What To Wear To Your Session

After making the tough decision to find the perfect photographer, now comes a even more difficult process - outfit planning. I’ve been through it so many times with my own family and know just how important and stressful it can be. Which is why I’ve created this guide to help you understand which colors go together best, what colors and patterns to avoid, and even more tips. Looking your best is part of the formula for amazing photos!

First things first - colors & patterns to avoid:

Black: I don’t necessarily hate black, but I do hate too much of it. One person in black is okay but everyone (or mostly everyone) will cause too much blending and make the images look flat.

Neon & Bright Colors: These colors stand out entirely too much and will direct the focus straight to it. Not only is it distracting, it can also cast colors onto people and objects, which creates a mess of a image that editing can’t always solve. Always avoid bright & neon colors.

White: White is such a difficult color, while it may seem neutral it can actually make the person wearing it look very over exposed and bright. White also has a tendency to photograph more blue which takes extra editing to fix. Opt for cream or off white instead as it is more subtle.

Patterns & Logos: Please, stay away from logos (unless its a branding session) they are very distracting and tacky! Some patterns are okay, but two people wearing different patterns is very distracting and confusing to the eye. Try to have one person in a pattern, only two in similar pattern if you have a larger group. I will be going over patterns below.

Furthermore: If you ever have a wardrobe question, just ask me! You also do not have to follow my advice, these are your photos, so make them what YOU want.

Color Schemes & Inspiration:

A family of four standing in a park with green grass and trees, two adults and two children, smiling at the camera.
A family of six standing together outdoors near a pond, surrounded by blooming trees with pink and white flowers, on a grassy area.
A family of four standing on grass in a park during daytime, smiling at the camera. The mother has blonde hair and is wearing a colorful floral dress, the father has dark hair and a beard, wearing a light blue polo shirt, the daughter has long brown hair and is in a cream lace dress, and the son has short brown hair and is in a beige polo shirt and jeans.
A family of six posing for a portrait against a gray background, with color swatches at the bottom.
A woman sitting outdoors on a fluffy white blanket, holding a smiling baby girl, with a white teepee tent in the background and greenery.
Family of five sitting on a white blanket on the grass near a lake, with trees in the background, during daytime.

Pastels & Spring colors are a great option for spring and summer months. Sage green, muted pinks, light blues, etc. Fill in with creams, off whites, & textures. Notice the textures in each photo. Smaller families only have one pattern, where as the one bigger family has two patterns that are not the same. It isn’t my favorite but it also doesn’t look terrible. Also notice in the third image how the mom is wearing floral and the daughter is wearing lace, this is a fantastic combo. Lace is a very blend able texture and can go along side other textures and patterns so effortlessly!

Notice the hint of black in the man’s pants in the first photo & the shirt in the fifth photo? It isn’t overwhelming and can help blend. Khakis & Jeans are always a great option especially with lighter colors. Personally I would have swapped each for a more neutral color BUT it’s all about personal preference and vision.

A family of three sitting on a bench outdoors during autumn. The father has short brown hair and a beard, wearing a white sweater with gray and black stripes. The mother has shoulder-length dark hair, glasses, and is wearing a dark green sweater. The young boy, sitting on the mother's lap, has short light brown hair, wearing a blue, green, and white plaid shirt, tan pants, and white shoes. They are surrounded by trees with orange and brown leaves, and there are pine trees in the background.
A woman with two young girls sitting on a white blanket in a garden surrounded by green plants. The woman is smiling and looking at one of the girls, who is sitting on her lap wearing a white dress and a black headband. The other girl, in a green dress, is lying on her stomach and looking up at the woman.
A woman with two children sitting on a park bench outdoors, with a red wooden bridge and trees in the background.
A group of five people, including three young women, a young man, and a small girl, sitting on a white blanket outdoors during fall. They are surrounded by autumn leaves and trees with orange and yellow foliage, smiling at the camera.

Muted deep earth tones are so pleasing and versatile. I love the simplicity of olive green mixed with cream, brown, or beige. It blends so well and fits any setting. Any of these color combos work great and are a great guide if this is your style.

Notice the patterns in the first photo? They are different but they do not look terrible together.

Notice how baby is in bright white in the second photo? She is much brighter than anyone else in the image, opt for cream or off white instead if possible!

The last photo, baby is wearing a bright color which results in her standing out. Which is perfectly okay!

Family of five standing outdoors during fall, with autumn leaves on the ground and trees in the background, dressed in fall clothing.
A family of four sitting on a plaid blanket outdoors during fall, under a wooden teepee decorated with flowers, pumpkins, and pampas grass, with colorful autumn trees in the background.
A woman and three young children sitting on a wooden floor inside a covered bridge decorated with string lights, with fallen leaves scattered around.
A family of three having a picnic outdoors, with a grassy field in the background. The man is smiling and sitting on a white blanket, the woman is kissing a young girl who is sitting with her on the blanket, and colorful flowers are nearby.

Two very similar color schemes, neutral with a hint of forrest / dark green. I also love how the baby in the first image is the only one in a pattern!

A woman and two teenagers sitting on a white couch outdoors surrounded by autumn leaves, with a color palette of black, maroon, orange, blue, and gray at the bottom.
Family of four enjoying an autumn day by a creek in the woods, surrounded by fall foliage.
A family of four, including two children, enjoying outdoor time in autumn, with warm sunlight and colorful fall trees in the background.
A family of three sitting on a bench with a decorated Christmas tree in the background, smiling and hugging.

Want to get crazy with colors? Here are some great color schemes for reference. These combos are most popular during the fall and holiday season!

Again with the patterns, notice in the second photo how the mom’s flowers in her shirt match the color of her son’s shirt? That’s perfect blending! Same thing with the third photo, how the middle and youngest daughter have different versions of jean patterns. The fifth photo, how the boy is the only one in a pattern and the colors in the pattern go with mom’s shirt? again, perfect blending!

A smiling family of four sitting on a white furry rug against a plain white wall, with a man, a woman, and two young children, one of whom is a baby.
Family of four standing outdoors in fall, with trees showing autumn foliage in the background. The mother wears a beige dress and wide-brimmed hat, and is smiling at the father. The father wears glasses and a brown sweater, holding a young boy with a brown sweater and khaki pants who leans his head on the father’s shoulder. A teenage boy, in a white sweater and khaki pants, looks up at the family. The scene captures a warm, affectionate moment.
A man with a beard and tattoos holding and hugging a young girl outdoors on a white blanket, with greenery in the background, as she kisses his cheek.

The last color group I’ll go over, neutrals. The first image is true light neutral, love how the colors blend together with the bright setting. The second image is more of dark neutral. The last photo is a mix between dark & light neutral with a pop of color. Also, to note, I love how the color of floral in the little girl’s dress matches her daddy’s shirt, perfect blending!

I truly hope this guide has helped you understand colors, patterns, textures, & blending. I hope you walk away with an idea of what you’re wanting in your family photos and as mentioned before, if you have any questions or want help or opinions on your outfits, just ask me!