One of the first questions I get asked when families book a photoshoot with me is, “What should we wear?”

And honestly, I get it!

Choosing outfits for yourself is hard enough, let alone coordinating an entire family and trying to make sure everyone looks good together without looking like you're all wearing a uniform.

The good news is, choosing what to wear for your family photoshoot doesn't need to be stressful.

After photographing families for more than 15 years, I've learned that the best family photos aren't about everyone wearing matching outfits. They're about choosing clothes that feel like you, photograph beautifully and allow everyone to feel comfortable.

So if you're wondering what to wear for your upcoming family photoshoot, here are my top tips. (and scroll down to the very bottom to see my colour pallet examples )

Don't Match, Coordinate

Gone are the days of everyone wearing white shirts and blue jeans!

Instead of trying to match everyone exactly, choose a colour palette and build your family's outfits around it.

Think about choosing three to five complementary colours and mixing different tones, textures and patterns.

Some beautiful colour combinations for family photos include:

• Cream, beige, soft brown and white

• Sage green, cream and tan

• Dusty blue, grey and soft neutrals

• Rust, mustard, cream and warm brown

• Soft pink, beige and ivory

• Navy, tan and cream

You don't need everyone wearing one of the exact same colours. The goal is simply for everyone's outfits to look beautiful together.

For example, Mum might wear a flowing cream dress, Dad could wear a soft blue shirt with beige pants, one child could wear a sage green dress and another could wear neutral tones.

When everyone is coordinated rather than identical, your photos tend to look more natural and timeless.

Start With Mum's Outfit

This is one of my biggest tips!

Mums are often the ones organising the entire family photoshoot, booking the session, choosing the location and coordinating everyone else's clothes. Then they leave their own outfit until the last minute.

Please don't do this!

Choose your outfit first and build everyone else's outfits around yours.

As the person who is often the most concerned about how they will look in the photos, it's important that you feel comfortable and confident in what you're wearing.

A beautiful dress can photograph particularly well during an outdoor family session because it creates movement and adds softness to your images.

But you absolutely don't have to wear a dress. Choose something that makes you feel like the best version of yourself.

The most important thing is that you feel comfortable. If you're constantly adjusting your clothes or worrying about how something looks, that feeling can affect how relaxed you are during your session.

Choose Comfortable Clothes

Family photoshoots, especially outdoor family sessions, often involve walking, sitting on the ground, cuddling your children, picking them up and playing together.

You want clothes that allow you to move!

Avoid anything that feels too tight, restrictive or uncomfortable.

This is particularly important for children. If your little one hates wearing a particular outfit, a family photoshoot probably isn't the best time to force them into it.

Comfortable children are happy children, and happy children make for much more relaxed and natural photographs.

Choose clothes they can move, run and play in.

Avoid Large Logos and Busy Graphics

While your favourite branded T-shirt might be comfortable, large logos and graphics can become distracting in photographs.

The same goes for clothing with words, characters or very busy patterns.

Your family's faces and connection should be the focus of your photos, not the giant logo across someone's chest.

That doesn't mean you need to wear completely plain clothing. Small patterns, textured fabrics and subtle prints can add personality and interest to your photos.

Just try to avoid having everyone wearing different bold patterns at the same time.

A good rule is to choose one or two subtle patterned outfits and keep the rest of the family's clothing relatively simple.

Think About Your Location

What you wear should also work with the location of your photoshoot.

For an outdoor family photography session in Melbourne, I generally recommend soft, natural colours that complement the environment rather than compete with it.

Think earthy tones, neutrals and soft colours.

If you're having photos taken in a park or nature reserve such as the stunning Mitcham outdoor location that I photograph all my outdoor family sessions at, colours such as cream, beige, sage, rust, soft blue and dusty pink can photograph beautifully against natural greenery.

Try to avoid bright fluorescent colours, as they can reflect colour onto skin and become distracting in your images.

If you're booking a studio family photoshoot, you have a little more flexibility with colours because the environment is more controlled.

Layers and Texture Photograph Beautifully

Adding layers and different textures can make your family photos look more interesting without adding lots of colours.

Think:

• Knitted cardigans

• Linen shirts

• Denim jackets

• Soft jumpers

• Textured dresses

• Corduroy

• Natural fabrics

Texture adds depth to photographs and can help your family's outfits look coordinated without being overly matched.

A simple cream dress paired with a knitted cardigan, linen shirt and textured children's outfit can look beautiful together even if everyone is wearing slightly different shades.

Keep Shoes Simple

Shoes are easy to forget about when planning family outfits, but they can make a difference in your final photographs.

Choose shoes that complement your outfits and are suitable for the location.

Neutral boots, sandals, clean sneakers or simple shoes usually photograph well.

Try to avoid very bright runners with lots of contrasting colours or shoes with large logos.

And if your session involves sitting or playing on the ground, don't worry. Sometimes barefoot photos can be absolutely beautiful too!

Dress for the Season

Melbourne weather can be unpredictable, so it's always worth thinking about the season and checking the forecast before your family photoshoot.

For autumn and winter family sessions, layers work beautifully. Think knitwear, boots, jackets and textured fabrics.

For spring and summer, lighter fabrics and softer colours can work particularly well.

If you're worried about being cold during an outdoor session, it's usually better to bring an extra layer that you can remove rather than spending the entire session freezing!

A comfortable family is a happy family.

Don't Forget About Your Children's Personalities

I love photographs that feel like a genuine reflection of the family in them.

While you want everyone to look coordinated, you don't need to completely erase your children's personalities.

If your daughter loves dresses and twirling, let her wear something she can twirl in.

If your son feels most comfortable in a particular pair of shoes, that might be perfectly fine.

The goal isn't to create a perfectly styled magazine photoshoot. It's to create photographs that feel like your family.

Years from now, you may actually love looking back and remembering the stage your children were at and the little things that made them who they were.

Prepare Your Outfits in Advance

Please don't leave choosing your outfits until the morning of your photoshoot!

I promise it will make the day far more stressful.

Try everything on together at least a week before your session.

Lay everyone's outfits on the bed or floor and look at them as a group.

Ask yourself:

• Do the colours work well together?

• Is anyone wearing something that clashes?

• Are there too many patterns?

• Is everyone comfortable?

• Are the shoes suitable?

• Does anyone need an extra layer?

Doing this in advance gives you plenty of time to make changes if something doesn't quite work.

It also means you can spend the day of your photoshoot focusing on enjoying the experience rather than running around trying to find a missing shoe!

What Colours Look Best in Family Photos?

There isn't one perfect colour palette for every family, but softer and more neutral tones tend to create timeless photographs.

Some of my favourite colours for family photography include:

• Cream

• Beige

• Tan

• Soft brown

• Sage green

• Dusty blue

• Rust

• Mustard

• Soft pink

• Navy

• Grey

You don't have to avoid colour completely. The key is choosing colours that work together rather than having everyone wear something completely different.

If you're unsure, start with one outfit you love and build the rest of the family's wardrobe around that.

* scroll down all the way to the bottom to see examples of these colour pallets in action!

What Should Mum Wear for a Family Photoshoot?

Mum should wear something that makes her feel confident, comfortable and beautiful.

Flowing dresses often photograph beautifully because they create movement and can be very flattering, particularly during outdoor family sessions.

However, dresses are certainly not essential.

A beautiful blouse paired with jeans or pants can look just as lovely.

Consider:

• What colours make you feel good?

• What style makes you feel most confident?

• Will you be comfortable sitting, moving and picking up your children?

• Does the outfit suit the location and season?

Most importantly, don't choose something simply because you think you should wear it for photos.

Choose something that feels like you.

What Should Dad Wear for a Family Photoshoot?

Dads generally look great in simple, classic clothing.

A neutral shirt or polo paired with jeans, chinos or neutral pants can work beautifully.

Linen shirts are also a great option for warmer weather and outdoor sessions.

Try to avoid large logos, bright graphics or clothing that clashes with the rest of the family.

The goal is simple, comfortable and coordinated.

What Should Kids Wear for Family Photos?

Comfort is key!

Choose clothes your children can move and play in.

For girls, dresses can photograph beautifully, especially if they have movement or texture.

For boys, simple shirts paired with shorts, jeans or chinos work well.

Try to avoid forcing children to wear something they hate. If they're uncomfortable or upset about their outfit before the session even begins, it can make the whole experience harder than it needs to be.

And remember, children don't need to look perfectly polished throughout the entire session.

A slightly messy dress, grass on their knees or windswept hair can all be part of the beautiful reality of photographing a family.

My Biggest Tip? Don't Overthink It!

I know choosing outfits for a family photoshoot can feel overwhelming.

But at the end of the day, your photos aren't going to be special because everyone wore the perfect outfit.

They're going to be special because they capture your family together.

Your children's smiles.

The way they fit into your arms.

The little cuddles.

The laughter.

The chaos.

The connections.

Twenty years from now, you're unlikely to look back at your family photographs and think about whether everyone's colours perfectly matched.

You'll look at those little faces and remember this chapter of your family's story.

So choose clothes you feel good in, coordinate your colours, make sure everyone is comfortable and then let the rest go.

I've got you.

Need Help Choosing Your Family Photoshoot Outfits?

When you book a family photography session with me, you don't have to figure everything out on your own.

I'm always happy to offer guidance and help you with ideas for what to wear before your session.

With more than 15 years of experience photographing Melbourne families, I know how to help create relaxed, natural photographs that capture the genuine connection between you and the people you love most.

My family photography sessions are relaxed, fun and designed to feel nothing like a stiff, awkward photoshoot.

We'll capture the cuddles, laughter, personality and little moments that make your family uniquely yours.

Because one day, these photographs will become some of the most precious things you own.

Ready to Capture Your Family?

If you've been thinking about updating your family photos, I'd love to chat.

Based in Vermont, Melbourne, I photograph families throughout Melbourne's eastern suburbs and beyond.

Get in touch to find out more about booking your family photography session.

Frequently Asked Questions About What to Wear for a Family Photoshoot

Should families wear matching outfits for photos?

No. Coordinated outfits generally photograph better than everyone wearing exactly the same clothes. Choose a complementary colour palette and mix different tones, textures and styles.

What colours should you avoid wearing for family photos?

Try to avoid fluorescent colours, very bright neons and colours that clash with the rest of your family. Large logos and busy graphics can also become distracting in photographs.

Is it okay to wear jeans for family photos?

Absolutely! Jeans can look great in family photos, particularly when paired with softer tops, textured fabrics or layers. Choose jeans that are comfortable and fit well.

Should Mum wear a dress for family photos?

Not necessarily. Flowing dresses can photograph beautifully, but the most important thing is that Mum feels comfortable and confident. Wear something that feels like you.

How many colours should a family wear in photos?

Three to five complementary colours usually work well. You don't need everyone wearing the same colours. Instead, choose shades that work beautifully together.

What should we wear for an outdoor family photoshoot in Melbourne?

Soft, natural colours such as cream, beige, sage green, dusty blue, rust and soft pink tend to photograph beautifully in outdoor locations. Consider the season and choose comfortable clothing suitable for the weather.

What should children wear for family photos?

Choose comfortable clothes that allow children to move and play. Avoid forcing children to wear outfits they dislike, as comfortable and happy children usually result in more relaxed photographs.

Check out some colour pallets below to give you some inspiration when preparing for your family photography session. - Fyi notice how crispy white is NOT a go to colour- try to choose off sandy white or cream instead.

But please just remember- I want you to look and feel like YOU! So if you are someone who always wears crazy and loud bold patterns that's completely fine- just perhaps co-ordinate the other family members around that.

I hope to be able to capture some beautiful, natural and timeless family portraits for you and your family soon! 

Stace x