know these are general guidelines, not hard and fast rules. More than anything, I want you to look and feel like you, so please be true to yourselves when deciding what to wear for your session. Many clients find all of their outfits in their existing closets, so don’t feel like you have to shop!

Wear Comfortable Shoes for Family Pictures, No Matter the Location

• Choose shoes that are comfortable to walk in

• Make sure shoes fit kits, so they aren’t miserable in too-tight or too-loose shoes.

• Think about fun tennis shoes as a different option. Chucks, Toms, Hey Dudes or Vans work especially well for both urban and mountain sessions.

• Cowboy boots are fun for mountain sessions if they are broken in and comfortable.

• Skip shoes altogether for tiny babies who aren’t yet walking – they don’t stay on and we waste precious time picking them up and putting them back on during your session. If it’s warm enough, opt for bare feet for babies – their toes are adorable and we won’t waste time picking up socks they will inevitably kick off.

Choose Comfortable Clothing and Prepare for the Weather

• Opt for comfortable clothing kids can run, jump and play in. Nothing ruins a session faster than a kiddo who is miserable. 

• Choose clothing that’s washable, because we might get it dirty. My sessions are active and fun.

• Avoid itchy fabrics for kids. Avoid dresses with tulle underskirts for little girls. Opt for a cotton dress that twirls. Go for cotton for kids in general – it’s comfortable and not itchy.

• Dress for the weather! I cannot stress this enough. If a child is too cold or too hot during a session, there’s not a whole lot I can do to make them happy. In winter, bring coats that you’re ok with being photographed.

First and Foremost, RELAX!

Your family photo session is not a time to showcase how perfectly behaved your family is. It is not a test you are taking on posing and smiling perfection. It is a time for you to be yourselves.

We will play games, we might dance, laugh together, and we will definitely spend a ton of time MOVING. I want to capture you having fun together, and nothing kills the fun faster than someone shouting at their child, “Johnny, SMILE!! Johnny, LISTEN to the photographer!!” Instead, let me do the directing and you just focus on genuinely interacting and responding to your child.

Plan Ahead to Keep Your Session Stress-Free

Please plan to arrive on time. Nothing makes you more stressed than feeling like you’re missing part of your photo session. While I put a sizable buffer in between sessions, there’s a strong possibility I will have another session after yours, and I want you to have as much time as possible for your session. 

What to Bring to Your Family Photo Session

For small babies, you might bring a non-messy snack, like Cheerios. You might also consider a small blanket that matches your color scheme for any photos you want of baby alone. Feel free to also bring small toys or stuffed animals you’re ok with being photographed. Don’t forget a water bottle for the car ride, especially in hot summer months! 

Other items to think about are tissues for runny noses, burp cloths for babies, and possibly bibs for teething babies to keep their clothing from being wet during the session (we can take them off for the photos). 

For teens, you might consider having them leave their phones in the car. Most teens are great about this, but occasionally, it’s hard to pull them away from social media. 

 Where to Shop for Your Family Photo Session

Don’t feel like you have to buy new clothing for your session. But if you’re like me and looking for any excuse to shop, here are some of my favorites. Obviously, you know your go-to places to find clothing you love, but there are a few online shops and in-person stores that work really well for photo-ready clothes.

For flowy dresses, jumpsuits, tops, maxi dresses and pants for women, I love the following:

• Baltic Born

  • My absolute favorite for long, flowy dresses in amazing colors and patterns

• Old Navy

  • A good mix of slightly dressy to casual clothing in a really good price range.

• Zara

  • Dresses, jumpsuits and dressy tops.

• Joyfolie

  • More formal dresses for women and girls.

• Lulus

  • Lots of formal dresses and summery dresses.

Here are my go-to’s for kids clothing:

• Joyfolie (for girls under 10)

• Indie Blue (lovely neutrals, dresses, rompers, and separates for boys that are especially great for kids under 10)

• Old Navy

• Target

• J. Crew

For guys clothing, I love the following:

• Old Navy

• Target

• J. Crew