| Family Guides

What to wear to your family session.

Start With Comfort, Not Perfection

Choosing what to wear for family photos can feel overwhelming, but it really does not have to be. The most beautiful images come from families who feel comfortable, connected, and able to simply enjoy time together.

Rather than aiming for perfectly matching outfits, think about coordinating colours, comfortable clothing, and textures that feel like you.

Your session will involve walking, sitting, playing with your children, and sometimes a little bit of chaos along the way. Choosing outfits that allow everyone to move freely and feel comfortable helps create relaxed, natural photographs.

When everyone feels confident in what they are wearing, that connection shows through in the images.

Coordinate, Do Not Match

Gone are the days when everyone needed to wear the same white shirt and jeans. Instead, choose a colour palette of two to four tones and build outfits around those.

Some colour combinations that photograph beautifully include:

• Soft neutrals such as cream, beige, warm browns, and soft grey
• Muted earthy tones such as sage, rust, olive, and dusty blue
• Gentle pastels for spring and summer sessions

Try to avoid everyone wearing the exact same colour. A mix of tones creates depth and helps the images feel natural and timeless.

Think About Texture and Layers

Texture adds beautiful dimension to photographs and helps bring your outfits to life on camera.

Consider including items such as:

• Knit sweaters
• Linen shirts or dresses
• Denim jackets
• Scarves or cardigans
• Flowing dresses

Layers also give flexibility during the session and create more visual interest in the final images.

Dress For The Location

Your clothing works best when it complements the environment we are photographing in. The goal is not to blend into the background completely, but to choose colours that feel natural in the setting.

Park or forest sessions
Soft earthy tones work beautifully here. Think sage, rust, cream, warm browns, denim, and soft neutrals. These colours sit naturally against greens and trees and create a warm, timeless feel.

Beach sessions
Light and airy tones work best by the ocean. Whites, creams, soft blues, linen textures, and light neutrals photograph beautifully against sand and water. Avoid very dark clothing here as it can feel heavy against the bright environment.

Urban or town locations
These settings can handle a little more contrast and structure. Denim, blacks, neutrals, and simple layers work well against buildings and textured walls.

The idea is to choose colours that feel at home in the location rather than competing with it.

Simple Outfit Ideas That Always Work

  • A Classic Family Look

    One of the easiest combinations to put together.

    Mum
    A flowing dress in a soft neutral or earthy tone.

    Dad
    A simple button up shirt or knit with chinos or neutral trousers.

    Kids
    Soft layers such as dresses, overalls, knits, or linen shirts in complementary colours.

    This creates beautiful movement and texture in photos while still feeling effortless.

  • A Cozy, Relaxed Look

    Perfect for park or forest sessions.

    Mum
    Knit sweater or cardigan with a skirt or relaxed dress.

    Dad
    A textured sweater or flannel shirt with jeans or chinos.

    Kids
    Warm knits, overalls, or simple dresses with tights.

    Textures like wool, cotton, and linen add warmth and depth to the photos.

  • Light and Airy for Beach Sessions

    Beach sessions work beautifully with softer, lighter tones.

    Mum
    A flowing light dress or skirt that moves in the breeze.

    Dad
    A linen shirt with light chinos or rolled sleeves.

    Kids
    Soft neutral outfits, linen shirts, simple dresses, or light knits.

    Barefoot often works beautifully for beach sessions.

What To Avoid

A few simple things help keep the focus on your family rather than the clothing.

Try to avoid:

• Large logos or graphics
• Bright neon colours
• Busy patterns that compete for attention
• Clothing that feels very different in style from the rest of the group

Keeping things simple and cohesive helps the images feel timeless.

A Simple Tip That Makes Everything Easier

Start by choosing one outfit first, usually Mum’s. From there, build the rest of the family's outfits around those colours.

This makes coordinating much easier and helps everything feel balanced without looking overly matched.

Need A Little Help?

If you are unsure about outfits, you are always welcome to send through a quick photo of your options before your session. I am very happy to help guide you so everything works beautifully together.

The goal is simply for you to arrive feeling relaxed and confident so we can focus on what really matters, which is the connection within your family.

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