What to Wear for Family Photos: A Stress-Free Guide

Figuring out what to wear for family photos can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! The most important thing is that you feel comfortable, confident, and like yourself. Your photos should reflect you, not some stiff, overly curated version of your family. So here’s my simple, stress-free guide to choosing outfits that look great and feel even better.

1. Start with the Person Who Cares the Most

In most families, there’s one person who cares about the photos the most (and let’s be real—that’s usually Mom). If that’s you, start by picking something that makes you feel amazing. If you feel confident and comfortable, that energy will carry through the whole session. Once you’ve got your outfit sorted, plan everyone else’s around it.

2. Keep It Comfortable & True to You

If you’re a jeans-and-a-tee kind of mom, wear jeans and a tee. If you’ve been dying for an excuse to pull out that flowy floral dress, go for it. The key is to wear something that makes you feel like your best self. I wore yoga pants, Birkenstocks and a chunky knit sweater in my last formal family photo; I think it looked great - and guys - that's what counts.

3. Neutral Colors & Simple Patterns Work Best (But There Are No Rules!)

Soft, neutral tones tend to photograph beautifully and everyone looks good in them. But I'm not here to tell you what you look good in. If you love bright colors, do it, I personally love bold pops of color in my own family photos. If you intend to put the photos up in your house, look around your house/ living area and maybe consider - not matching with those colors - but don't clash with them, right? And maybe that will provide a clue to what colors you're drawn to. Avoid super busy patterns that can be distracting, but don’t stress too much. If your neurodiverse kid will only wear his Super Mario t-shirt, let him wear it. A happy kid is way more important than a perfectly color-coordinated outfit. These photos are about your family, not some pretend Pinterest family. You might actually find that by breaking some "rules" actually gives you the most authentic meaningful result that you'll enjoy looking back on.

4. Coordinate, Don’t Match

Don't match too much you guys, I honestly think not matching at all is better than matching too much. Don't put every gurl in the same dress, every boy in the same t-shirt. Aim for a mix of colors that complement each other without being too matchy-matchy. Think of it like putting together home decor—cohesive but with variety.

5. Skip the Stress—Your Photos Should Feel Like You

At the end of the day, these photos are about capturing your family as you truly are. If I give too much guidance, people start thinking there are “rules” to follow—and there aren’t. The goal is to feel comfortable, be yourselves, and let the photos reflect that. So wear what makes you feel good, show up as you are, and let’s create something beautiful together!

Got questions about what to wear? Send me a message—I’m happy to help!