Styling Your Central Oregon Family Photos - What to Wear for Picture Perfect Outfits in Any Season
How to coordinate colors, pattern, and texture for photos you love (& outfits you will wear again).
Getting your family dressed for photos doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—or like you suddenly need to become a stylist overnight. In fact, the goal is the opposite. The best outfits for lifestyle family photos are the ones that feel like you, just a little more intentional. Before you start shopping or pulling things out of closets, some planning will make selecting outfits easier.
Wondering what to wear for family photos? Find your color palette first.
A lot of people immediately jump to looking for cute new outfits online - perhaps even before the photos have been scheduled. (Haven’t scheduled your own family photos yet? Check out my style of family photography to see if we’re a good fit.) This can sometimes result in finding an outfit that you fall in love with, only to scramble to fit everyone else’s clothes around it. A better approach is to first consider a color palette that works for your family. A good color palette compliments everyone’s skin tones, fits with the season, and is a grouping of colors that you would like hanging on your wall or sitting framed on your dresser. [link to my pinterest account with color palettes]
Because the reality is that these photos shouldn’t live in digital nowhere - they should be printed and beloved by your family every day. Learn more about photo paper types for printing your family photos for generations to come.
For example, wearing green in a setting full of grass and trees would be a bad idea because your bodies would blend with the environment. For that type of location, I would suggest a complimentary color range instead - like reds, pinks, or peaches with some neutral colors mixed in.
Avoid extreme colors for your family’s clothing
Even if you love neon colors - unless you’re going for an ‘80s or ‘90s specific theme - avoid neon colors. Anything that you can find in a highlighter is an automatic no-go for outfits for family photos. Those colors are so bright that they detract attention from you, and can also color cast poorly onto your skin.
Pro tip: if you’re doing a lifestyle family session at home, be careful with bold colors (red, bright blue, orange) as they can also cast strong colors onto your skin. Instead, shift to a tint of the color (ex. Instead of orange, try rust or peach), or use it as a small pop of color for interest (this works well for red - think accessories, red lips, red nail polish, etc.).
Dress for the season to keep your family comfortable for photos.
Okay my fellow Central Oregon residents - this is where we all know the importance of layers. No matter what the weather says, clouds versus sun can make the temperature shift noticeable for your Central Oregon family photo session. Plus, there can be windy days, unpredictable snow… you get the idea. Layers are your friend - and in fact, look amazing on camera.
Layers that work well in outfits for family photos
Think structure, texture, thickness, and comfort. So for warmer months (late spring, summer, early fall) jean jackets can work really well. For cooler months, thick, structured fleece jackets (the type with collars and buttons, not Columbia zip-ups) will keep you cozy and looking styled. If you’re photographing your family in winter (go, you!), then lots of cozy layers on top of each other - including hats and scarves - will help ward away the chill, but also let your bodies move freely.
Need layer options, but you’re not sure where to shop? Everlane and Madewell are solid options for adults that have texture, structure, and quality items. Quince is a great option for the whole family - as their children’s selection includes sweaters. These brands (and more) can also be found in great condition on second-hand sites like Poshmark. Note: I don’t recommend fast-fashion brands for the sake of our planet.
Pro tip: I know everyone loves the puffer vests and jackets. First of all, no puffer jackets unless they are waist-length and a tailored fit. But also, unless your title in the family is “dad” and it’s a color other than black (seriously, no black puffers) - don’t pick it to wear. (You’re welcome).
Add texture + pattern to your outfits.
Okay, we touched on this a little in the layers section. This is where we’re going to flesh it out a little more to get those “oh, man, they look so good” types of compliments for your family photos.
Textures that photograph beautifully on camera include: cotton, linen, wool, knitted items, sherpa, structured fleeces, and embroidery. (Yep, I really just said embroidery. It looks amazing with little accents on clothing. Trust me.)
Remember that too much of a good thing is overwhelming for the camera.
If someone has an amazing wool hat that they would like to wear, awesome! But that’s the only wool hat in the group, then. Try to not repeat the same type of item over and over. So, if it’s autumn and you want to stay warm, think of knit hats for the kids, a wool hat for one parent, scarves for a couple of people… you get the idea. Mix and match to win the styling game with textures and patterns.
Don’t match your family’s outfits exactly - you each should stand out in photos.
You want to coordinate your family’s photo outfits, not match exactly. I know those “mommy & me” outfits are adorable. I’ve seen the companies selling the same pattern for everyone in the family (including dad). Please listen carefully to this: if that’s your thing, cool. But keep it for family events or selfies on social media. Exactly matching outfits are not ideal for professional family photographs. Don’t let the marketing fool you - every single body should be able to stand out from one another in family photos.
Keep your outfits, well you!
Don’t try to change yourself for family photos. I’ve lots of people buy complete outfits for everyone in their family to turn around and never, ever wear those items of clothing ever again. If you’re not a fancy clothing family, then don’t go fancy. If you’re not a casual clothes family, then keep it leveled up to where you’re comfortable. The best thing you can do is pick outfits that feel true to yourselves - because these photos are not just to put on holiday cards or stick to social media. (In fact, I urge you to consider not booking photos for those reasons at all.) These photos are to capture genuine moments with your loves - smiles, laughs, and the quiet moments in between.
The purpose of these photos is to let yourselves shine beautifully, so don’t try to be someone else. You’re perfect as you are.
And if you’re ready to plan your own family session, I’d love to hear from you. I thoughtfully guide you through every step of the planning process so that you never have to crowdsource info from a Facebook page or ask the internet late at night.
Hello, I’m Elise
I’d love to photograph your family -
Time is a thief, indeed. But it doesn’t have to steal everything. As a lifestyle family photographer in Central Oregon, I can help you bottle up all the goodness - of the moments that you never want to forget, and the memories you want to hand down to your children. If you’re looking for a photographer that’s more than just an hour of your time, you’ve got the right human here.