What to Wear for Family Photos
A Denver Family Photographer’s Guide to Keeping It Simple
“What should we wear?” is probably the question I get most often before a family photoshoot.
[UPDATED September 2026] My advice is pretty simple: choose warm, neutral colors that work together without making everyone match. Add a little texture, keep patterns simple, and make sure everyone is comfortable enough to actually move around and have fun.
I’ve been photographing families around Denver and Colorado since 2016, and I’ve found that the best outfits usually don’t call much attention to themselves. They complement the location and let your family, expressions, and connection be the focus.
The quick version
If you only remember a few things, make it these:
Start with Mom’s outfit
Stick with 3–4 coordinating colors
Choose warm neutrals and muted tones
Mix in texture and layers
Keep most outfits solid
One subtle pattern is plenty
Wear shoes you can actually walk in
Above all, wear something that feels like you
Start With Mom
This is usually the easiest place to begin.
A cream or ivory dress is probably my favorite option for family photos. It works with almost every outdoor location in Colorado and gives you plenty of flexibility when coordinating everyone else.
A soft floral dress can also work really well. If Mom is wearing a floral print, I’ll usually recommend pulling two or three colors from the dress into the rest of the family.
For example:
Mom: cream floral dress
Dad: muted blue shirt + tan pants
Child 1: olive sweater
Child 2: cream or camel outfit
Everyone looks connected, but nobody looks overly matched.
My Favorite Colors for Family Photos
For most outdoor family sessions, I like warm neutrals and muted earth tones.
Think:
Cream · Ivory · Camel · Tan · Warm Brown · Olive · Sage · Rust · Muted Blue · Soft Blush
You definitely don’t have to dress the whole family in beige.
The goal is simply to keep the colors soft enough that they work with the scenery instead of competing with it.
Colorado already gives us a lot to work with: green grass, golden fields, red rocks, mountains, evergreens, and fall color. Your clothing should fit into that environment naturally.
Coordinate Instead of Matching
I’d avoid putting everyone in the exact same color or outfit.
Instead, choose about three or four colors and spread them throughout the family.
One combination I really like is:
Cream + Camel + Olive + Muted Blue
Mom could wear cream. Dad could wear muted blue with tan pants. One child could wear olive. Another could wear a cream sweater with denim.
It feels coordinated without looking staged.
Keep Patterns Simple
Solid colors are usually the easiest to photograph because they keep the attention on your family.
Patterns are completely fine, but I normally recommend having one main pattern in the group.
A subtle floral dress, small plaid, or understated print can look great. If one person is wearing a pattern, I’d keep everyone else mostly in solids.
That gives the outfits some personality without making the photo visually busy.
Add Texture and Layers
If an outfit feels too plain, I’d usually add texture before adding another color.
Things like:
Knit sweaters
Linen
Denim
Corduroy
Cardigans
Jackets
Overshirts
Layers photograph really well and also give us some variety during the session.
They’re especially useful in Colorado, where a warm evening can turn cold pretty quickly.
My advice: bring the sweater.
Worst case, it stays in the car.
Dress for the Location
Your outfits should make sense with where we’re shooting.
Mountains and Foothills
Cream, camel, olive, brown, denim, and muted blue all work really well with Colorado mountain locations.
Layers and boots also feel natural here.
Parks and Open Fields
Creams, soft earth tones, and floral dresses look great against grass and trees.
Red Rock Locations
I usually like lighter neutrals here, especially cream, tan, olive, and muted blue. They stand out nicely without competing with the red and orange landscape.
Downtown Denver
Urban sessions can handle slightly stronger contrast and cleaner lines.
Black, cream, denim, brown, and muted blue all work well around brick, concrete, and modern architecture.
Comfort Matters More Than You Think
This is probably the biggest thing I’ve learned from photographing families.
A lot of my favorite photos happen while people are moving.
Walking. Laughing. Kids getting picked up. Someone running off. Parents hugging their kids.
If your clothes only look good when everyone is standing completely still, they’re probably not the best choice.
Kids especially should be able to move around comfortably.
A perfectly styled kid who hates their outfit is going to make the session a lot harder than a slightly less perfect outfit they actually feel good in.
A Few Things I Would Avoid
There aren’t many hard rules, but I’d generally skip:
Neon colors
Large logos or graphics
Several competing patterns
Everyone wearing the exact same thing
Bright athletic shoes
Clothing that feels uncomfortable or too formal
Anything you would never normally wear
You should still look like your family.
Just a slightly more coordinated version of your family.
Tim’s Take
If you’re trying to put everything together, lay all the outfits on the bed before the shoot and take a quick phone photo.
It sounds simple, but it’s one of the easiest ways to spot a color that doesn’t quite work or realize that everyone accidentally ended up wearing the same thing.
I also like to spread colors around the group.
If Dad and both kids are wearing dark pants and light shirts, the family can start looking visually split in half. Mixing the colors and layers between people tends to look much more natural.
And don’t lose your personality trying to make everything “timeless.”
If cowboy boots make sense for your family, wear them. If Dad always wears denim, use denim. If your daughter has a dress she loves, that matters.
My goal isn’t to make every family dress the same.
It’s to help everything come together in a way that looks good without distracting from the people in the photo.
My Easiest Family Outfit Formula
If you want me to make this really simple:
Mom: Cream dress or subtle floral dress
Dad: Muted blue, cream, or olive shirt + tan pants
Child 1: Oatmeal, rust, or olive
Child 2: Cream, camel, or soft brown
Shoes: Brown, tan, or simple neutral colors
Layers: Denim jacket, cardigan, sweater, or neutral overshirt
You can adjust that depending on the season and location, but this basic combination works for a lot of outdoor family sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors look best for family photos?
For outdoor family photos, I usually recommend warm neutrals and muted earth tones like cream, camel, tan, olive, brown, rust, and muted blue.
Can Mom wear a floral dress?
Absolutely. A soft floral dress is one of my favorite options because you can use the colors in the print to coordinate everyone else.
Is white okay for family photos?
Yes, although I usually prefer cream, ivory, or another warm white over a very bright white.
Do we need to buy new clothes?
Not at all. Start with clothing you already own and feel good wearing. Comfort and personality matter more than buying an entirely new wardrobe.
Still Not Sure What to Wear?
Don’t stress about it.
Before your family session, we’ll talk through location, timing, outfits, and anything else you’re unsure about.
You can even send me photos of what you’re considering and I’m happy to give you my opinion.
The goal is simple: look like yourselves, feel comfortable, and let me take care of the rest.
