Having a color palette ensures that the colors in your outfits complement each other and look cohesive together. If you aren't sure what color palette you'd like, see the graphic above (to the right on desktop) for a cheat sheet of neutral tones and earth tones that photograph well and all coordinate beautifully with one another.

If you prefer a more colorful palette, I recommend choosing deep or slightly muted tones (e.g., crimson or terracotta instead of bright red, mustard instead of lemon yellow, forest green instead of lime green) for best results, since super bright colors tend to create color casts on surrounding surfaces and are more difficult to pair together.

One great strategy is to put most of the family in different neutral shades, and then add one or two coordinating rich accent tones to round out the palette!

choose a color palette

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neutrals & earth tones

rich accent tones

It’s much easier to visualize everyone’s outfits once you know what one piece looks like! Try starting with mom's outfit, since women’s clothing tends to have more texture and prints. Once you choose what mom is wearing, you can start adding each outfit one by one.

Note to moms: Try to steer clear of short dresses (I recommend midi-length or at least knee length!). You will be squatting, sitting, and playing with your little one(s) during the session, and the last thing you want to worry about is flashing the camera while you're having fun!

start with mom

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You can't go wrong with these tried-and-true classic outfits:

LADIES: A flowy midi or maxi dress in a color you love
MEN: A light gray or light blue solid button-down shirt, paired with dark jeans or tan/olive chinos
GIRLS: A twirly little dress in a fun floral print, eyelet, or chambray
BOYS: A button-down, sweater, or henley paired with chinos

Scroll to the bottom of the guide to see some other great options for the whole family!

some classic outfit ideas

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Shoes are often the forgotten last element, but they can really make or break your outfits! You can't go wrong with classic tan or brown leather shoes; they look classy and coordinate well with everything.

For women and girls, I recommend block-heeled sandals, flats, sandals, or booties. For men and boys, I recommend dress shoes, chukka boots, or oxford sneakers (leave the Nikes at home!).

don't forget about shoes

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Check your outfits in front of the mirror, especially if you're wearing new pieces or ones you haven't worn in a while. Try sitting, squatting, leaning forward, etc. The kids’ clothes should work well in motion so that we can play during your session (think flying, tickling, and hanging upside down). For girls, I highly recommend wearing shorts or bloomers underneath skirts and dresses, to prevent underwear from showing during playtime!

try your clothes on in advance

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If your daughter hates wearing sweaters, don’t force her to wear one for photos. If your son thinks that bow-tie is uncomfortable, ditch it. Happy kids make for happy photos!

let the kids have input

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