Of all the things to worry about before a family session, this is the one people lose the most sleep over, and the one that turns out to matter least once you know a couple of simple principles. You don’t need to go shopping, you don’t need everyone matching, and there’s no single right answer. Start with one outfit you love, usually your own, then build the rest of the family around it. Pick three or four colours that sit well together, keep the group balanced so no one person jumps out, and you’re most of the way there.
That’s the short version. If you’d like the full picture before your session, read on. Whether you’re coming to the studio or meeting us on location, the thinking is much the same, and we’ll walk you through everything before the day too. Nothing here is a test you have to pass.
How should everyone dress together?
Comfortable clothes you’d actually choose to wear, in a coordinated palette of three or four colours that balance across the whole group. Sessions involve sitting on the floor, picking up little ones, and a fair bit of movement, so everything needs to sit well and move with you. Coordinated beats identical every time.
How do you coordinate outfits without matching?
Think catalogue page, not school uniform. Everyone in the same outfit reads stiff and dated. Everyone in clashing favourites reads chaotic. The sweet spot sits in between.
Choose your palette of three or four colours and let each person pull from it differently. If one outfit has a pattern you love, use the colours inside that pattern to inspire the rest. Layers and texture do a lot of quiet work in a photo too. Knits, linen, denim, and soft cotton all add depth that a flat single colour can’t.
What colours work best in professional photos?
The colour itself matters less than how it’s balanced across the group. The goal is for everyone to coordinate so the family reads as a unit, rather than one person pulling the eye in every frame. A single person in a strong colour like bright red or yellow will quietly become the focus of every photo, even when they’re not meant to be.
There’s no one palette you have to use. A few directions all work well, so pick the one that feels like you:
Soft and muted. Sage, dusty blue, oatmeal, blush, warm greys. Gentle and timeless, and v
ery easy to balance.
Earthy. Rust, olive, mustard, terracotta, warm browns. Rich and grounded, lovely in autumn and winter tones.
Bright, done well. Bold colour absolutely works if that’s your vibe. The trick is in the next section.
Whichever you choose, a few things stay true. More than one busy pattern in the same shot competes for attention. Bright white and full black can be tricky on camera, though off-white, cream, and charcoal give you the same crispness without the harshness.
Does it change for a studio versus a location shoot?
A little. In the studio, a clean or neutral backdrop means your colours stand on their own, so balance across the group does most of the work. On location, the setting becomes part of the palette. Beach and coastal sessions sit well with soft, light tones that echo sand and sky, while parks and bushland take deeper, earthier colours beautifully. The balance principle holds either way. You’re just choosing colours that work with the background rather than against it.
How can you wear bright colours without the colours taking over?
Filter the strong colour through three or four spots across the family, not just one outfit. A bright red on Dad alone makes him the anchor of every photo. The same red echoed in Dad’s shirt, a stripe in one child’s dress, and a detail on your own outfit reads as a deliberate, balanced palette instead.
So bold is welcome. Just spread it around. One pop of colour in a single place pulls focus. The same colour repeated in a few places becomes part of the whole look.
What should you avoid wearing?
A few small things make a bigger difference than you’d expect:
Large logos, graphics, or slogans
Neon colours, which cast odd light onto skin and can tint everyone a strange shade
A single strong colour on one person only. If you love a bold colour, repeat it across three or four spots so the group stays balanced
Bright white and all-black, when cream and charcoal do the job better
More than one busy pattern in the same shot
Mismatched formality, where one person is dressed up and another is in trackies. Aim for roughly the same level across the family
Transition lenses. They darken in sunlight and can stay dark indoors, hiding your eyes. Bring your regular glasses instead
Fake tan applied the night before, which can read patchy or orange on camera. Apply it three to four days ahead so it settles
Bright nail polish, big watches, and fitness trackers, which all pull the eye
Large statement jewellery, which pulls focus from faces. Delicate pieces sit far better
Phones, keys, and wallets in pockets. They create lumps and odd outlines
Visible bra straps, undershirts, or undergarments
For kids, skirts or dresses too short for running and jumping. Nappy covers are a great idea for the littlest ones
How should you dress the kids?
The best-looking outfit in the world isn’t worth a meltdown. If they hate the collar or won’t tolerate the tights, that battle will follow them into the photos. Pick things they’re comfortable in, in colours that fit your palette, and let that be enough.
Fit matters more than fanciness. Too baggy reads sloppy on camera, too tight shows tension across shoulders and around buttons.
What shoes work best?
Keep shoes as neutral as you can so they don’t pull focus. The chunky trainers everyone’s wearing right now date a photo fast, and they grab the eye in a way that competes with faces. Some kids and teens will absolutely insist on having them in shot, and that’s a battle you can choose to skip. If you can steer them towards a plainer, neutral pair instead, the photos stay timeless for far longer.
Simple and neutral is the goal: canvas shoes, plain leather, soft tones that sit back rather than shout. Bare feet are lovely too, and work beautifully in the studio and on the beach if you’d rather skip shoes altogether.
What about hair and makeup?
Aim for how you’d look on a good day rather than a special occasion. If you’re getting your hair done for the session, avoid trying out a new look, or going too far from your natural style; you want these photos to look like you. Smooth and straight, soft curls and natural waves always photograph well.
Get any haircuts a week or two before the session, rather than the day before, for a natural look and just in case of any haircut disasters.
With makeup, go easy on heavy contouring, which can read unusual under professional lighting, and very dark lip colours, which can feel harsh in a portrait. Close to your everyday look, like when you’re headed out for a nice lunch, is the perfect look to aim for.
Go gently with fake tan too. A heavy application often photographs more yellow than it looks in the mirror, and we’d rather spend our time capturing you than editing it back to natural. If you love a tan, a light one applied three to four days ahead gives it time to settle and looks far truer on camera.
What should you bring on the day?
Keep it simple. A backup outfit option if you’re torn between two, any layers you’re considering, and a comfortable pair of shoes for the floor work. That’s plenty. Everything else, we’ve got covered.
Still not sure? Send us a photo.
If you’re tossing up between options or are second-guessing your choice, send us a picture before your session. It takes two minutes and saves a lot of unnecessary worry. We’ve done this many, many times, and we’re always happy to help you. 
Frequently asked questions
Do we all have to match for family photos?
No. Matching outfits tend to look stiff and dated. Coordinating works far better. Pick a palette of three or four colours and let each person wear them differently, keeping the group balanced so no one stands out. Think of a styled catalogue page rather than a uniform.
What colours photograph best?
There’s no single right palette. Soft and muted, earthy, or bold all work well. What matters most is that colours are balanced across the group so the family reads as a unit and no one person pulls focus. If you want a strong colour, repeat it through three or four outfits rather than putting it all on one person. Avoid neons and full black, which can be harsh on camera.
Should we dress differently for a studio shoot versus a location shoot?
The balance principle is the same for both. The difference is the background. In the studio, a clean backdrop lets your colours stand on their own. On location, the setting joins the palette, so soft light tones suit the beach and deeper earthy colours suit parks and bushland. Choose colours that work with the surroundings rather than against them.
Can we wear patterns?
Yes. One pattern in a shot is lovely and can anchor your whole palette. Just avoid stacking more than one busy pattern in the same frame, and use the colours within the pattern to guide everyone else’s pieces.
What should the kids wear?
Comfortable clothes they’re happy in, in colours that fit your palette. Avoid anything that itches, pinches, or sparks a fight before you’ve left the house. For shoes, neutral and plain wear better than this season’s chunky trainers, which date a photo fast. Bare feet work well too.
