Family with toddler and brown Vizsla dog posing in front of vibrant sunflower field during outdoor photo session.

 

Family Style Guide

 

 

Planning your family’s outfits might feel overwhelming, but don’t worry—I’m here to help. The right outfits can make your images feel polished, timeless, and full of personality without looking overly “matchy.”


In this guide, you’ll find simple tips, current trends, and outfit inspiration to help you feel confident and photo-ready for your fall session!

 

A family of three smiles together by a fountain, featuring a man, young girl, and woman in warm autumn attire.
Family of five posing outdoors in fall foliage with vibrant red and orange trees in background.
Family of four smiling outdoors in autumn, wearing casual fall attire amid golden grasses and trees.

My Best Tips



Complement, don’t match.

Choose colors that work well together instead of everyone wearing the same exact thing. Coordinated tones always photograph better than identical outfits. Try googling "summer color palette" and see which colors fit well with others.


Choose texture and detail over busy patterns.

Linen, eyelet, knits, gauze, smocking, crochet, and denim add beautiful visual interest without distracting from your faces. I love outfits with ties, buttons and layers to create visual interest.


Use prints sparingly.

Florals and subtle stripes can be great—just keep them to one or two family members.

Stick with soft or earthy colors. Think creams, sage, dusty blue, blush, terracotta, soft yellow, muted lavender, and warm neutrals.


Fit matters most.

Choose pieces that fit well, flatter your body, and feel comfortable enough to move, sit, cuddle, and play in.

Family of four smiling together in autumn park with colorful fall foliage and leaves on the ground.
Family of five posing outdoors in a fall park with colorful autumn foliage in the background.
A smiling family of six poses outdoors among vibrant fall foliage, featuring parents and four children in coordinated outfits.

Step by Step


1. Pick mom’s outfit first.

I always recommend starting with mom's outfit. Find something you love, and that fits you well. If you have small children think about how you'll be moving and carrying them during your session- a cute cap sleeve might be more flattering than a spaghetti strap when you're wrangling a toddler!


2. Pull colors from mom’s outfit.

Choose 2–4 complementing colors and mix in neutrals like navy, tan or denim.


3. Add texture and layers.

A light cardigan, button-up shirt, linen overshirt, or layered jewelry can add depth and style.


4. Keep shoes simple.

Neutral sandals, bare feet, flats, ankle boots, or clean sneakers work best. Avoid athletic shoes if possible.


5. Hang everything up ahead of time.

Wrinkles, tags, and missing socks love to show up on photo day.


Pro tip: If you've booked a mini, plan on arriving 10 minutes early to make sure outfits are ready to go. Get the kids dressed, double check teeth, hair and makeup. If you have little ones and your location has a play place you can pack a play outfit for after!

Fall family outfit collage featuring earth tones, floral dress, green hoodie, brown sweaters, boots, gold earrings, and bracelet.
Fall fashion collage featuring orange sweater dress, brown boots, green shirt, leopard pants, plaid shirt, and gold accessories.
A fall fashion collage featuring floral skirt, brown tops, plaid shirt, peach dress, sandals, and gold jewelry on warm background.