What to Wear for your Family Photo Session | a 2025 update
- Kayla White
- Aug 19
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 21
There is one topic I can talk about for hours, and that's what to wear to your family photo session! I know that the idea of having to get everyone dressed, coordinated and keeping them all happy can be paralyzing for some people, and I truly understand! Since fashion and colors has always been something I have loved ( my 6+ years in retail come in handy here!) I have a great understanding on what everyone in a group should wear to make sure they coordinated with the rest of the family, but that their personality still gets to shine. In fact I've used that information to put together some What to Wear guides that have been viewed tons of times. It's not time for a refresh, and instead of just changing the original information I'm ready to call out clearly the things I would tell you to wear this time that I hadn't mentioned the first time.
First things first, jump over to the original blog post so you can get a refresher on all of my original ideas ( and so many photos!) on What to Wear.
The most important thing to start with.. my 3 rules for every photo session, every time!
Start with the trickiest person
Every family has one—maybe it’s your daughter who has strong opinions about her style, or your husband who owns three shirts and rotates them. Whoever is the “wild card,” begin there. Build the rest of your family’s wardrobe around that outfit to save yourself the stress of re-working everything later. And if you’ve got opinionated little ones, let them help choose! Kids love showing off clothes they’ve picked, and their excitement often shines through in the photos.
Skip the characters and logos
Trendy brands and big graphics might be fun in the moment, but in photos they’ll pull the attention away from the people who matter—you. Instead, think textures and subtle prints: soft linen dresses, lightweight knits, or a patterned skirt paired with a solid top. For 2025, rich neutral palettes like sand, oat, and cream are especially flattering at the beach or in natural light. If you want a pop of color, muted blues, sage green, or a soft blush photograph beautifully without overwhelming the scene.
Keep comfort in the mix
Your session is about capturing your family’s real personality, and it’s tough to relax when you’re wearing something stiff or scratchy. You don’t need to dress down in sweats, but choose pieces that move with you—flowy dresses, casual-chic button-downs, or soft fabrics that kids can run and play in. And here’s a tip from years of experience: the family member who is least excited about photos should be the most comfortable. If big brother despises sweaters, forcing him into one will guarantee grumpy faces (at least at first!).
Color Options for Coordinating Outfits
My original blog post featured lots of ideas on colors that would coordinate well together. In fact, in the original post I really stuck by the idea that you need to pick 3 colors that coordinated well together. NOT ANYMORE! If you happen to be able to identify 3 colors you can get everyone into, then by all means don't let me stop you! Now I suggest people focus on 2 colors and an option neutral so you don't end up with some in khaki and some in gray.
1 main color choice
1 secondary color ( this is a good place for a pop!)
1 neutral that you can use for all if need be
The list of color suggestions I gave in the original post
Navy, Mustard yellow and tan
Pink, dark green and brown
Red, pink and black
Blue, orange and gray
Pink, Navy and white
Blue, pink and gray
Navy, purple and gray
Variations of blue
White and navy with a bit of teal
These colors all still work well together. Let's see some updated photos showcasing some of those pallets shall we??
Wearing the Patterns
Original Text:
PATTERNS:
Gosh I love a good pattern. Floral, stripes, checks, you name it and I’m a sucker. A safe bet is to put one family member in a fun pattern, and use that pattern’s colors to decide what everyone else should wear. If you’re feeling adventurous though, pick a few different patterns that can all work together. When you start with patterns that tell a similar color story, you have a good chance of them all working together.
Updated Version:
Patterns are still a win in 2025, but the trick is keeping them intentional. In fact, I still LOVE a pattern and probably love them even more now. I tell every single family to find some patterns to add into their outfit, and I think a great pattern can be the jumping point for figuring out your 2 color pallet. A good approach is to let one family member shine in a standout pattern, and then pull coordinating colors from that outfit to guide everyone else’s look. Think flowing florals, subtle stripes, or even a soft plaid—pieces that feel timeless and photograph beautifully.
If you’re ready to mix it up, don’t be afraid to layer multiple patterns—as long as they share a similar color palette. For example, a floral dress with soft blues and creams pairs perfectly with a striped shirt in those same tones.
(Tip: Skip the super tiny checks or micro-patterns often found in button-downs. On camera, those small squares can create a fuzzy, pixelated look that’s distracting in your photos.)
Ready for the photo examples for some gorgeous pattern mixing?!
Add Accessories and Layers
Original Text:
Accessories and additional layers are one of the best ways to add a pop of color or fun pattern. They also add a bit of personality to your outfit helping each of your family members to stand out in their own way. Consider throwing on a cardigan or jacket which can help bring your outfit together and add a touch of dimension to the images. When you can add an accessory that has a sentimental story attached you’re also adding a little 'inception' to the photos. Just think about how you’ll feel looking at images of your family, in which you’re wearing the same necklace your Mom wore in your childhood family photos.
(Tip: The easiest trick to coordinating family outfits is to dress everyone in a base outfit with coordinating neutrals, and then put layers on top in the form of a scarf, headband or cardigan.)
New Text:
So here's the thing, accessories and layers are still such a great way to add a touch of color and add some texture to your look. The weather here in Charleston though?! No additional layers are needed. In fact, loose clothes are preferred and suggested if we are planning your photo shoot during peak heat. For fall or winter, go head and throw on a cute top layer but a heavy scarf or peacoat jacket like I had showcased in my original post? Leave them at home! Now slipping on some bracelets that happen to be the same color as your son's patterned shirt is a GENIUS way to connect colors across outfits without creating another layer.
The ending from my original post is still the same... "When the session is done and the gallery sent, it won't be what you wear that matters the most. It will be about how much fun you had, how big your smiles were and how much you just enjoyed being together as a family. Smiles and laughter look good in any color. "
Helping to make sure you look the best in the outfits you've picked is something that I love doing, so don't hesitate to email me some photos of what you've picked and let me help you make all those tough choices.
I know you'll find the exact right thing for your photos.
Happy Styling!!
Want to see some other past posts on this exact topic featuring lots of great links?
Heading to the beach? Here's a guide on what to wear for your beach session.
Here's a post featuring some direct links to some gorgeous options for fall family photos.
Kayla Rochelle photographs primarily in Charleston, SC soaking up the beach at sunset and daytime in the parks as much as possible.
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