Styling Guide
What to Wear for Your Family Photography Session
Dressing for Timeless & Beautiful Photos
What you wear for your family photos can make all the difference in how your images turn out. The right outfit choices enhance the mood, create visual harmony, and help tell your family's unique story. This guide will help you choose what to wear (and what to avoid) so your photos feel effortless, natural, and truly timeless.
What to Wear:
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Coordinate, Don’t Match – Aim for a cohesive colour palette rather than identical outfits. This keeps the look natural while showing individuality.
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Neutral & Earthy Tones – Soft whites, muted blues, warm browns, beiges, and sage greens photograph beautifully and complement natural surroundings.
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Layers & Textures – Linen, knits, lace, denim, and flowy fabrics add depth and movement to your images.
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Flattering Fits – Choose clothing that highlights your best features while allowing you to move freely.
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Classic Over Trendy – Timeless styles ensure your photos age well and don’t feel dated in a few years.
What to Avoid:
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Neon & Bright Whites – These can reflect harsh light and wash out skin tones. Opt for off-white or cream instead.
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Black: Black shirts, dresses or pants will appear flat and without detail. They can also draw attention away from faces. Charcoal or grey is better.
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Logos & Graphics – Large text or bold branding is distracting.
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Too Matchy-Matchy – While matching pyjamas are super cute on Christmas morning, they don't work so well for a general family portrait. Likewise, matching jeans and identical white shirts tend to look dated.
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Overly Tight or Baggy Clothes – Both can be unflattering and uncomfortable.
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Too Many Competing Patterns – One subtle pattern is great, but multiple busy prints can be distracting.
Choosing The Right Colours
When picking outfits, remember that photo editing may subtly alter colours. Some bold shades may look different in post-processing. Stick to muted, earthy tones like beige, olive, rust, or soft blues or light pastels for a delicate, airy feel.
Sand Dune
Riverbed
Harvest
Field
Dusk
Winter
Lush Fabrics, Elevated Style
Neutral colours don't need to be boring! Layer different textures to create depth, movement and atmosphere. ​
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Velvet
Chunky Knits
Suede
Silk
Fine Rib Knits
Simillar Tones
The Two Exceptions to the No-Matching Rule
Matching outfits generally don’t work well in photography, but there are two stylish exceptions:
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Neutral Coordination: Wearing the same colour (like white or beige) works when outfits have different fabrics, patterns, and silhouettes. For example, one person in a linen dress, another in a knit sweater, and another in a soft cotton button-up. Avoid everyone wearing identical white button-ups and jeans!​
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Selective Matching for Connection: It’s charming for specific family members to match—like a mother and daughter in similar dresses, or siblings in coordinated outfits. This subtly highlights their special bond while keeping the overall family look cohesive. It's generally fine in moderation, but more than three matching family members is too many.
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Final Touches
Accessories & Grooming
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Shoes Matter: Boots or black shoes for fields, barefoot for the beach or lawn. Avoid sports shoes.
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Subtle Accessories: Simple jewelry, hats, or a soft shawl add personality.
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Hair & Makeup: Keep it natural—no heavy contouring, lipsticks, or glittery makeup. A recent haircut for men and boys looks great. Likewise, groomed facial hair is recommended.
Styling Tips For Every Family Member
For Moms & Women:
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Flowy dresses, skirts, or well-fitted jeans with soft blouses create elegant movement.
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Midi or maxi-length dresses flatter most body types.
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Soft curls, natural waves, or a loose bun complement timeless portraits.
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Opt for neutral or soft makeup. A nude lip or chapstick is best as colours may change in editing.
For Dads & Men:
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Neutral chinos or jeans paired with a casually opened button-up, henley, or casual knit sweater.
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Avoid stiff, formal outfits—aim for relaxed yet polished.
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Stick to muted tones and layers for a classic, comfortable feel.
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For Kids & Babies:
Kids will be kids, and chances are they will end up in all sorts of strange and energetic positions. Choose unrestrictive, breathable clothes.
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Rompers are great for little ones still in nappies to keep them from peeking out in photos.
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Bloomers under dresses help maintain modesty while keeping the look adorable.
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Simple, cozy outfits in soft fabrics—dresses, overalls, or knitwear—are perfect.
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Barefoot for beach or lawn sessions; fully enclosed shoes (like boots) for wild fields.
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Buying or Hiring
I have a relationship with Mama Rentals and can provide you with a 15% discount code towards gown hire, for clients with booked sessions. MammaRentals have a gorgeous selection of frocks suitable for before, duringa nd after pregnancy.
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I also have a selection of rompers, wraps, and bloomers for newborn babies to complement your family style. This can be discussed closer to the shoot once you have planned your outfits.
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When it comes to the rest of the family, choosing outfits should not be difficult. You will likely have many suitable pieces in your wardrobe already! In case you need to get a few extra pieces, I recommend looking at the following stores:
Kids Clothing Stores
Cotton On Kids, Target, Jamie Kay, Ziggy Lou, Country Road, Seed Heritage and Zara.
Ladies Clothing Stores
Cotton On, Tree of Life, Target, Seed Heritage, Country Road and Zara.
Mens Clothing Stores
Cotton On, Target, Rodd & Gunn, Country Road, Seed Heritage and Zara.
Feeling Comfortable, Confident & Camera-Ready
The best outfit is one that makes you feel great. Prioritize comfort so you can focus on enjoying the moment. When you feel good, it shines through in the photos. Trust the process, relax, and let the magic happen.
Ready to create beautiful memories? Let’s make it happen!