Colors that coordinate, not outfits that matchIdentical outfits read as a uniform, family photographers say. Same palette, different pieces.
Denim and creamFor a casual session outdoors or at home in spring and summer.
Dusty pastels: lavender, sage, peach, sky blueFor spring and early summer, in gardens and flower fields.
Earth tones: rust, camel, olive, creamOne guide’s palette for fall, for parks, woods and fields at golden hour.
Jewel tones: burgundy, deep teal, forest greenFor fall and winter, against leaves, brick or a cozy room.
Muted shades over bright primariesSaturated brights can reflect onto faces in outdoor light, one company warns.
Soft neutrals: oatmeal, blush, slateThe same guide’s year-round palette, for studios, beaches and pale rooms.
Two colors plus a neutralThe neutral ties the group together, in one photography company’s words.
Two or three colors for the whole groupPick the palette first and the clothes second. Every later choice gets easier.
For adults 8
Cardigan to wear, then take offLayers give two looks in one session without a change of clothes.
Chunky knit sweaterTexture adds depth that a flat T-shirt cannot.
Clothes pressed and well fittedPhotos last. One guide says a quick steam matters more than most people expect.
Denim jacketA layer in the palette. On for the wide shots, off for the close-ups.
Dress or skirt with some movementThey photograph well in outdoor light, say photographers who shoot family sessions.
Linen shirtLinen is on one company’s list of textures that add depth without matching.
The one statement pieceLet one person stand out, in a brighter piece or the single pattern.
Plain shirt in a palette colorOne guide’s rule: each person wears at least one of the palette’s colors.
For children 5
A real coat, hat and mittens, in winterA bundled-up family photographs better than a shivering one, photographers say.
Breathable cotton or linen, in summerDress for the heat, so that everyone stays comfortable and relaxed.
Clothes they can move and play inA child who is too hot in a stiff outfit will show the camera how that feels.
One small pattern, on one childA child can wear the pattern as long as its colors stay within the family’s palette.
Their favorite piece, chosen firstBuild the palette around whoever is hardest to dress, one company advises.
For an engaged couple 10
A layer that doubles as a propA chunky sweater or a denim jacket changes the look without a change of clothes.
A second outfit: casual, then dressyOne planning guide says to stop at two changes, so the time goes on pictures.
Colors that complement, not copyA blue dress does not call for a blue shirt. Too much of one hue blends together.
Jeans and T-shirts in different washesCasual and comfortable. Varying the denim keeps you from matching too closely.
Long, flowing dressIt billows in the wind, which suits a beach or a rooftop.
One accessoryA scarf, a necklace or a watch lifts a neutral outfit, one planning guide says.
One print, and a partner in a color from itOnly one of you wears the pattern. The other picks up one of its colors.
Suit, or just the blazerThe dressier option. Either of you, or both, can wear the whole suit or only part of it.
White dressFirst on one wedding planning guide’s list. It can be worn again to an engagement party.
White top or sweater with jeansThe casual version, for a couple who would rather not wear head-to-toe white.
By season 6
Fall: rust, mustard, olive, camelEcho the season on one or two people. Not everyone needs to be in orange.
Holiday card: jewel tones, red as an accentPut a deep red on one or two people. On everyone, guides say, it takes over.
Spring: blush, sage, butter yellow, creamSoft tones sit beside blossom without fighting it.
Summer: linen in cream and soft warm tonesBreathable and light. A session near sunrise or sunset also misses the midday heat.
Winter card: cream, charcoal and navyOne guide calls it a look that photographs cleanly, with a navy layer or accessory.
Winter: deep colors and cozy layersDeeper tones keep a family from fading into snow, gray sky and bare branches.
Leave off 9
No all-black outfits for the whole groupA black piece works in support. All black takes the warmth out of the picture.
No big, high-contrast patternsBold stripes, large plaids and tight dots can shimmer on camera and compete with faces.
No head-to-toe white in strong sunPure white can blow out in strong light, one photography company warns.
No identical outfits for everyoneKhakis and white shirts on all of you flatten the group into one tone.
No large logos or slogansA slogan dates a photo and steals the eye, and the print may hang for years.
No neonIt makes a hot spot that pulls the eye away from faces.
No outfit bought the night beforeNew clothes are often stiff. Try everything on a few days ahead.
No outfit that fights the weatherA sundress in midwinter shows. Check the forecast and dress for the day you get.
No two busy patterns side by sideOne patterned piece to a family is usually the limit.
How this list was compiled
The 47 things to wear or to leave off, and the line under each, were written for this page on 2026-10-12; no list was copied. What a row says photographs well follows guides that companies in the business publish themselves, read on 2026-10-12: the photography company Shoott, What to Wear for Family Photos: A Photographer's Guide by Season (https://www.shoott.com/blog/what-to-wear-for-family-photos), for the palette of two or three colors, coordinating without matching, texture and layers, the seasons, and what to skip; the photo printing company Shutterfly, Best Colors for Family Photos (https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/best-colors-for-family-photos/), for the named palettes and their settings, holiday and winter cards, the statement piece and pressed clothes; and the wedding planning company Zola, What to Wear for Your Engagement Photos (https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/what-to-wear-for-your-engagement-photos), for every row of the engaged couple. Your own photographer knows the place and the light, so ask them too. Left out on purpose: brands, prices, shops and anything about how a body looks. Licence: own work
How it works
What should I wear for family photos? Two or three colors that go together, on clothes that do not match. These 47 ideas cover the color family, adults, children, an engaged couple and each season.
Read the full guide
Start with the colors
Photographers who shoot family sessions give the same first step: choose two or three colors, often two plus a neutral, then dress everyone from inside that palette in different pieces. One guide suggests starting from a single statement piece, such as a patterned dress, and laying every outfit flat together before the day to spot a clash.
For engagement photos
One wedding planning guide says the two of you should complement each other, not match: if one wears a print, the other wears a color from it. It also says to dress for the place, since a little black dress looks wrong in a meadow, and to bring no more than two changes.
Take a phone picture of the outfits laid out together. A clash shows up faster on a screen than on the bed.
Questions and answers
What should I wear for engagement photos?
Clothes that look like the two of you on a good day. One wedding planning guide lists a white dress first and jeans with T-shirts as the casual choice. Complement each other’s colors without matching, and keep busy patterns to one of you.
What should I wear for engagement pictures outdoors?
Dress for the place and the season. One planning guide says summery colors stand out on a beach, where neutrals can be drowned out, and that a busy background calls for plain clothes. Check the forecast before you choose.
What colors are best for family photos?
Warm earth shades, quiet neutrals and jewel tones turned down a notch: rust, sage, cream, dusty blue, burgundy. One guide says they do not distract and print cleanly. Choose shades from one palette and spread them across the family.
Should everyone match for family photos?
No. Photographers say a family dressed alike looks like a team in uniform. Keep to one color family, mix the pieces, and give the one bold piece or pattern to a single person.
What should you not wear for family photos?
Neon, large logos, big high-contrast patterns and head-to-toe black or white on everyone. Each pulls the eye away from faces. Skip anything bought the night before, too, since new clothes are often stiff.