What to Wear
for a Family Portrait Session
Here are a few wardrobe tips if you need a little inspiration. None of these are hard-and-fast rules, only observations on what tends to photograph beautifully. I hope this will help you spend less time deciding and more time enjoying the session.
How to Start
Pick an outfit around which to build the rest of the family’s looks. If your kids are younger, start with your outfit. What makes you feel confident and fabulous? If you have a particularly opinionated teenager, agree on their outfit and go from there.
Whatever you choose, make sure it moves with you. Clothing that shows movement can bring a photograph to life. On a more practical note, depending on everyone’s ages, there may be some running, some twirling, or maybe a piggyback ride, so outfits that restrict movement will show on your faces before they show it in the photos.
Choosing Colors
The goal is to coordinate, not match. Select two or three colors that pair well together, then let everyone wear their own version of that palette.
Warm neutrals are the easiest starting point and never look dated: cream, ivory, taupe, camel, soft sage. From there, add one or two richer accent tones to keep the palette from feeling flat. Classic options include rust, mustard, deep plum, or pale blue.
Consider the Setting
The location of your session will affect what looks best. A quick starting point for the three types of locations:
Along the water
Pear Tree Point Beach · Pinkney Park
Cream, warm beige, soft taupe, dusty slate blue, other softer shades. Heavier fabrics — linen blends, a chunky knit — hold their shape against the wind better than anything flimsy. Long dresses or skirts move beautifully out here.
Wooded & open grounds
Waveny · Irwin Park · Farm Creek Preserve · Mather Homestead
Olive, rust, mustard, plum, warm chocolate brown, grounded with a charcoal or navy. This is where texture really shines, whether it’s a sweater layer, corduroy, or a quilted “shacket” on a guy.
In the studio
At Calderwood Photography Studio
A clean backdrop means your outfit is the only color in the frame, so this is the place to reach for something richer if you would like. A jewel tone, a deep solid, or neutrals work well here, too. Structured pieces that fit well, like a blazer or tailored blouse, create clean lines against the background. Do steer clear of pure white and pure black, as both can read harsher in this kind of photography than they do in the mirror.
A few practical notes
Dress for the coldest person in the family
If your youngest gets chilly fast, layer them up with a knit sweater or a warm hat. A cold toddler will not smile for the camera, no matter how good the outfit looks. On chillier days, I stash hand warmers in my pockets and happily share them, but it’s better to avoid getting too cold in the first place.
Texture over flat color
A cardigan, a scarf, or a jean jacket — all three of these add depth to a photo without adding pattern, and they’re an easy way to make an outfit feel a little more finished.
Shoes matter more than you’d think
If it’s too cold to go barefoot at the beach, closed-toe shoes hold up better than flip-flops or sandals, whether on grass or sand. Boots are a good bet almost everywhere in the fall, as are “fashion” sneakers, but avoid bright white sneakers or ones very clearly meant for actual athletic pursuits.
