Did you book a Family Session and aren’t quite sure what to wear? You’re in the right place. The key for these photo sessions? Simplicity! This should make clothing decisions a lot easier. Read on to check out my Family Session wardrobe tips and feel super prepared for your session.

Consider Location

When choosing outfits, think about where we’re shooting. Wearing clothes that make sense for the location helps everything feel natural and cohesive.

Beach or waterfront? Go for light, flowy fabrics and relaxed fits.
Park or wooded area? Skip formal attire—a blazer or a fancy dress will look out of place. Instead, try a casual maxi dress, a cozy sweater with jeans, or a layered look with boots.
In-home session? Soft, comfortable fabrics work best for capturing that cozy, intimate feel.

Colors

Keep It Simple (And Say No to Logos & Neons!)

As I’ve already mentioned (and will continue to mention forever), simple is almost always better for photos.

🚫 What to avoid:

No bright/neon colors. (Neon pink, bright red, or highlighter yellow can reflect onto skin, making tones look unnatural.)
No logos, graphics, or text. (They pull attention away from faces and can make your photos feel less timeless.)
Avoid yellow-greens if we’re shooting in a grassy or wooded area—we don’t want a camoflouge situation.

✅ What works well:

Earthy, muted tones like soft blues, warm browns, sage greens, dusty pinks, and creamy neutrals.
Jewel tones (like deep burgundy, forest green, or navy) can also work beautifully.
Mixing neutrals with a pop of color keeps things balanced and visually interesting.

The goal is to make you and your family the focus—not your clothes. Choosing the right tones ensures your images look natural, flattering, and timeless.

Patterns

Less Is More

Patterns can add interest and personality to your photos—but they need to be used strategically so they don’t overwhelm the image.

✔️ YES: One person in a subtle, small-scale pattern.
❌ NO: Multiple people in bold, clashing patterns—it gets too busy in photos.

Need some color inspo? If someone in your crew will be in a pattern, take a close look at the colors in that pattern. Boom, that’s your color palette. Tie together your whole look by dressing family members in different colors from that pattern!

Just remember, keep it simple and clean! We want the focus to be on the emotion and connection of your family—subdued colors, solids, and muted prints work well for that.

Textures

A Secret Weapon for Beautiful Photos

Believe it or not, textures photograph really nicely! Textures and layers not only add dimension to your photos, but elevates the overall look. This helps to make your images more visually interesting.

Here are some examples clothes that add that dimension texture to images:

Overalls (sooo stinking cute on kiddos)
Cable-knit sweaters
Linen dresses/tops
Rompers
Anything with tassels or ruffles
Knit details like in the image below

Textures do an awesome job of breaking up solid colors and adding richness to the overall look.

The Right Fit

Prioritize Comfort

Feeling comfortable in what you’re wearing directly translates to confident, natural-looking photos.

Avoid clothes that require constant adjusting (a slipping strap, tight waistband, or stiff fabric can be a distraction). This goes for adult and kiddo outfits!
If your outfit has bra straps that will peek out, opt for a different top, dress, or bra.
Be mindful of sleeves that are too tight—arms play a big role in posing, and restrictive clothing can make things look stiff instead of relaxed.

Shoes

Don’t Let Them Steal the Show (In a Bad Way!)

A huge bummer in family photography is when you have a lovely set of photos but your eyes go straight to a distracting pair of shoes.

🚫 What to avoid:

Light-up sneakers (fun for kids, but they grab too much attention in photos!)
Character shoes (Spiderman, Paw Patrol, Elsa—adorable, but so loud and not ideal for timeless photos)
Bright rainbow rain boots (unless the whole vibe is rain gear, they can stand out too much)
Super worn-out Converse or scuffed sneakers (great for everyday wear, but they can look distracting in images)
Flip-flops (they often look too casual and don’t photograph well)

✅ What works well:

Neutral, non-distracting shoes like boots, mules, flats, or simple sandals.
Well-kept sneakers in neutral tones if casual shoes are necessary for kids.
Barefoot for beach sessions (it looks way better than flip-flops!)

Shoes can make or break an outfit in photos. The best choices blend seamlessly with your outfit rather than drawing attention away from you.

How I Use Pinterest for
Outfit Inspiration

Feeling stuck on what to wear? Pinterest is an amazing tool for styling ideas. Instead of searching for full outfits from scratch, start with one piece you already love and build from there!

Example: Styling an Oversized Grey Sweater

Let’s say you have an oversized grey sweater that you want to wear for your session. Instead of overthinking, do a quick Pinterest search for "oversized grey sweater outfit ideas" to see how others have styled it.

What You Might Find:

Relaxed, effortless looks—paired with wide-leg trousers, flowy skirts, or straight-leg jeans
Layered styles—thrown over a long dress or paired with a structured coat
Casual chic—styled with loose, cropped pants and ankle boots for an elevated everyday look

How to Use This in Your Own Closet:

Pay attention to color palettes. If you see your grey sweater styled with earthy tones (like tan or olive), pull those colors into your family’s outfits.
Notice textures. If the outfit has leather boots, cozy scarves, or flowy fabrics, think about how you can mix and match textures for added depth.
Consider proportions. A loose sweater balances beautifully with structured pants or a soft, flowy skirt.

This method makes planning effortless and ensures your outfit feels stylish without being too trendy or overthought. Plus, you’re working with pieces you already know and love!

Aim to Be Coordinated, Not Matching

So what does that even mean? We’ve all seen those family portraits where everyone is in white shirts and khakis—and while that’s definitely a look, I recommend a more natural, effortless approach.

A small pattern on one person adds interest.
A cohesive color palette (without everyone in the exact same shade) makes the outfits feel intentional but not overly staged.

Dress for the Weather

As much as you might want to put your kiddo in that adorable sleeveless dress, if it’s chilly out there’s a good chance they’ll start complaining roughly 30 seconds into your family session.

If it’s chilly, plan for stylish layers. A well-fitted coat, sweater, or jacket adds warmth and looks great in photos. And honestly, there’s nothing more timeless than a great trench coat

If it’s warm, opt for breathable fabrics like cotton or linen to keep everyone comfortable.

Bonus: Layers give you variety in your photos since you can take them on and off!

Check Your Closet Before Shopping

Before you go out and buy all new outfits for this session, give this a shot:

Go into your closet and grab your go-to favorite outfit.
Try it on.
See how you feel!

If you feel comfortable and confident, it’s probably a great choice! New outfits sometimes feel stiff or unfamiliar—especially for kids—this discomfort will show up in photos.

Do Your Usual Hair and Makeup

When it comes to hairstyles, I recommend styling your hair the way you always do it for your photo session. As you probably can guess, I recommend the same when it comes to your makeup! If you’re not typically a makeup wearer and you’d like to put some on for your session, I recommend using just a small amount (eg a coat of mascara and some blush).

Feel free to have your makeup professionally done, but make sure your makeup artist knows you’re looking for a more natural look. Wearing significantly more makeup than you would usually wear can take away from letting these images be as “you” as they can be and cause you to not quite recognize yourself.

Styling your hair the way you normally do is my main recommendation when it comes to hair. We want these photos to be unrecognizably you and typically the most practice you have with a certain hairstyle is the way it’ll look best.

Not feeling super confident in the way you do your hair? Schedule a blowout for the morning of your session—huge bonus if you can get an appointment with someone who you usually go to!

One important note: Since Seattle’s weather can be unpredictable, make sure any appointments allow for rescheduling if needed.

Okay, You’re a Pro Now!

You’re officially ready to go. If you need extra help or have any last-minute questions, just reach out—I’m happy to help!

📩 Questions? Shoot me an email
📅 Haven’t booked yet? Click here to book your session

The Essential Family Session Style Guide