What to Wear for family Photos: Styling in Central Oregon for Any Season

Figuring out what to wear for family 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 family lifestyle 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.

Before we dive into what to wear for family photos - hi, I’m Elise.

I’m a Bend, Oregon photographer that specializes in storytelling photography for Central Oregon families. I look for the scenes that are more than just a pretty picture - they’re the moments that will stand the test of time. If that sounds good to you, then you’re in the right place.

Family Portraits: What to Wear Made Easy

If you’re up late at night typing “what to wear for family photos” into Google, you’re not alone. 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 portraits to see if we’re a good fit.)

Find a color palette for your family picture outfits first.

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.

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.

Consider the location for your lifestyle family photos.

The location of your family photos affects how your styling looks on camera. Whether we are shooting among the ponderosas in Sunriver, overlooking the Deschutes River in Bend, or using the scenic mountain backdrops of Sisters, think carefully about where you’re going to be taking the pictures. For this reason, I recommend waiting until you’ve secured a location for your session before locking in outfits. You want your family’s outfits to not clash with the environment - or worse, camouflage you.

Whether you are looking for more specific tips on styling your family for summer photos, or what to wear for fall family photos, your surroundings matter when gathering lifestyle family photography ideas.

For example, wearing green in a setting full of grass and trees would make your bodies 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 family picture outfits. 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.).

Family photo outfit ideas: staying comfortable in all seasons for lifestyle 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 lifestyle photos. 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 lifestyle family photos.

Think structure, texture, thickness, and comfort for your family’s picture outfits. 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) - just don’t pick it to wear.

Add texture + pattern to your family’s picture 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 exactly - you each should stand out in lifestyle 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.

Have fun with family photo outfit ideas, but keep it true to you.

Don’t try to change yourself while figuring out what to wear for family photos. I’ve seen of people buy complete outfits for everyone in their family to turn around and never 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.