What To Wear For Family Photos | South Jersey Family Photographer
How To Dress Your Family For Photos
What you wear matters more than you’d think,
it sets the whole mood for your photos.
Not sure where to start? I’ve got you.
Overall Tips:
- Start with location & vibe, then build your look
- Choose a muted, neutral color palette
- Start with Mom’s outfit, then coordinate (not match) everyone else
- Pick well-fitting, classic pieces — avoid trends
- Layer for texture and color interest
- Comfortable, weather-appropriate shoes
- Hair out of face; consider a blowout/makeup if you want to feel extra polished
- Try everything on before session day
What to Avoid:
- Matching outfits (like the classic khaki pants and white polo combo for beach photos)
- Stark whites, bold/neon colors, and busy patterns (stripes, plaid, chevron)
- Ill-fitting clothes, graphic tees, logos, and dry-fit fabrics
- Transitional lenses, athletic sneakers, worn-out shoes, and techy Apple Watches
- Men: swap shorts for pants
Step by Step Wardrobe Guide:
CHOOSE THE LOCATION
Keep your session location in mind
while putting together your outfits
and dress in a way that’s appropriate
for your surroundings.
Let’s say your session was
in Old City Philadelphia,
you may opt for something with
more layers, color, and texture
to play off the urban environment.
But if your session is at the beach,
neutral linen clothing
with bare feet would be perfect.
And if your session is outdoors in autumn-
play off the fall foliage + natures own elements.
START WITH ONE OUTFIT FIRST
My advice is to start with
mom’s outfit first,
as this will set the pace for
the rest of the family’s wardrobe.
Let’s face it,
we tend to be the most picky,
so once we know what we are wearing-
we can build everyone’s outfits on top of it.
CHOOSE A COLOR PALETTE
After you’ve nailed down mom’s outfit,
now it is time to choose
2-3 coordinating colors,
some neutral and one of which pops
that bring the outfits to life.
PLAY OFF OF YOUR INTERIOR STYLE
How you decorate your home
says a lot about you and your style.
When picking a color scheme
for your outfits,
keep in mind the
colors of your home,
that way your photos coordinate
when displayed in your space.
THINK MUTED COLORS
Stay away from bold, dark and saturated colors,
as they can be distracting in the photo
and cause color casts onto your skin.
Instead look for
muted versions of the same color.
Instead of a hot pink- try a dusty rose.
For a bright yellow, trade for a soft mustard
Trade a cobalt blue in for a baby blue…etc
COORDINATE, BUT DON’T MATCH
Choose colors that complement each other,
but are not matching identical outfits.
For example avoid putting your daughters
in the same matching dresses or
wearing same color shirt as your partner.
WELL FITTED CLOTHING
Pick pieces that fit well and
are not too tight or too baggy.
Choose clothing that gives you
the freedom to move freely +
won’t require a lot of maintenance
throughout your session.
Also consider the balance between
your upper and lower half.
For example:
if you have a flowy skirt on the bottom,
go for a fitted top and vice versa.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
You may have the perfect outfit on,
but if you’re freezing or sweating –
you will quickly get uncomfortable
and it will show in the photos.
Keep in mind,
little ones can get cold fast, so
pack a cardigan to layer them up with.
Cold kids, never make for great photos
…so keep those kids warm!
BE YOURSELF
Choose clothing that makes you
genuinely feel happy + confident.
The most important thing to remember
is you want to let your personality shine
and feel like your true self + not some
Pinterest-ed alter ego of yourself.
The more confident
you feel with the way you look,
the more relaxed
you will be in your photos.
ADD VARIETY WITH LAYERS, TEXTURE + PATTERNS
Layers, texture, + patterns
are one of the best ways
to add a depth and visual interest
to your outfits.
Layers:
In the colder months,
consider throwing on a cardigan
or jacket over a dress.
For boys think sweaters, suspenders…etc.
Textures:
Faux fur vest, tulle skirt,
cable knits, lace, tweed..etc
Patterns:
Don’t be scared of patterns & prints,
they can work great –
but limit to only one outfit.
All about balance:
You still want your family photos
to be about your family,
you want to wear the clothes-
not the other way around.
CLASSIC OVER TRENDY
Avoid trends, and go
for classic & timeless look
that will stand the test of time
while looking back at your family photos.
Remember the era of high-low dresses?
Stay clear of logos,
modern tech watches, or
other selections that
could date your portraits.
INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN
Let them feel a part of
your wardrobe planning,
give them some options
to choose from.
If your daughter hates
wearing dresses, and your son
dislikes button up shirts-
don’t force it.
When they like what
they are wearing,
they will be much more
excited about family photos.
Don’t forget to make sure their clothes fit well
and are comfortable, especially the shoes.
DON’T WAIT TO TRY ON YOUR CLOTHES
Have everyone
try-on their complete outfits
well before your session,
so you can make changes
if something isn’t working.
Look at your outfit from all different angles,
and not just the one you like the best.
Move around to make sure it works
for playful family photos.
The kids’ clothes
should also work well for
all types of movement,
(playing airplane, tickle fights…etc)
For example, an open deep v-neck dress could be problematic
during a tickle fight with your little ones.
Where to Shop:
Here are some of my favorite shops and boutiques
that have some great timeless pieces:
Amazon Storefront:
The Whole Family:
Target
Zara
H&M
Old Navy
Nordstrom
Kohls
Women:
Lulus
Baltic Born
VICI
Roolee
Piper and Scoot
ASOS
One Loved Babe
Wren & Ivory
Lucy Avenue
Petal & Pup
Forever 21
Ivy City Co
Stories
Boohoo
Madewell
Free People
Hazel & Olive
Reclamation
Show Po
Poshmark
Altar’d State
Azazie
Worth Collective
BloomChic
(sizes 10-30)
Dress Rentals:
Nuuly
Local Boutiques:
The Boutique Bar
111 Kings Hwy E, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
https://shoptheboutiquebar.com/
Maxwell James
137 Kings Hwy E Haddonfield, NJ08033
https://maxwelljamesjeans.com/
Chosen By Stephanie
34 S Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071
https://chosenbystephanie.com/
Maggie Paige Boutique
58 S Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071
https://maggiepaigeboutique.com/
Maternity:
While a lot of the shops above have bump friendly pieces,
here are a few maternity specific boutiques
Pink Blush
Seraphine
Mama Bump Rentals
Chicaboo
Hatch
Babies & Children:
Joyfolie
Alice + Ames
Rylee + Cru
Smallable
Bailey’s Blossoms
Lenny Lemons
Spearmint Love
Buddy + Doll
Roolee
Jamie Kay
Kate Quinn
Ivy City Co
Shein
Etsy
Men:
J Crew
Banana Republic
Bonobos
Brooks Brothers
Huckberry
Nordstrom
Buck Mason
Bloomingsdales
Express
Don’t Forget The Details
REMEMBER THE SHOES
Shoes are a very important
part of wardrobe
and they make the
whole look finished.
Choose colors and styles that coordinate
with the style of your outfits.
Steer clear of flip-flops, athletic sneakers,
or shoes that are too old + worn out.
ACCESSORIZE
You can really complete an outfit
and add personality
to your photos by adding accessories.
Accessorize,
but keep it simple.
Earrings, bracelets, hats,
headbands, scarves..etc
Stay away from necklaces,
as they can get tangled up
and shift to not be centered.
HAIR
As for some great
hairstyles for the girls:
loose braids, half up,
pinned on one side,
loose pony tail…etc
Ideally you want a soft, classic look
where you won’t have to worry about
pushing your hair out of the
way the whole session,
(especially if your session is at the beach).
Beloved Bliss Photo Hairstyles
MAKEUP
What better excuse
to pamper yourself with
professional hair + makeup
than for a photo session.
If you want to
do your own makeup,
apply your
makeup in natural light
so that you know how it will
look for outdoor photos.
FRESH MANICURE
Don’t forget to
check your fingernails,
for any chipped nail polish.
If you are wearing open-toed shoes,
great excuse to get a fresh pedicure.
Overall Tips:
–Dress like the best version of yourselves
-Start with one outfit and build up
-Coordinate with the colors of your home decor
-Go for a neutral/muted color base
-Layers are a great way to add color + texture
-Limit patterns to one outfit
-Wear comfortable matching shoes
-Well fitted + relaxed outfits
-Consider getting hair, makeup + nails done
Don’t forget the lint roller
for when the dog decides
to jump on you right
after you get dressed.
Remember, the sole purpose of these
photos are to capture and document
your family’s story…
the amazing outfits
are just an added bonus.