What to Wear for Family Photos: A Complete Style Guide

Planning family photos is exciting — but let’s be honest, figuring out what to wear can be overwhelming. The right outfits can make your portraits look polished, timeless, and true to your family’s style. The wrong ones? Distracting patterns, mismatched colors, or clothes that don’t fit well or feel comfortable can take away from the portraits.

As a family photographer in Montgomery County, MD, I’ve helped countless families prepare for their sessions. Here’s my complete guide on what to wear for family photos — so you can look and feel your best, with no guess work.

Coordinate, Don’t Match

Forget the old “everyone in white shirts and jeans” approach. Instead, aim for coordinated colors that complement each other without being identical. Choose 2–3 main colors and build everyone’s outfits around them. We don’t want everyone to look exactly the same.

Portrait of a family wearing complimentary colors on the porch of an old farm house

Stick to Neutral and Timeless Tones

Earth tones, soft neutrals, and muted shades photograph beautifully. Cream, beige, navy, blush, sage, or gray are great colors to start with. We want to stay away from overly bold patterns, neon colors, or colors that are too close to your skin tone. Any logos or text that can date your portraits are things to stay away from as well. We want the focus to be on the connection between you and your family, not the awesome 1985 Stussy logo.

It’s also a great idea to dress in colors that match the season. During fall go for those browns, yellows and oranges!

family portrait under a tree at a local Gaithersburg farm

Add Texture and Layers

Layers and textures are a great way to add depth and interest to your portraits. Sweaters, cardigans, scarves, or denim jackets can break up flat colors and bring dimension without overwhelming the photo.

During the fall and winter time, colorful scarfs are a great way to add this texture as well.

Be Comfortable

This one can not be overstated. Dress in what makes you feel amazing! If you feel amazing, it will show in your expression. If you’re trying to squeeze into clothes two sizes too small, you’re going to be uncomfortable and it’s going to show in your portraits.

Tiz The Season!

Fall: Rich tones like burgundy, mustard, or forest green.

Spring: Pastels and light fabrics.
Summer: Breezy dresses, light shirts, sandals.
Winter: Cozy sweaters, boots, and warm neutrals.

If your session is outdoors in Maryland, consider how your outfits will look against the backdrop — golden leaves, cherry blossoms, or park greenery.

Choose Simple Accessories

Don’t go overboard on the accessories. Keep things simple, remember, we want the focus to be on you and the connection with the family.

Keep jewelry to simple smaller pieces. A cute hat or a textured scarf to add dimension and texture. Try and avoid anything too shiny.

Outfit Planning Tips for Families

Choose mom’s outfit first, then coordinate the rest of the family around it.

Avoid busy patterns — simple patterns like check shirts, or pinstripe works best.
Shoes matter! Avoid athletic sneakers unless that’s the look you’re going for.
Lay everything out together beforehand to see how it looks as a group.

Your family portriats should reflect you — relaxed, connected, and authentic. The right outfits help tell your story without distraction, creating timeless portraits you’ll treasure for years.

Need more help planning your session? As a Maryland family photographer, I’m here to guide you through every step — from outfit planning to location selection.

Book Your Family Session