Wondering what to wear for summer family photos? Your chose your photographer, set a date, picked a location, and you’re excited about getting your family together for the evening. But there’s one final detail that needs your attention – and every mom tells me this is the hardest part – figuring out what everyone should wear!

I know this can be a daunting task – so much so, that some moms have even told me they’ve put off a session for years because it seems so overwhelming. But I’m here to give you some tips to help you pull it together – this should NOT be stressful! And – if you’re my client, I am always ready to pull together a styleboard for you, complete with active links, so all you have to do is add-to-cart!

Even if you’re not into fashion or clothing, if you’ve decided to invest in professional portraiture, you’ll want to make sure that the clothing everyone is wearing will help give you the final look you’re envisioning. These photographs will be on the walls of your home for years to come. It’s worth the time up front to really plan the overall look.

Neutrals

While I always suggest keeping the color palette of your family’s wardrobe on the neutral side – I don’t mean matching white shirts and jeans. You want to build a sophisticated look that coordinates, has prints and textures, and makes everyone look and feel their best. Why neutral? Because it keeps the focus on you and your family (not your clothes!), and because wearing bright/saturated colors leaves some interesting colorcasts on your skin. That doesn’t mean you can’t add some color – but choose it wisely.

Layers

In the spring and even during summer sunrises and sunsets, the temperatures can often get a little chilly. When considering what to wear for summer family photos, be prepared to have some layering pieces that work well with the outfits you’ve chosen. Sometimes that’s as simple as adding on a blanket to wrap around a little one who’s gotten chilly, but little cardigans work wonders!

Prints

Soft, delicate prints add so much texture and interest. Don’t be afraid of including prints, or even mixing prints, if you can do it with intention.

Necklines

I think one of the biggest challenges is dressing a family with multiple boys. You want to avoid them looking like “copy/paste” versions of each other, but boy’s clothing just doesn’t have much variation. I love how we were able to get different necklines for this crew. Overalls, a collared romper, a little henley, and a short-sleeved button down. Changing up the necklines really makes each child look unique.

Footwear

Don’t be surprised if I ask you to kick off your shoes. If we’re in a safe place where you’re not in danger of stepping in thorns or sharp shells on the beach, barefoot is the way to go! Even if you prefer to keep your shoes one, if your little ones are ok with it, I’d let them be barefoot as much as possible. They just look so natural – and you get the extra details of having those little feet in your images. However – if you know you’ll be keeping your shoes one – don’t overlook this part of the wardrobe. Make sure to add footwear that works with the outfits. If you don’t have them already and prefer not to buy, I promise someone in your local buy-nothing group would be thrilled to get rid of a pair their children have outgrown!

Consider Your Surroundings

If you are planning to be in a location with a lot of color, I’d suggest keeping your outfits very simple. You still want to be the spotlight of the images, while not competing with the setting you’ve chosen. And keep in mind the colors of your surrounding and compliment them. I love that this expectant mom wore a pink print which worked so well against the green paint of the windmills.

Dress it up!

Don’t be afraid to dress it up! Consider your location – are you in a formal setting or celebrating a big milestone? Then by all means, put on a gorgeous dress and some heels and get your guy in a suit! But if not, I do still recommend dressing up a bit more than you would in real life. These will be photographs your family is going to share for generations to come. For some, these photographs might be the only way they know their great-grandmother. It’s not silly to think dressing your best is important. And along those lines, I’m always happy to recommend a hair and makeup artist to help you get ready. Hair and makeup always needs a little bit “more” for photography, and these artists know how to get you there!

How I Help!

Still feeling overwhelmed? Did you know that I provide bespoke styling for each of my clients. That means you just give me a sense of the style you like and I’ll create a style board with that in mind so that you can really see how it will all come together. I’ll also share with you the active links to each of the items I include, so all you have to do is choose the size you need and have it shipped to you! Just reach out if you’ve got a session on the books with me and we’ll get started!

Below is a styleboard I created for a family who wanted a springtime session in Copenhagen. The board includes 3 options for Mom, Dad, and baby, and considers the chillier weather. Links are not shown here, but are sent to each client. So easy for Mom to see what she liked and pull for their closets and purchase what she needed!

What to Wear for Summer Family Photos | Details

I know how challenging it can be to find pieces that you love for your whole family. We can start with my studio wardrobe, which is a well-curated collection of boutique and designer dresses for both new and expectant mothers. I also have beautiful options for babies. You can read more about my studio wardrobe here and see a gallery of dresses available to you here. And if you’re ready to hand off wardrobe planning to me, just send a note my way here. I can’t wait to pull it all together for you!