What to Wear for Your Family Photos
One of the questions I hear most often before a session is:
“What should we wear?”
And honestly, I completely understand. Dressing one person can be tricky enough, let alone the whole family!
My biggest advice is: wear what you love and feel comfortable in!
I love outfits that feel natural, playful and a little bit nostalgic. Something that looks beautiful in photographs, but still feels like you. You don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe or dress your family in beige from head to toe.
Here are THREE outfit directions I love and a few ideas to get you started.
01 — Colour + Print
And please don't be afraid of colour just because you've seen lots of neutral family photography online.
If colour feels like your family, wear it.
I love a little bit of colour.
Bold colours, stripes, checks, florals and playful prints can bring so much personality to family photographs. They also work beautifully with the little moments that happen naturally during a session.
You don't need everyone wearing a different bright colour. Instead, choose a few colours that work together and let them appear throughout everyone's outfits.
Think:
Stripes + denim
Florals + colour
Checks + soft neutrals
One bold piece + simpler outfits
02 — Soft Neutrals
For me, this is where warmth and a little bit of whimsy can really come through.
Neutral doesn't have to mean boring.
Cream, white, beige and soft natural tones create a beautiful, timeless base.
I especially love adding little details like florals, embroidery, texture or a subtle pop of colour.
Think soft fabrics, natural textures and pieces that have a little personality.
You also don't need everyone wearing exactly the same shade. Mixing cream, ivory, oatmeal, soft blue, beige and other gentle tones can create a much more natural look.
03 — Denim
You don't need everyone wearing the same denim either. Different washes and textures can actually make the overall look more interesting.
I don't think you can go wrong with denim.
Jeans, denim jackets, overalls, chambray shirts and different denim washes all have that relaxed, everyday feeling that I love.
And the best part? They're comfortable.
You can run, play, cuddle, pick up your toddler and chase your kids around without worrying too much about your outfit.
Try pairing denim with:
- White or cream
- Soft blue
- Florals
- Stripes
- Linen
- Simple cotton pieces
A few things I'd keep in mind
Don't have to make everyone match
Think colour palette, rather than matching outfits.
Choose a few colours that work together and mix them throughout the family.
Add texture
Denim, linen, cotton, knits, embroidery and other natural textures can add so much depth to photographs.
Let your kids be comfortable
This one is especially important.
If your little one hates what they're wearing, they're probably not going to enjoy the session either. Choose something they can move and play in.
And if they get grass on it?
That's okay. 🤍
Let your personality show
If you love colour, wear colour.
If you live in jeans, wear jeans.
If you love pretty dresses and florals, go for it.
There isn't one perfect way to dress for family photos.
Adelaide photographer
ciaobella photography
Most importantly
Choose something that feels like you
When you're deciding what to wear, don't worry too much about what is supposed to look good in photographs.
Ask yourself:
“Does this feel like us?”
Because years from now, I don't want you looking back at your photographs and thinking about whether everyone's outfits matched perfectly.
I want you to remember your children exactly as they were.
The way they ran into your arms.
The little hands you held.
The cuddles.
The chaos.
The laughter.
The tiny details that you'll miss one day.
Your clothes are simply part of that story.
So whether your family is colourful and playful, soft and neutral, or happiest in denim and everyday clothes — come as you are.
I'll take care of the rest. 🤍
Want a little more help choosing your outfits?
I'm putting together a Free PDF Guide with more outfit inspiration, colour combinations and examples from real family sessions.
It's designed to make getting ready for your session a little easier — without making you feel like you need to buy an entirely new wardrobe.
And if you've already booked a session with me and you're still unsure, you're always welcome to send me your outfit ideas. I'm happy to help!