I’m often asked for outfit guidance before a session — and I love this question♡. It tells me you're being thoughtful and intentional about your photoshoot. I assure you, planning what to wear does not have to be stressful but rather fun with a few simple guidelines. Whether we’re meeting for your first session or your fifth, below are some tips I often share to help you feel confident and prepared.
Essential Style Tips
- A little makeup helps everyone on camera — Even a light touch evens out skin tones and adds polish to everyone’s skin, both men and women!
- Cohesion over matching — Choose outfits that are cohesive, not matching. Think about coordinating tones instead of having identical outfits or identical colors.
- Pick one accent color and sprinkle it across family members in subtle ways (a scarf, shoes, hair bow, etc.).
- Solids over patterns — Solid colors tend to photograph more beautifully because they let the focus stay on what matters — your expressions, your connection, your story. Busy patterns or logos can distract the eye and pull attention away from the emotion in the image. If you do wear a pattern, keep it subtle and consider balancing it with solids on other family members.
- Skip the pleats — Pleated pants can add unnecessary bulk, especially around the waist.
- V-necks are flattering — They elongate the neckline and look great on camera.
- Use hairspray for flyaways — Tame frizz or static with a light mist before your session.
- Feel fabulous in what you’re wearing! — Above all else, feeling confident in what you’re wearing trumps all else.
Interview with a Fashion Stylist
examples of cohesive styling among families:
In the first photograph, the soft, structured hat adds a beautiful focal point and it's beige color and brown accent ties in across the family’s earthy palette.
In the second image, Mom’s ankle-length pants and neutral booties help elongate the legs — a subtle styling move that’s super flattering on camera. this family has chosen beautiful, earthy tones and textured fabrics to add visual interest to their family photograph.
Sharon provides color combination guides to help my seattle and eastside families with selecting color choices for thier family photoshoot.
Interview with a fashion stylist
Parts 1 & 2 of my interview with montreal fashion stylist, Sharon warten.
Color Combination Guides
Summer Fabrics
- Linen or linen blends (yes, even if they wrinkle — your photographer can work with it!)
- Flax
- Bamboo-based fabrics
- Chambray (a soft, lightweight alternative to denim)
“Chambray is a mixed blend of denim and is lighter weight — perfect for summer,” Sharon explains.
And yes — classic denim is always in style. Whether it’s a well-worn pair of jeans or a structured jacket, denim brings a relaxed, grounded look to your photos. The other plus for denim is that its blue color works to tie in with blue skies in the background (assuming you have blue skies in Seattle).
“Denim never goes out of style,” Sharon adds. “It’s always in — you’re always going to look good.”
Textures Over Patterns
Rather than bold patterns or loud prints, Sharon suggests leaning into texture — just like the fabrics we covered above, i.e. linen, chambray, or cotton. Man-made fabrics like bamboo can be beautiful and breathable, with a soft natural drape that also photographs well.
Texture adds visual interest without distraction — especially important in natural light and outdoor sessions.
These fabrics also respond well to movement and sunlight and depth to the image without overpowering your face or surroundings. That said, if your piece does have patterns, just make sure they’re on the subtle side. Subtle patterns can certainly add visual interest, but in general it’s best to avoid bold patterns and instead favor those textured fabrics mentioned above. Think about your family photo in ten, twenty years time — you want to ensure your style still holds up well down the road as you look back with nostalgia :-)
Coordinate with Nature — Without Matching It Exactly
Sharon walked through examples of how to dress when you're surrounded by colorful summer backdrops like fields of lavender or golden wildflowers.
Lavender flowers? A soft lavender outfit can complement the scene so long as it’s not the primary backdrop color — we don't want to overpower with a single color.
Yellow fields? It’s best to avoid wearing yellow in this situation so you don’t blend into the background. Still opt for earthy or creamy tones which are timeless and true.
Lush greens? Stick with earthy tones like warm beige, terracotta, soft blue, or cream.
“You don’t have to match the background — just make sure your tones work together and feel cohesive as a group.”
She also noted: always consider your own skin tone first — choose colors that flatter you personally, and then build the palette around that.
- Elongate the legs and appear taller
- Create a cohesive look
- Add polish without feeling too formal
“A navy pant with a navy dress sneaker makes men look taller — and just more pulled together overall.”
Below are Sharon’s favorite go-to brands for mid-priced, stylish sneakers. They’re comfortable, elevated, and perfect for sessions that strike the balance between casual and refined:
- Cole Haan
- Vince
- Hugo Boss
Wardrobe Tips for Men & Women
- Anthropologie – consistently great for feminine silhouettes and light textures
- Aritzia – Sharon raves about their Cruise Linen collection, which creases less than standard linen but still gives that soft, breezy look
“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel”, Sharon notes. Just lean on timeless pieces with minimal accessories, texture over pattern, and fabrics that move with you.
If it's the summertime - don’t be afraid to go barefoot in certain outdoor settings — especially kids. It often looks more natural and adds a sense of freedom to your photos.
