High Desert Family Photo Style Guide: How to Choose Outfits That Actually Work
“What are we supposed to wear?!”
If you’ve ever planned for family photos, you’ve probably asked yourself this at least a dozen times. Maybe two dozen?
Believe me, you’re not alone! This is the #1 thing everyone stresses about before their session.
You want everyone to look coordinated but not overly styled. You want to match, but not be too matchy-matchy.
You want timeless, not trendy, right? Right.
There’s an easy way to put outfits together that will look and feel natural, effortless, and uniquely YOU—without the stress.
I’m breaking it all down so you can stop overthinking and start getting excited about your session.
I never thought planning my own family session would be difficult until I realized my style is very different than the rest of my family’s.
I adore the 40s and wear vintage style. My husband is a cargo king. One daughter is very trendy, one son wears whatever is clean, our younger son is a mishmosh of everything from a top hat and tie to a ghillie suit, and our youngest is goth meets anime, with some volleyball thrown in.
Ahhh!! Try mixing that in a blender and looking somewhat decent.
Mom and baby photos are so precious.
Mom Gets First Pick
“If Mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.”
Here’s the deal—if Mom doesn’t feel happy and confident, the whole session will feel off.
So instead of stressing over coordinating the entire family, first, start with what makes YOU feel amazing! I’m talking to you, Mom.
Maybe it’s a flowy dress that makes you feel beautiful and put together, or a cozy sweater paired with Docs that keeps you comfy but still polished. Whatever it is, pick your outfit first. Then, use it as the anchor for everyone else in the family.
Once you’ve decided on your outfit and accessories, look at the colors, textures, and overall feel of everything.
If your dress is a pastel floral print, your family can pull from those colors—maybe your partner wears a muted yellow shirt, and your kids wear solid neutrals with a tiny pop of a color that matches.
This way, everyone will coordinate without looking like they transported from a catalog.
Family photo session in Apple Valley, Ca.
For my own family Christmas cards, the girls wore fuzzy sweaters- one grey and the other cream. The boys wore jeans and flannel shirts. I wore a yellow and brown faux fur coat. We blended well enough, without giving up our individual styles.
I think that’s a big part of family sessions too — you should look like you belong to each other without looking cloned.
Start with Colors, Not Similar Outfits
Super matchy-matchy can quickly make your family look like an awkward 90s holiday card. Denim and white T’s for everyone? No thanks.
Instead of making everyone wear the same color, pick 3-4 colors that work well together and spread them out among family members.
Here’s a fun trick: Look at your home décor. The colors you naturally gravitate toward in your home, are likely the ones you’ll love in your photos!
Bonus— the photos that are made into wall art, will blend in beautifully, too.
A good balance of solids and subtle patterns is key.
If Dad wears a plaid shirt, let Mom go for a solid dress, and have the kids in a mix of soft textures and layers to add depth.
A family of six I recently photographed, wore black, white, and denim. Pretty basic, right?
It worked really well though. Mom wore a black floral dress with a white sweater and everyone based their outfits on hers. The girls all wore black boots, and dad and son wore light color shirts with jeans. A denim jacket on one girl tied everything together and everyone looked great!
Very simple and easily doable for any family.
Location & Season
Your background plays a huge role in how your outfits will look.
If you’re shooting in a green park, avoid wearing too much green or you’ll blend right into the scenery. White isn’t the best either- your white sundress will have a green tint to it. Instead, choose earth tones, soft blues, or warm rust colors to help your family stand out beautifully.
One mistake people make?
Dressing for the “look” instead of the weather. If it’s 95 degrees in the summer, ditch the heavy layers. And for winter sessions, layer in a way that still looks put together—think chic wool coats, scarves, and cute boots rather than giant puffy jackets.
I photographed a young girl wearing a lightweight sundress in the early spring, and she shivered throughout the entire session. In the High Desert, spring is windy and cold and we weren’t lucky enough to have a warm day for her session. I felt bad for her, but she loved her photos and that’s what matters most.
Please, dress according to your location and check the weather for the week ahead.
Does you eye naturally goto the logo and words?
Avoid Logos & Graphics
Your teenagers favorite band shirt? Super cool. Just maybe not for your family photo.
Anything with brands, big logos, text, or bright colors is going to pull attention away from what really matters—your faces and memorable connections.
Steer away from red as well. Unless, it’s a holiday photo and multiple family members are wearing it. Red is an attention grabbing color, you want the viewers looking at your family, not a color.
If your toddler insists on wearing his favorite superhero shirt, bring it with you! I can photograph him wearing it after the family is finished. My specialty is photographing the uniqueness in kids and adults, so let your unique child shine!
Just let him know we’ll do the boring family photos first, and the fun ones afterward.
If all else fails, bring a sweater or button up shirt for him to wear over the superhero shirt, during the family session.
Jump for joy!
Movement & Comfort
Family photos aren’t about feeling awkward and posing like statues anymore.
They’re about movement, playfulness, and real connection. That means your outfits need to move with you!
For moms, dresses that are flowy will photograph beautifully.
For kids, avoid anything too tight, stiff, or itchy—they’ll be uncomfortable, which leads to less patience and more meltdowns. And, it will show in the photos. Yikes!
For partners, layers are good. A lightweight jacket or open button-up shirt over a solid tee will add depth. Avoid stiff dress shirts that wrinkle easily or make movement feel awkward.
Here’s the thing—your family photos aren’t about the outfits.
They’re about your people, your love for one another, and the sweet moments in between.
When you feel comfortable, confident, and put together, it makes the entire experience so much better, and a lot more fun.
So if you’ve been stressing about what to wear, take a deep breath. Start with Mom’s outfit, pick a simple color palette, dress for the season and location, and focus on comfort.
The goal isn’t about perfection—it’s about capturing your family in a way that feels natural and true!
Want some more outfit ideas?
Here are online shops to look for stylish, photo-friendly pieces:
Baltic Born – Flowy, flattering dresses that photograph beautifully for moms.
H&M – Affordable, neutral basics for kids and adults that mix and match easily.
Jamie Kay – High-quality, soft fabrics for babies and toddlers in muted, timeless colors.
JoyFolie – Feminine dresses with beautiful fabrics and textures for women and little girls. This is the only sad beige store I like. Ha!
Manly – Masculine clothing and accessories that are affordable and fashionable.
Wherever you shop, keep it simple, comfortable, and true to your style.
Ready to book your High Desert family session? Let’s make it happen—
I hope reading High Desert Family Photo Style Guide: How to Choose Outfits That Actually Work has given you some solid ideas on what and how to choose your clothing! If you’re still looking for a Wrightwood Portrait Photographer, click here to see my portfolio of Storybook images.
Thanks for reading along and Cheers to family,
Annette
Piggy back rides are the best!
