What to Wear to Your Session
The goal is simple: in five years, you want to remember the day, not the outfit. Here's what actually works in front of a camera — and what fights it.
The Short Version
Stick to a narrow range of colors across the whole group — not matching, just not competing. Texture does more work than color: a knit, linen, or something with a little movement photographs better than anything flat and shiny. Skip large logos, busy patterns, and neon — they pull the eye away from faces, which is the whole point of the photo.
Three Palettes That Always Work
Cream, rust, denim
Warm and easy, works in any season.
Sage, ivory, camel
Soft and neutral, especially good outdoors.
Dusty pink, navy, white
A little more polished, good for portraits or events.
Pick one, then let everyone interpret it their own way. A toddler in a rust-colored romper and a dad in a chambray shirt aren't matching — they're in the same palette. That's the goal.
One color worth calling out on its own: white, in a natural fabric — linen, cotton, waffle knit. It does something the palettes above don't do by themselves — it separates you from the background instead of blending into it, which matters more than people expect once we're standing in front of green grass or blue water. A soft, slightly textured white photographs warm, not sterile — this isn't the stiff white t-shirt rule you're picturing.
For Her
A dress or top with some movement beats anything stiff. Long or midi both photograph well — the main thing to avoid is anything so short it limits how you can sit, kneel, or keep up with a kid on the sand. If in doubt, a simple knit in a warm neutral works with almost any location on this site.
For Him
A button-down or a good knit sweater over a plain tee. Rolled sleeves read as relaxed, not underdressed. Skip graphic tees and anything with a big logo — even a subtle one shows up more than you'd think in a photo.
For Kids
Comfort first — a stiff outfit means a stiff kid, and that shows. Soft fabrics they can actually move in, nothing itchy, nothing they'll be tugging at within five minutes. Shoes they can walk and run in, not ones you'll be carrying by the second location.
For Couples & Groups
This is where the palette rule matters most. Pick your three colors, then let each person choose their own piece within it. Matching head-to-toe reads as costume, not family — coordinated reads as intentional.
One exception: white. When everyone wears their own version of the same single neutral instead of mixing colors, it holds together even at full family size — and against grass, water, or sand, the whole group stands out from the background instead of blending into it.
What to Bring
A light layer for after sunset — it cools off fast once the light drops, especially near the coast. Anything you'd normally touch up with, if you like to. Nobody needs to, but some people feel more relaxed with it on hand.
Book your session and I'll send a personal style guide — matched to your location, the season, and your family — a few days before we shoot.
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