What to Wear for Summer Family Pictures
If you’re planning your annual family portraits, you may be wondering: what do we wear for summer family pictures?
One of the challenges most clients face when planning their family photography session is choosing the right outfits for the whole family. Below are some of my top tips that I share with clients when it comes to selecting the right outfits.
Here are the main things to consider when beginning your wardrobe planning:
- your home decor when selecting a palette
- the season you’re photographing in
- your session location
- your family’s style and personality
- the overall look you want – light and airy? dark and moody? bright and colourful?
Now, let’s look a bit closer at each of these considerations so that, by the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what to wear for summer family pictures!
What to wear for summer family photos: Consider your home decor
The whole reason we take family photos in the first place is to proudly hang them on our walls, and walk past them each and every day. If your home is filled with soft neutral tones – greys, creams, whites, etc. – I always recommend opting for similarly neutral and gentle tones. Adding a pop of soft colour is also nice in these instances. Something that ties into the tones elsewhere in your home – such as a blush pink in a rug, a soft blue in your curtains, etc. But that doesn’t overpower the overall soft feel of your images.
Likewise, if your home is filled with pops of bright colours, you may want to have brighter tones in your images.
Of course, our style changes and evolves as the years pass. We move, we update our home decor and we mature over time. So if you’re unsure of which route to go, my advice is this: neutrals will never go out of style. When in doubt, go classic. You won’t regret it.
What to wear for summer family photos: Consider the season
When choosing what to wear for summer family photos, I always recommend considering the season. While classic neutrals work with any season, it’s nice to add in some different tones and materials to compliment the season you’re photographing in.
In fall, I gravitate towards slightly warmer tones – beige, soft mustard yellow, sage green or dusty pinks.
In winter, adding in a touch of shimmer, cozy wool or silk matches the season well – a silk sea foam green dress, a soft silver shimmery skirt or warm knit sweater. Layers also photograph beautifully during the cooler months.
For spring and summer, my go-tos are lightweight materials with texture, soft neutrals that’ll balance well with all the greenery, and bare feet for a natural look.
What to wear for summer family pictures: Consider the Location
While most locations pair beautifully with an elevated neutral look – think dresses, textured rompers, polo shirts and khaki pants – I do recommend slightly different looks depending on the location of your session.
If you’re photographing out in nature, you can get away with slightly more casual – shorts, henley t-shirts, shorter dresses for mom, etc. That said, Sunday best is also a perfect match for any outdoor nature location. I’ve photographed sessions on the beach (like this one here!) with everyone dressed in their finest outfits. My rule of thumb for making your session feel more relaxed to fit the location? Bare feet.
In comparison, if you’re photographing with more fine-art architecture, a more elevated look is best to match. This is where I recommend longer gowns for mom, pants and a button-up or polo for dad, and more elevated dresses and shirts for little ones.
Consider your family’s personality and style, and the overall vibe you love
At the end of the day, your family’s style and personality is the most important factor for deciding what to wear for summer family pictures. You want to feel like you – the very most beautiful version of you!
Ask yourself, what is the overall feeling I want to have when I look back at these images? While wardrobe is very important for capturing the look you want, the people in the images are who truly make the images come alive. Choose clothing that feels like you and that makes you feel beautiful, confident and excited to share with your closest family and friends. We’ve found that choosing the right wardrobe simply allows your true love for your family to shine through, and that’s what matters most.
While summer is quickly coming to an end, it’s not too late to book your fall family session! We have only a few handful of early October dates available, so don’t delay!
Learn more about the KKP Experience here, and come say hello! I can’t wait to preserve your most special moments with the ones you love.
All images by Kahla Kristen Photography
All dreamy images scanned by Canadian Film Lab
Mom’s hair and makeup (included in her session) by Lush and Lavish Beauty
Mom and daughter’s wardrobe from the client wardrobe
