What to wear for your family photo session

By Deep Arora · Still & Golden Photography · Frankston & South-East Melbourne

Once the session is booked, this is the question that keeps families up at night — usually mum, usually at 10pm, usually surrounded by rejected outfit combinations. So here's the guide I send my own clients, boiled down to what actually makes a difference in the photos.

The one-line version: soft neutrals, gentle textures, comfortable fits, no big logos. Everything below is detail.

Start with a palette, not outfits

Forget matching. Families dressed in identical white shirts and jeans read as a photo from 2009. Instead, pick three or four colours that sit well together and let everyone wear their own version of them:

• Warm neutrals: cream, oat, sand, tan, soft white — the backbone of almost every good palette.
• Muted accents: sage, dusty blue, rust, mustard, clay — one or two of these add depth without shouting.
• Denim: the great unifier. Jeans, overalls and chambray shirts photograph beautifully and mix with everything.

If one person's outfit is decided (say, a dress mum loves), build everyone else's around it rather than starting from scratch four times.

Texture is your secret weapon

When colours are soft, texture is what keeps photos interesting. Knits, linen, corduroy, waffle cotton, a chunky cardigan — these catch light beautifully and add warmth that flat cotton can't. This matters double for in-home sessions, where soft window light picks up every bit of texture.

What to avoid

• Large logos and graphic tees. They pull the eye straight off faces. (Tiny embroidered logos are fine.)
• Neon and fluoro. Bright colours bounce onto skin — a fluoro pink top gives everyone within a metre a pink glow.
• Tight, busy patterns. Fine stripes and small checks can shimmer oddly on camera. Big, soft patterns are fine.
• Brand-new stiff outfits for kids. A child who's itchy or overdressed will let you know for the entire session. Familiar and comfortable beats new and fancy every time.
• Anything you'll fidget with. If you'll spend the hour tugging a hem or adjusting a strap, leave it in the wardrobe.

A note for mums

Wear the thing you feel most yourself in. Flowy dresses and midi skirts move beautifully in photos, especially outdoors, but the honest rule is comfort first — you'll be sitting on beds, kneeling on rugs and carrying children. If you're breastfeeding, choose something that lets you feed easily; feeding breaks are part of every session with a baby.

A note for dads

You cannot go wrong with a plain tee, henley or casual button-up in a neutral tone, plus jeans or chinos. That's it. That's the whole note. (From one dad to another: check the shirt for logos before you leave the bedroom.)

Kids and babies

• Toddlers and kids: plain tees, knits, overalls, simple dresses. Nothing they'll fight you over. Bare feet are perfect for in-home sessions.
• Babies: simple onesies or rompers in neutral tones. Avoid outfits with big slogans across the front.
• Newborns: less is more — a plain wrap or a simple romper. Those tiny details (see the newborn photography page) photograph best unobstructed.

The final check

Lay everyone's outfit on the bed together and squint. Does anything jump out or clash? Swap it. Does it all sit together like one soft, warm picture? You're done. And if you're stuck, send me a photo of the options — I'm always happy to help pick.

Planning the session itself? Read about how family sessions run, or check how to prepare your home if there's a newborn involved.