How to Choose the Best Outfits for Family Photos

Hey friends! It’s about that time of year where a lot of us start thinking about having family photos taken – especially if you are one of those very organized people who send out a holiday card every year (which, sadly, I’m not!). The biggest question I hear – and one I’m always asking myself as well! – is what should everyone wear? There are no real rules, but below are a few tips for choosing photo-friendly clothing, as well as some outfit collages for inspiration.

Tip 1: Don’t feel like you have to wear identical outfits.

Wearing identical outfits is definitely not a necessity, and actually pretty difficult to pull off. It’s also potentially really boring (thinking white shirts and blue jeans)! Instead, try to focus on picking colors that complement each other. Have fun with it, and lay out clothes that you have in mind beforehand so you can see how they look close together.

Tip 2: Avoid really busy patterns and lettering.

This is partly a preference of my own, because I like lighter, more neutral colors, but busier patterns can photograph strangely and can be very distracting. This doesn’t mean patterns have to be completely avoided, but try to balance a busy pattern with a more neutral color, or a louder, brighter color with either no pattern, or a very simple one.

Having any words or lettering on clothing in photos is even more distracting than crazy patterns, so try to avoid that all together.

Tip 3: Have different options available.

I learned this one the hard way after our photo session last year! My daughter was just about 4 months old when we took our family photos. It’s usually pretty warm here in Guatemala, but the afternoon we took our pictures turned a little cloudy and windy. I only had a sleeveless dress for her to wear, and she was chilly and REALLY not happy with me. We managed to get a few photos where she wasn’t miserable, but that was pretty much the extent of it. So, have different options! Or at the very least, plan outfits that have layers, so that you can adapt to the weather!

Tip 4: Choose clothes that reflect your family and your personalities.

In the end, make sure you pick clothes that you love! Yes, it’s a good idea to think about what will photograph well, but it’s also important to make sure you are all comfortable in what you’re wearing and that these are photos you’ll enjoy looking back on. Don’t feel like you need to be trendy. Be you!

Ok, onto the good stuff — here’s some inspiration for a few outfits for a family (includes picks for a young girl, young boy, mom, and dad). These sample options only include tops or dresses, but I think any of these go well with a pair of jeans or khakis for the guys, and jeans or leggings for the girls. There is a full compilation of options for bottoms and accessories at the end of the post, along with my other favorite clothing options for each family member!