Family

“What do we even wear for Family Photos?!”

If you’ve ever planned family photos, you’ve probably asked yourself this at least a dozen times.

And you’re not alone! What to wear for family photos is the #1 thing people stress about before their session. 

You would think, as a Salt Lake City Family Photographer myself, I’d be over the stress of planning coordinating outfits for family photos, but my mom brain still needs a little reminder of what works. Every time, I find myself in a mini “freak out” about getting everyone ready for our yearly photo session – and I’m the Pro, right?

But there’s a careful balance:

• You want everyone to look coordinated, but not overly styled. 
• You want timeless, not trendy.
• You want to look and feel like yourself, but you don’t know exactly how to translate that into outfits for children and adults, boys and girls.

The good news is there’s a simple way to put together outfits that feel natural, effortless, and uniquely YOU—without the stress. 

I’m breaking it all down so you can stop overthinking and start feeling excited about your session. 

Mom Picks What to Wear for Family Photos First!

Here’s the deal—if Mom doesn’t feel confident, the whole session is going to feel off. 

So instead of stressing over coordinating the entire family first, start with what makes YOU feel amazing!

Maybe it’s that flowy midi dress that makes you feel effortlessly put together, or a cozy oversized sweater that keeps you comfy but still polished. Whatever it is, pick your outfit first. Then, use it as the anchor for everyone else.

Once you’ve got your outfit, look at its colors, textures, and overall vibe.

If your dress is a soft floral, your family can pull from those colors—maybe your partner wears a muted blue shirt, and your kids wear solid neutrals with a tiny pop of a matching color in their accessories – think watches, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, hair bows, etc.

This way, everyone looks coordinated without looking like they came in a matching set from a catalog.

Start with a Color Palette, Not Matching Outfits

Super matchy outfits can quickly make your family look like an awkward 90s holiday card.

Instead of dressing everyone in the same color, pick 3-4 colors that work well together and spread them out among family members.

Here’s a trick: Look at your home décor. The colors you naturally gravitate toward in your home are likely the ones you’ll love in your photos!

A good balance of solids and subtle patterns is key. 

If Dad wears a plaid shirt, let Mom go for a solid dress, and have the kids in a mix of soft textures and layers to add depth. 

Dress for Your Family Photo Session Location & Season

Your background plays a huge role in how your outfits look.

A great idea for choosing your outfits is to consider what your background/scenery will look like. For example, I recently had my own family photos taken at Utah Lake at golden hour (approximately 1 hour before sunset). I knew the colors of the brush, water, and sky would be muted tones of green, blue, pink, and beige/cream. So, I used the color pallet of the location to pick out my families outfits – I wore a cream colored lace dress with turquoise blue accessories; my husband wore a muted, dusty blue button-up shirt and khaki shorts; my daughter wore the only print (a cream colored dress with muted pink and green flowers); and my toddler wore a cream-colored button up short-sleeve shirt with dusty blue-green shorts. It was so cool to see our outfit colors compliment and coordinate with the colors of nature around us!

A tip to stand out from your scenery, rather than blend in with it is: if you’re shooting in a green park, avoid wearing too much green. Instead, earth tones, soft blues, or warm rust colors will help your family stand out beautifully.

One mistake people make? Dressing for the “look” instead of the weather. If it’s 95 degrees in the summer, ditch the heavy layers. And for winter sessions, layer in a way that still looks put together—think chic wool coats, scarves, and cute boots rather than giant puffy jackets.

Avoid Distracting Logos & Graphics in What You Choose to Wear for Family Photos

Your toddler’s favorite superhero shirt? Adorable. Just maybe not for the family photo. 😂

Anything with big logos, text, or neon colors is going to pull attention away from what really matters—your faces and connection.

And, for those stubborn toddlers that refuse to leave the house without their favorite Spider Man shirt, try a “bribe shirt” (i.e. let them wear their favorite character shirt in the car on the ride over to the session, then do a quick swap before exiting the car).

My favorite outfit trick is to let me children go shopping for a “special” new outfit. I point out a few articles of clothing in the colors and styles we’re looking for (usually a dress for my daughter and a nice button-up shirt and khaki pants for my son), and then I let them explore the store and pick out the final outfit. They love getting a new outfit just for family photos! And, they are more excited to wear it because they are proud that they picked out their own outfit and they are ready to show it off (our photographer always gets a kick out of my two little’s strutting about and bragging about their great outfits for the first 5 minutes of our session together).

Consider Movement & Comfort

Family photos aren’t about standing stiffly and posing like statues anymore. They’re about movement, playfulness, and real moments. That means your outfits need to move with you!

For moms: dresses with a little flow photograph beautifully. 

For kids: avoid anything too tight, stiff, or itchy—they’ll be uncomfortable, which means less patience and more meltdowns.

For dads/partners: layers always look good. A lightweight jacket or open button-up shirt over a solid tee adds depth without bulk. Avoid stiff dress shirts that wrinkle easily or make movement feel awkward.

Here’s the thing—your family photos aren’t about the outfits. 

They’re about your people, your love, and the little moments in between. 

But when you feel comfortable, confident, and put together, it makes the entire experience smoother and more fun.

So if you’ve been stressing about what to wear, take a deep breath. Start with Mom’s outfit, pick a simple color palette, dress for the setting, and focus on comfort. 

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s capturing your family’s connection in a way that feels natural and true to you!

5 Great Outfit Shops for Styling What to Wear for Family Photos

Need some outfit ideas?

Here are 5 great local + online shops to find stylish, photo-friendly pieces:

• Nordstrom : Flowy, flattering dresses that photograph beautifully for moms.
• H&M : Affordable, neutral basics for kids and adults that mix and match easily.
• Carter’s/Osh Kosh Bigosh : High-quality, soft fabrics for babies, toddlers, and children (up to size 14) in muted, timeless colors and prints.
• Dillards : Elevated casual wear with great layering pieces for dads, flowy dresses for mom, and a decent selection of dressy-casual attire for children.
• Ivy City Co : my all-time favorite, local and woman-owned dress store for high-quality dresses that fit size XXS to XL – added bonus: they stock “mommy-and-me” styles to make coordinating outfits effortless!

Wherever you shop, keep it simple, comfortable, and true to your style.

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Now that you know what to wear for family photos, let’s get you booked! Contact me, and I’ll make it happen.

Need even more outfit ideas and guidance? I’ve got you covered! Check out my FREE OUTFIT PLANNING GUIDE – because stressing about what to wear for your next family photo session is so 1999.