What should you wear for family photos? A photographer's guide to looking like yourselves

If there's one question I get asked before family photos more than almost anything else, it's this:

What on earth are we supposed to wear?

Usually followed fairly quickly by:

Do we need to match? Are patterns okay? Should we all wear neutrals? And what if my toddler refuses to wear the lovely outfit I've picked out?

The good news is that choosing clothes for family photographs doesn't need to involve buying an entirely new wardrobe or convincing your family to dress like people they absolutely are not.

In fact, my first piece of advice is usually the opposite.

You should still look like you.

The aim isn't to create the perfectly coordinated family. It's to make a few thoughtful choices so that when you look at the photograph, you notice your people first and their clothes second.

Here's how I approach it.

Start with one outfit you love

Rather than trying to choose everyone's clothes at once, start with one outfit you really like and build from there.

Often, I suggest Mum chooses hers first. Not because Mum is the most important person in the photograph, but because she's quite often the one organising everyone else and leaving herself until last.

Then everyone else looks wonderful and she's standing in front of the wardrobe 40 minutes before leaving, wondering why she owns nothing.

Choose something you feel genuinely good in.

And no, that doesn't have to mean a flowing maxi dress if you're not a flowing-maxi-dress person.

Jeans are allowed. Trousers are allowed. Your actual personality is allowed.

A patterned dress or shirt can also be a brilliant starting point. Simply pull a few colours from the pattern to help choose everyone else's outfits.

Coordinate, don't match

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the classic white shirts and jeans look if that's what you love.

But if you're wondering whether everyone needs to match for family photos, the answer is no!

You can create a beautifully coordinated look without dressing everyone in the same colours or outfits.

Think about choosing a few colours that sit nicely alongside each other and spreading them through the family.

Someone might wear a soft blue dress, another a cream knit, someone else denim, and another a warmer neutral.

Nobody is wearing exactly the same thing, but everything works together.

What colours photograph best?

There isn't a secret list of Photographer Approved Colours™.

Generally, softer, slightly muted colours are easy to work with because they don't compete with faces.

Creams, warm whites, soft blues, greens, earthy tones, denim, browns and dusty pinks all photograph beautifully.

But that absolutely doesn't mean your whole family needs to arrive dressed in beige.

If colour is part of your family's personality, use it.

I'd much rather photograph a child in a mustard jumper they adore than put them in something beautifully neutral that makes them look like they've been styled for somebody else's Pinterest board.

And patterns? Absolutely fine.

One or two patterned pieces with the rest a little simpler is usually a good starting point. Small checks, stripes, florals and subtle prints can all work beautifully.

The question isn't really whether a particular colour or pattern is allowed.

It's whether it's going to be the first thing you notice in every photograph.

Don't forget texture!

This is one of my favourite little styling tricks, especially when you're working with fairly simple colours.

Mixing textures adds interest and depth without needing lots of different colours or patterns.

Think chunky knits, soft linen, denim, corduroy, ribbed cotton, floaty dresses or a lovely cardigan.

A cream knit next to a linen shirt and some soft denim can look beautiful together, even though the colours are all quite understated.

Texture is particularly lovely in my white studio, where there's very little visual clutter and the details in your clothing have room to shine.

It's also a great way to stop everyone blending into one big sea of cream if you've chosen a very light colour palette.

So if you've put everyone's outfits together and they're feeling a little plain, don't immediately reach for another colour.

Try adding some texture instead.

My favourite trick: lay everything out on the bed

Before you start getting everyone dressed, lay all the outfits together on your bed.

And I mean everything. Tops, bottoms, dresses, cardigans, the lot.

This is honestly one of the easiest ways to figure out which combination works best.

Seeing everything side by side makes it much easier to spot what looks good together and what doesn't quite fit.

Try swapping a few pieces around until you're happy.

Does one bright shirt immediately scream HELLO, I AM THE SHIRT?

Are there too many competing patterns?

Does everyone look like they belong in the same photograph, without looking like they're wearing a uniform?

You don't need to overthink it. Just stand back and have a look.

Once you've found a combination you love, take a quick photo on your phone so you can remember what goes with what.

And if you're still unsure, send me the photo. I'm always happy to help!

You might also discover that you already own everything you need.

Please don't feel like booking family photographs also means quietly adding another $400 clothing bill.

What should babies wear for family photos?

Honestly? Not much can beat a baby in something simple.

A little romper, bodysuit, knitted onesie or simple dress lets all those lovely baby details stay visible. Tiny toes, chubby wrists, little rolls and all.

Try to avoid anything so stiff, bulky or elaborate that your baby disappears inside it.

Soft fabrics that don't bunch up too much are ideal, and bare little feet are always lovely.

For newborns especially, I often photograph some of the session with baby simply wrapped or snuggled against a parent anyway.

They don't need six outfit changes.

Neither do you.

What should toddlers wear for family photos?

Something they can actually move in!

We might play, cuddle, tickle, explore, sit on the floor or generally do whatever gets those lovely little expressions and connections.

So their clothes need to let them be little.

Avoid anything scratchy, restrictive or so precious that you'll spend the whole session worrying about what they're touching.

And if your toddler has very strong opinions about clothes, give them a choice between two outfits you're happy with.

A slightly less coordinated child who's comfortable and happy is much easier to photograph than one who's spent the entire drive furious about a cardigan.

The cardigan is not worth it. 😂

What about older children?

Let them have a little say.

Older children are often much more aware of what they're wearing, and it's important that they feel like themselves too.

You can still guide them towards colours and pieces that work with the rest of the family, but try not to turn the whole thing into a battle over an outfit they hate.

Comfortable clothes that fit well, let them move and don't need constant adjusting are usually a good choice.

And if there's a favourite piece of clothing that's very them right now, it's worth considering whether it could be part of the photographs.

Dressing for studio versus outdoor family photos

In the white studio

The Little White Studio is deliberately simple, with white walls, beautiful natural light and very little visual clutter.

Soft neutrals look lovely here, but so do denim, earthy colours, gentle patterns and little pops of colour.

This is where those lovely textures really come into their own.

And because we photograph barefoot quite a lot in the studio, you may not even need to solve the great "what shoes go with this?" crisis.

One less thing to organise. Sort of.

For outdoor family photos

For outdoor sessions, I think a little more about where we're going to be.

Canterbury gives us everything from long golden grass and earthy autumn colours to green reserves, beaches and wide open landscapes.

Warm, earthy colours can look beautiful in dry grass and evening light, while soft blues, creams and natural tones work nicely near the water.

Layers are useful outdoors too. A cardigan, knit or jacket adds variety and might stop someone from freezing while insisting they're fine.

Usually Dad.

A few things I'd avoid

I don't have a giant list of rules, but there are a few things I'd think twice about:

• Very large logos, slogans or bold graphics
• Neon or extremely bright colours that can reflect onto skin
• Several competing, busy patterns
• Clothes that constantly need adjusting
• Anything scratchy, uncomfortable or difficult to move in
• Outfits that feel completely unlike you

Not because there's some photography law against them.

They're simply very good at stealing your eye, and I'd prefer you to notice your child's ridiculous little grin before you notice that their T-shirt says DINOSAUR DUDE in 72-point type.

And what about sentimental clothes?

Bring them.

The hand-knitted cardigan Grandma made. The little dress that used to belong to you. Dad's childhood overalls.

Even the ridiculous gumboots your three-year-old currently insists on wearing everywhere.

If something tells part of the story of who your family is right now, that can be worth far more than creating a perfectly coordinated photograph.

Not every photograph has to be styled for the wall.

Some are for remembering.

So, what should your family actually wear?

Here's the simplest way to approach it.

Start with an outfit you love.

Choose a few colours that work together, rather than trying to match everyone.

Add some lovely textures to give the photographs a little depth.

Lay everything out on the bed and see how it looks together.

Make sure everyone can move, sit, cuddle and play comfortably.

Then stop.

Seriously.

You do not need to solve family photography through clothing.

The clothes help create a beautiful photograph, but they're not the reason the photograph matters.

Your family is.

And ten years from now, I suspect you'll be far more interested in the way your toddler fitted underneath your arm, the gap where their front tooth used to be, or the way your baby grabbed onto your shirt than whether everybody's shades of cream were perfectly coordinated.

So choose clothes that feel good.

Then come as you are.

I'll take care of the photographs.

Planning family photographs?

At The Little White Studio in Lincoln, I photograph babies, children and families in my natural-light studio, outdoors around Christchurch and Selwyn, and at home for full family sessions.

Whether you're after something little and simple or a fuller family session with time to tell more of the story, you can explore the different ways to photograph your family here.

Explore Family Photography →