What to Wear to Your Family Photoshoot

(And why I'm going to steer you away from all-white)

There's a version of this blog post that tells you to dress everyone in neutral linen, and stick to a palette of oat, white, and soft sage. And look, while those shoots are beautiful, they're not the only way.

Some of my favourite family shoots have been a mum in crochet pants and an oversized tee, a dad in a faded band tee he's had since uni, and kids in colourful overalls that somehow just worked. Those outfits took thought. They took trying things on, second-guessing, and a decent amount of "does this go?", realistically the same amount of effort as any carefully curated matching set of outfits. They thought about who they actually are, not what a family shoot is supposed to look like according to every Pinterest board and Instagram grid they'd ever scrolled past.

Relaxed and casual doesn't mean unpolished. What actually matters is whether your outfits work together and whether they work with where we're shooting!

Lead with your personal style, not a mood board

The families I photograph who look most like themselves are the ones who dressed like themselves. If your family is a jeans-and-sneakers family, lean into that. If your wardrobe is full of texture and layers and a bit of character, that's your starting point.

When people try to dress for a "photoshoot aesthetic" that doesn't match how they actually live, it shows. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but there's a stiffness that comes from wearing something you're not quite comfortable in. The best photos come when you feel like you.

Coordinating beats matching every time

You don't need everyone in the same colour. You need everyone's colours to get along.

A rust linen shirt, a faded olive tee, and a kid in terracotta overalls - that's a palette! It's not matchy, but it's cohesive. Coordinating can also just mean sharing a vibe. Think teal overalls, red striped pants, a retro graphic tee - nothing's matching, but there's a through-line. Bold colours, a bit of surf, a bit of vintage. The whole family looks like they belong together without looking like they tried to.

A few things that help outfits work together:

• Pick one person's outfit first (usually the trickiest, often mum, often a toddler with opinions) and build around them
• Vary your tones slightly rather than going identical, this might mean picking a small handful of pieces that are a similar colour but different tone (e.g. light/dark/rich/soft)
• Don't be afraid of a bit of contrast! One deeper tone in the mix often grounds everything else

Texture is the real MVP

This is the bit people underestimate. Colour is important, but texture is what makes a photo feel layered and real, and it's what makes a casual outfit look considered rather than thrown together.

Think about what different fabrics do in a photo:

• Crochet - adds warmth and handmade character, photographs beautifully in natural light
• Knit - cosy and tactile, gives a photo that lived-in, relaxed feeling without looking like you tried too hard
• Denim - grounds an outfit, works with almost everything, never looks like you tried too hard
• Corduroy - tactile and interesting, especially on kids. Love me a pair or corduroy pants oroveralls
• Crushed linen - relaxed but with enough visual texture that it doesn't read as flat
• Velvet - even a little bit, like a velvet hair tie or a velvet top on a toddler, adds richness and effortless cool retro vibes

Mixing textures in the same frame is one of the easiest ways to make a group of people look visually cohesive without being matchy. Something structured with something soft. Something relaxed with something with a bit of detail.

On graphics and prints

This one's a fine line, and I'll be honest about it.

A faded vintage band tee? Love it. A worn-in graphic that feels like it's been in someone's wardrobe for a decade? That's character. What doesn't work is anything loud, bright, or novelty, so think a fluoro print, a cartoon character in neon, something that immediately pulls your eye away from everyone's faces.

The test is whether the graphic feels like part of the person's actual style, or whether it's just a lot of visual noise.

Same goes for prints generally, one statement print in the group, the rest kept more low-key, and you're usually fine.

The honest truth about all-white

I'm not here to tell you never to wear white., it definitely has it's place and purpose. Some of my most beautiful shoots have had white in them!

But all-white, all-beige, everyone-matching can flatten out in a way that surprises people. Pale tones against pale skin in bright light can lose definition, and when everyone's in the same thing, there's less for the eye to move around and settle on.

There's also a practical reason I steer people away from white - it's incredibly susceptible to colour cast. Shoot in golden hour and it goes warm and orange. Move into shade and it shifts cool and blue. What looks crisp and clean in the mirror can do all sorts of things in camera. So rather than a crips white, I would always suggest a slightly warmer bone colour to help combat this.

If you love that look, go for it. Just add one element of warmth or contrast somewhere. A tan leather sandal, a woven bag, a kid in something with a little colour. It gives the camera something to anchor to, and it'll make the whole thing feel more alive.

What I'd genuinely steer you away from

• Anything itchy, tight, or uncomfortable, especially on kids! If they're tugging at it, I'm photographing them tugging at it
• Overly coordinated outfits that don't feel like you
• Loud novelty graphics that pull focus from faces
• Everyone in white with no contrast or texture to break it up

Your location matters more than you think

Sydney gives us so much to work with, we are so lucky! But barefoot on a n Eastern Suburb beach shoreline calls for something different to golden hour in Centennial Park or a rugged headland in the National Park. Your outfits and your location should be in conversation

.

When you book, tell me what you're thinking of wearing and where you'd love to shoot. I'll tell you honestly if I think it works.

The collage trick that makes everything click

Here's something I do for my own family shoots and recommend to every client: before you commit to anything, grab your phone, take photos of the pieces you're considering, and put them into a collage. Screenshots, flat lays, whatever you have, just get them all in the same frame!

It's often not until you see everything side by side that it becomes obvious what's working and what isn't. A combination that felt uncertain suddenly looks right. Or the thing you were attached to clearly clashes and you can let it go.

I do this all the time and it makes the decision easy almost every time!

If you're weighing up a few options and want a second opinion, send me your collage, I'm genuinely happy to help. It takes me two minutes and it means we both show up on the day feeling confident about what everyone's wearing.

To sum it all up

• Wear what feels like your family
• Make sure everyone's outfits talk to each other even if they don't match
• Lean into texture
• Avoid anything that's going to make the kids miserable
• Make sure your outfits work with the location and the weather
• You've got a faded band tee or a pair of jeans you love and feel great in? Wear them
• Pop it all in a collage or lay it out on the bed and look at the family's options together
• Always feel free to send me your options for a second opinion, I am here to help

The family photoshoots I remember most aren't the ones where everyone was perfectly coordinated. They're the ones where everyone looks effortlessly like themselves, where you can tell the outfits were considered, just considered through the lens of who they actually are rather than what a photoshoot is supposed to look like.

When you book, we can talk through all of it together. The location, outfits, timing. The more I know about your family and your style, the better the photos will be!