What to Wear for Family Photos?

One of the most common questions I get as a Pittsburgh family photographer is: “What should we wear for our family photos?” It’s a great question, and an important one! The right clothing choices can elevate your session, keep the focus on your family’s connection, and create timeless images you’ll treasure for years.

Here are my top tips for what to wear for family photos:

1. Start with a Color Palette

Choose 2–3 main colors and a few complementary neutrals (like cream, tan, soft gray, or denim). Earthy tones, pastels, or muted shades photograph beautifully in natural light and outdoor settings. Think blush, sage, rust, navy, or dusty blue, colors that feel cohesive without being too matchy.

This family chose natural toned outfits with lots of blues and neutrals.

2. Coordinate, Don’t Match

Gone are the days of everyone wearing jeans and a white shirt. Instead, opt for outfits that coordinate. Mix textures and colors. I typically recommend only one person wears a pattern (such as floral) to keep the portraits from looking too busy and keeping the attention on what's really important: the people!

Blues and neutrals are easy to mix and match and make for a great summer palette.

3. Dress for the Location & Season

If we’re shooting in a grassy park, flowy dresses and rolled sleeves work beautifully. For urban or fall sessions, boots, layers, and cozy textures like corduroy or wool are great. Let your wardrobe complement the vibe of your setting. And dress for the temperature - especially the kids! If they're too hot or too cold it's harder to get those natural smiles.

Pops of red are great for Christmas photos

4. Keep Comfort in Mind

Everyone should feel comfortable in what they’re wearing. Avoid anything too stiff, tight, or itchy. When your family feels good, they’ll look relaxed and natural in front of the camera. And moms with little kids: if you're wearing a dress I recommend going with a longer length (midi or maxi). This is why: with little kids we often crouch and play games and its so much easier to get good natural looking photos when you're not constantly adjusting your outfit to avoid exposing yourself.

You might be able to bear the cold in the name of looking cute, but your kids will be less happy about it. Make sure to layer kids' outfits if it's cold.

5. Add Layers & Accessories

Layers like cardigans, vests, scarves, or hats can add interest to your look and are easy to take on and off for variety in your photos. Just don’t go overboard. Less is often more when it comes to accessories. Again, we want to keep the attention on the people, not the outfits!

Fall temps allow for lots of layering options.

6. Avoid Logos & Neon Colors

Skip loud patterns, logos, or neon colors that can be distracting. The focus should be on your faces and connections, not the branding on a shirt! Bright colors can also reflect that color back onto your skin, making it hard to get natural tones in the photos.

Simple patterns allow us to focus on the cute kids, instead of being distracted by the outfits.

7. Plan Ahead & Try It On

Lay out all the outfits together ahead of time to see how they look as a group. Make sure everything fits well and feels good before the session day, this helps reduce stress and ensures everyone’s photo-ready.

Need help styling your session? I’m always happy to help you choose outfits or review ideas before your session. I want you to feel confident and look your best while still being you. At the end of the day, the most important thing is capturing your family’s love and connection, what you wear should simply support that story.

If you’re planning family photos in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, let’s make it beautiful and stress-free, starting with the perfect outfit plan!