How I Choose Outfits for Family Photos

We’ve taken family photos on vacation for the last 3 years, and picking out outfits is my least favorite part but I think I’ve gotten pretty good at it so I’ll share my secret formula. 😉

We just got our sunset family photos back that we took with @piercevisuals on our Gulf Shores trip. I figured now is the perfect time to share how I choose outfits for family photos. (The photos are incredible, by the way!)

man and woman hold hands as they walk on beach behind their daughter and son running on the sand — Beach Family Photos by Pierce Visuals

Plan Mom’s Outfit First

Let’s be real, Mom’s outfit is the most important. If Mom doesn’t feel her best, you will be able to tell in the photos.

I usually choose a dress because I like looking (and feeling) more put together in our photos. Plus, it’s easier to have a dress instead of worrying about a top and bottom working together. And dresses are just timeless ya know?

But I cannot stress this enough. Make sure you LOVE your outfit and it’s something you’re confident and comfortable in. IF YOU REMEMBER NOTHING ELSE REMEMBER THIS lol

When you’re confident and comfortable, it shows and then you will love your pictures.

I usually am frantically looking for a dress the week before and it always works out, so try not to stress but make sure you try it on in the store + at home. Lighting changes everything. Flowy is ALWAYS what I’m drawn to so that I don’t have to keep adjusting myself but you don’t want it too flowy that it will swallow you. There is a balance. I have a short torso and never had a wrap dress do me wrong!

After you get your outfit, make time for a spray tan or get a self tanner.

When in doubt, GET THE SPRAY TAN!

I feel more confident with a spray tan, especially for photos. My favorite self-tanners are from LovingTan Express and Coco+Eve.

Me and Chris on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama by Pierce Visuals

Keep it Neutral

After choosing your dress – then you dress the rest of the family. If you have a patterned dress, NO ONE ELSE should be in a pattern unless it’s SUPER subtle. But I pull all the colors from my dress or a color palette that compliments it. You can play with texture but in solid colors to give good variation but still cohesive.

The idea is – COHESIVE not Matchy Matchy if you can help it.

Mom and Dad hold their daughter and son. Family is dressed in coordinating shades of blue, white, and tan while standing together with the Eiffel Tower in the background — Paris Family Photos by Gabi Alves

For example, in these Paris family photos, I love the print of my dress. It was a little dressier (because we were in Paris, after all!), so Chris wore a suit in a similar shade of blue.

We put our daughter in a white dress with a ruffle-sleeve detail to echo my dress, and our son wore a tan suit with a tie that matched Chris’s suit.

Man, son, Woman, and child together in coordinating outfits for family photos in Paris

man and woman kissing with Eiffel Tower in background

Our fall family photos the year before were a loose color coordination. I started with my burgundy dress and white boots. I pulled out the white for our daughter’s dress, and a hint of the brown in the floral print for our son’s pants. Chris had some shoes in a similar brown color, and some dark pants. Because he was wearing dark pants, I put our son in a similar dark sweater. Chris wore a white shirt that tied everything together because it matched our daughter’s dress and my boots.

Couple walking while holding hands with two children between them - Photo by Desi Williams Photography and Design — Fall Family Photo by Desi Williams Photography and Design

I also used this same method of picking outfits when Chris came home from his deployment. I wore a navy dress that was in my closet with my favorite boots, and put the kids in shades of blue. We all looked put together and were still comfortable.

Where to Find Outfits for the Kids

I like to keep it easy for myself (and the budget) and start with what we have. When I figure out what I’m wearing, I go through our kids’ closets to see what we already have that can work.

If we’re missing something, or I have a specific item in mind, I head to Old Navy. They have the best for little boys and girls in my opinion and they are comfortable.

If I’m unsure about what I’ve picked out, I lay out everyone’s outfit on our bed side by side to make sure it all looks good together and of course send my sister pictures so she can confirm my great decisions. From there, I can look at a couple of different shirts or dress options for the kids (and Chris) without needing everyone to try on the outfits because you know that’s a whole other thing.

Other Tips for Family Photos

Don’t let your kids nap right before (you’ll regret it).

I threaten their lives with lollipops (just kidding! 😂). I bring lollipops for when they’re done with their part.

If you’re taking photos on the beach or near a river, get in the water! Clothes and all, these candid photos are some of my favorites!
If your family photos look like THIS, just know they’re gonna be good!

It’s hard to take pictures with little kids, but if you hire a good photographer, you will NOT regret it, and you WILL get good pictures. All of these times, these kids were acting heinous, so don’t be discouraged, mamas!