What to Wear for Outdoor Family Photos

When it comes to outdoor family photos, one of the biggest questions people have is what to wear. Let’s get this out of the way first: when you work with me, it’s completely fine not to plan a single thing outfit-wise.

If your family shows up in whatever you were already wearing that day, that works. I love photographing people as they are. I don’t have expectations about what you should wear or what the photos should look like.

That said, I understand wanting a bit of guidance when it comes to clothes. I feel that too. I don’t want to dress like someone else entirely, but I do want to feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful! I want to know that what I’m wearing will photograph well, while still feeling like me.

If you’re a family who wants a little more intention around clothing—not to match or look styled, but to create a sense of cohesion—keep reading. This will help you choose pieces that support the feel of the images rather than pulling attention away from it.

Start with color

Outdoor spaces already have a lot happening visually. Greens, sky, changing light. Clothing that’s too bold or high-contrast can take over in a way that doesn’t add much, or even distracts.

Colors that tend to work well are ones you’d find in nature. Creams, tans, olive, denim, soft blues—but that doesn’t mean everything has to be muted. There’s room for color here.

If you’ve seen it in nature, it’s usually a yes. Think magnolia pinks, deeper greens, warm rust tones, even rich blues. The only thing I’d avoid is anything overly bright or fluorescent that pulls attention away from the people in the frame.

Crisp white and solid black can be harder to work with. They often lose detail or stand out more than intended, especially in bright light.

Think in terms of cohesion

Matching outfits usually feel forced.

It works better when clothing relates without being identical. You might start with one or two tones and build around them. Different textures, layers, and subtle variation keep things from feeling flat.

Patterns can work really well, especially if they’re balanced.

If one person is wearing a pattern, it helps if the others stay more simple. A small floral next to a soft plaid, or something textured paired with something more minimal, can feel cohesive without looking styled.

You’re not trying to match. You’re just avoiding everything competing for attention.

Choose clothing you can move in

You’ll be walking, sitting, picking up your kids, shifting positions. Clothing that restricts movement or needs constant adjusting tends to show up in the images.

If something rides up, pulls, or needs to be fixed every few minutes, it becomes something you’re thinking about instead of just being in it.

Pieces that allow for movement tend to photograph better. They respond to what’s happening instead of working against it. Fabrics that move, layers that don’t feel tight, things you can sit in comfortably.

You don’t need to test every outfit, but it’s worth asking: can I move, sit, and pick up my kid in this without thinking about it?

Keep it simple

Logos, characters, large graphics, and text pull attention right away.

They tend to become the first thing you notice in a photo, which can take focus away from the people in it.

The same goes for pieces that feel very trend-driven. Something that feels current right now can date an image more quickly than you’d expect.

Simple clothing tends to hold up over time. It keeps the attention on expression, connection, and the way people are interacting, rather than what they’re wearing.

That said, there’s room for real life here. If your kid is obsessed with something right now and lives in a particular shirt, that’s part of this moment too. You’ll probably love seeing that later.

You know your family best.

Wear something that feels like you

You don’t need to buy new outfits for your session.

If you already have something you feel good in, that’s usually the best place to start. You know how it fits, how it moves, and whether you feel comfortable in it. That alone goes a long way.

A photoshoot can be a great excuse to treat yourself to something new, and you’re welcome to go that route. If you do, it helps to think about whether you’d actually wear it outside of the session. Does it feel like you? Do you feel confident in it? Can you move comfortably in it?

When something feels natural, you stop thinking about it. You’re more at ease, and that comes through in your photos!

A final note

Outdoor family photos don’t come together because everything was styled perfectly.

They come together because your family showed up as yourselves, and there was space for that to unfold.

Clothing can support that. It can help you feel comfortable, help you move more easily, help you settle into the experience without thinking too much about how you look.

But it doesn’t carry the session.

What matters more is how you feel in what you’re wearing, and whether you’re able to be present with each other once we start!

If you’re planning an outdoor family photo session in New England and the Northeast and want images that reflect your actual life, you can learn more about working together here.

Curious to see an example of a causal but coordinated short and sweet family session? Check it out here.