You’re booked—yay! Now comes the fun part: planning what to wear.
But let’s be honest. The excitement can fade fast when stress creeps in over outfits. I get it—after finding an amazing photographer, wardrobe decisions might feel like the biggest hurdle.
This isn’t just another post with seasonal outfit guides or color charts. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how to plan for your family photo outfits before stress sets in. I’ll walk you through the exact steps I use for my own family—so you’re not scrambling the night before wondering if anything even fits.
Because great outfits don’t just happen. They’re planned with intention.
If you’ve already booked your session with me, your welcome link includes a full style guide with winning color combinations, for even more tips for choosing what to wear, and photo inspiration from real sessions.
If you haven’t booked your session yet and want access to all the goodies at the welcome link, you can do that here!
In any event, get ready to take some notes! This is gold.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Start Early—Like Sooner Than You Think
This might be the most important tip of all: start planning your family photo outfits early. Like weeks in advance.
Think of it like planning a party. If you wait until the hour before guests arrive, something will slip through the cracks—and you’ll feel the pressure. The same goes for your photo session. When you’re calm, your family shows up relaxed, confident, and ready for a great session.
The secret? Get ahead of the game. Give yourself margin to shop, try things on, make changes, and avoid last-minute stress. This isn’t just advice I give clients—it’s how I plan my own family photo outfits.
Want to see how it turned out? Check out our most recent session at my about page.
Step 2: Find Your Designer Color Palette (Even If You’re Not a Designer)
Here’s a secret many people don’t realize: mixing prints can look beautiful in family photos. A floral next to a plaid, a small print paired with a larger one—this kind of variety adds texture and movement without looking busy.
Start with just one print—your favorite one.
And here’s my top suggestion: let it be Mom’s dress.
When Mom feels beautiful and confident, it sets the tone for the whole session. A flowy floral, a textured neutral, or a soft pattern with layered tones—whatever feels like you—is the perfect starting point.
From there, pull colors out of that print to coordinate everyone else’s outfits. Soft solids, cozy layers, and varied textures can all build around the palette you’ve already chosen.
Why does this work so well? Because the colors in your print were hand-picked by a designer who knows what works. You’re not guessing—you’re working with a designer-approved color story to anchor your family photo outfits.
What if you choose a solid color for yourself?
Then look for a print to put someone else in—something that coordinates with what you’ve chosen for your outfit. It’ll tie everything together just as beautifully.
Step 3: Shop Your Closet (Or Online—But Start with You, Mama)
This step usually takes the longest—but it’s so worth getting right. Give yourself plenty of time to shop around, try things on, and adjust as needed.
You can shop online, in stores, or right in your own closet. Don’t underestimate what you already have—sometimes the perfect outfit is hanging right there, waiting to be noticed.
Here’s how I recommend approaching it:
Start with Mom
Yes, you go first. You’re the hardest to shop for—and you set the tone for everyone else’s look. Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident, beautiful, and like yourself. A dress is always a favorite—it moves well, photographs beautifully, and brings softness to the full session. But if you’re not a dress person, that’s ok too!
Try everything on. Make sure you love the fit, color, and feel of your outfit, especially next to your skin tone. Once you feel good in what you’re wearing, everything else becomes easier.
Then Build Around Your Look
Use this simple order:
- Settle on your outfit first (bonus if it includes a print you love)
- Choose coordinating outfits for everyone else
- Select shoes and belts
- Add jewelry and hair accessories last
If you feel overwhelmed, skip the accessories for now and circle back later. Focus on the major pieces first—you’ll feel better with the hardest decisions behind you.
And if you’re ordering online, give yourself plenty of time for shipping (and returns if needed). You can narrow it down in the next step once you’ve seen everything together.
As you shop, hang all the outfit pieces together in one closet or on a garment rack. Seeing them side by side will help you visualize your final family photo outfits as a cohesive whole.
You’ll feel so good once this step is done. Promise.
Step 4: Put It All Together—Then Take a Picture
Once you’ve gathered all your outfit options, lay them out together on a neutral background—your bedroom floor or a light-colored bedspread usually works well. Seeing everything side by side helps you spot what’s working (and what’s not).
Take pictures.
Seriously—this step is a game changer. Your eye will notice things in a photo that you might miss in real life. It helps you see the overall palette, balance, and contrast more clearly.
Need a second opinion?
Send the photo to me—I’m happy to help you fine-tune your family photo outfits. Text or email both work!
If something feels off, trust your gut. Swap out a piece or two if needed, and give yourself time to shop or search your closet again. This step is all about fine-tuning, so don’t rush it.
Once you’ve chosen your final lineup for your family photo outfits and every outfit feels just right—it’s time to prep them!
Step 5: Prep Everything Early (You’ll Be So Glad You Did)
Start prepping your family photo outfits several days before your session—or even the week before. Trust me, your future self will thank you.
Need to get something to the dry cleaners? Wash those favorite pants? Iron a few wrinkled pieces? Now’s the time.
Just like choosing your family photo outfits in advance makes a difference, prepping them early is another game changer. When everything is steamed, styled, and ready to go, you can focus on the fun stuff the day of—like hair, makeup, and getting everyone out the door with a snack and some smiles.
Give yourself margin. A little time now means a lot less stress later.
Step 6: Lay Out Outfits the Day Before
The day before your session, lay out every outfit—head to toe—for each family member. That means shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, socks, and accessories. The goal? No decision-making on picture day.
Having these conversations early can also help the pickiest person in your crew (we all have one!) come to terms with their chosen family photo outfits. When everyone knows what they’re wearing and feels good about it, they’re much more likely to show up in great spirits.
This small step can make a big difference in turning your carefully planned family photo outfits into a stress-free reality.
Bonus Tip: Incentivize the Reluctant Ones (Yes, Even Dad)
This tip isn’t technically about wardrobe—but it lands right where you need it most: after you’ve put all that effort into getting everything right when choosing your family photo outfits.
It’s part of planning! And it makes a difference.
Let’s stay sensitive to those who aren’t exactly, well, excited about picture day. Whether it be your four five old, your teenager, or dad <wink>. Sometimes a little incentive can go a long way toward getting everyone on board.
My aim is to make their experience surprisingly enjoyable! But it can help if they have something to look forward to when pictures are done. Don’t think of it as bribery (okay… who are we kidding. It IS bribery). But it works! The goal is to get them excited beforehand.
Offer something simple:
- A new book or toy they’ve been eyeing
- Ice cream after the session
- A treat at their favorite bakery
- Extra screen time or a special privilege
- Hanging out with friends on a school night
Tell them ahead of time that just for showing up, they’ll earn their reward—no need to dangle it during the shoot. You handle the promise, and I’ll handle the rest by making our time together better than they expected.
Family Photo Outfits: Quick Planning Checklist
Let’s recap the steps to stress-free, well-coordinated outfits:
- Start early—like sooner than you think
- Find your designer color palette (even if you’re not a designer)
- Shop your closet (or online—but start with you, mama)
- Put it all together—then take a picture
- Prep everything early (you’ll be so glad you did)
- Lay out outfits the day before
- Bonus tip: incentivize the reluctant ones (yes, even dad)
These planning tips will help you stay organized from booking to picture day—so your family arrives in great spirits and looking like a million bucks.
Because let’s be honest: the best family photo outfits are the ones that feel effortless, natural, and totally you.
Looking for outfit inspiration? Keep scrolling!
I’ve gathered some real-session examples to get your wheels turning.
If you haven’t yet, book your session here and I’ll send you a welcome guide with even more tips and ideas!
I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL YOUR STORY!
-Jamie
