Family

Outfit stress is real. Figuring out what to wear for family photos in the Bay Area is probably the most common question I get asked. I put together this guide to take the guesswork out of it completely. Bookmark it, share it with your partner, and come back to it every time you book a session.

Start With Mom

This is my number one tip. Women’s clothing comes in more colors, styles, and silhouettes than anyone else in the family. Start there and build everyone else around it. Choose your outfit first, then find pieces for your partner and kids that complement it. This approach makes the whole process easier and almost always results in a cohesive, beautiful group.

One more practical note: once everyone’s outfits are decided, get the kids dressed last — right before you walk out the door. Enough time for a final check, not enough time for a spill, a grass stain, or a mystery smear that nobody can explain.

Colors: What Works and What to Avoid

What photographs beautifully

Neutrals, earth tones, and muted palettes. Cream, ivory, warm white, sand, tan, taupe, dusty blue, sage green, soft blush, mauve, warm grey — these colors photograph beautifully in natural light, complement most Bay Area outdoor settings, and create images that feel timeless rather than dated.

Jewel tones (deep emerald, sapphire blue, plum) can also be stunning for maternity / family photos and add a beautiful pop of color. If you go this route, consider your backdrop. A deep emerald can disappear into rose garden (and same with brown in redwoods) but both look stunning at the beach or against golden grass as an example. One exception: I’d steer away from jewel tones for in-home newborn sessions. Rich, saturated colors can cast onto a newborn’s delicate skin. For newborns, neutrals are always the safest and most flattering choice.

What to avoid

Bright colors and neons. Red and very saturated warm tones can be tricky in newborn photography especially — they tend to bring out red tones in baby’s delicate and transparent skin. Neutrals and muted tones will always give you the most flattering and timeless results.

Coordinated, not matching

You don’t need to match. In fact perfectly matching outfits tend to look stiff and dated quickly. Instead aim for a palette — two or three colors that complement each other — and let each person wear something within that range that they actually feel good in. The goal is cohesion, not uniformity.

Fabrics: What Photographs Well and What Doesn’t

What photographs beautifully

Cotton, chiffon, and flowy natural fabrics. They move well, they’re comfortable, and they create that relaxed, natural feeling that makes photos feel alive.

What to avoid

Large graphics and visible logos. These draw the eye away from faces and can clash when multiple people in a group are wearing different patterns. When you want to incorporate a pattern, be mindful of what everyone else is wearing and how it works together.

Shoes: The Detail That Makes a Difference

Shoes are one of the most commonly overlooked parts of a session outfit and they make more of a difference than you might expect. A simple sandal, loafer, or clean leather shoe always photographs better than an athletic sneaker. When in doubt, if you wouldn’t wear it to a nice dinner, swap it out for something a little more elevated. This goes for everyone, kids and adults alike.

You don’t have to spend a lot on session shoes, either. Amazon can be a great place to find inexpensive options that you’ll use again. For little girls, search for simple ballet flats, Mary Janes, or neutral sandals in colors like cream, tan, blush, brown, or black. For boys, look for clean leather or canvas sneakers, simple loafers, boat shoes, or casual dress shoes in neutral colors. The goal is simple and classic rather than overly sporty or decorated.

For very little ones, Starry Knight makes beautiful shoes that photograph wonderfully. Zimmerman Shoes has lovely footwear for toddlers and older children.

What to Wear for Family Photos: By Session Type

When it comes to what to wear for family photos, maternity sessions, and newborn sessions, the answer shifts slightly depending on the setting — here’s a breakdown by session type.

What to Wear for Family Sessions Outdoors

For mamas, flowy maxi dresses or midi dresses in muted or jewel tones are a favorite. They move beautifully, photograph well in wind, and feel elevated without looking overdressed. Pants and a simple top work beautifully too. A few shopping suggestions include: Doen, Reformation, Sezane, Anthropologie, Quince, Tuckernuck, Piper and Scoot and Nordstrom.

For dads and partners, a button-down shirt or sweater with chinos or clean jeans is a classic combination that never fails. Keep it simple and keep it neutral. Banana Republic and J.Crew often have great, affordable basics.

For kids these brands are wonderful: Rylee & Cru, Jamie Kay, Noralee, Quincy Mae, and Zara. All of them do beautiful neutral and earthy tones that coordinate effortlessly. For shoes, Starry Knight is a top pick for little ones. I also love Zimmerman shoes for toddlers and older.

→ For more on planning your outdoor family session, including locations and timing, read the complete guide to family photography sessions in the Bay Area.

What to Wear for Maternity Sessions

Flowy dresses are the top recommendation for maternity photography. They celebrate the bump beautifully, they move well in the breeze, and they create images that feel soft and romantic rather than stiff.

Worth Collective makes dresses specifically designed for maternity photography and they are stunning. Nothing Fits But is another popular maternity brand. Empire waist styles from Anthropologie and loose fitting, flowy dresses or skirt and top sets from Free People also drape beautifully over a bump without feeling overly structured. Both are worth exploring when you’re planning your look.

Jeans and a crop top or a button up can be a beautiful choice for beach sessions or casual in-home maternity sessions where the vibe is relaxed and intimate. For outdoor sessions in more scenic locations, a flowy dress tends to feel more at home in the setting — but ultimately wear what makes you feel most like yourself.

If you’re booking a Bump to Baby experience, it’s worth thinking about both sessions together when you’re planning your maternity look. Your maternity and newborn galleries will live side by side, and choosing a palette that carries through both sessions creates a beautiful visual cohesion when you look back at them together. It doesn’t need to be identical — just complementary.

→ For everything else you need to know about planning a maternity session, read the complete guide to Bay Area maternity photography.

What to Wear for In-Home Newborn Sessions

Comfort is key for newborn sessions — you’re going to be moving around, sitting on the floor, holding your baby for long stretches. Choose something you feel beautiful in but that you can also move freely in.

For mamas, soft wrap dresses, flowy pieces, or a simple matching set work beautifully in the soft natural light of a home session. Earth tones and neutrals complement most home interiors and keep the focus on your baby. See the above maternity section for shopping recommendations.

For newborns — a simple white kimono onesie is a classic look that puts all the attention on that tiny perfect face. Little Planet by Carter’s and Pehr as well as the aforementioned Quincy Mae and H&M all make beautiful neutral basics that are perfect for newborn sessions. If you want to incorporate detail shots of little feet, make sure your baby is in a footless romper or be prepared to undress them for that portion of the session — footed sleepers make foot detail shots impossible.

One more thing worth noting for very young babies: avoid collared onesies, polo-style necklines, or anything with a high or structured neckline. In the early weeks, newborns don’t exactly have a neck to speak of — and a collar that hits at the chin will find its way into their face in photos. Stick to simple necklines. The less fabric competing with that tiny face, the better.

If you would like detail images of the baby’s feet, it’s also best to avoid footed rompers.

→ For everything else you need to know about planning a newborn session, read the complete guide to in-home newborn photography in the Bay Area.

What to Wear for Extended Family Sessions

Larger sessions, grandparents, aunts, uncles, multiple sets of siblings, need a bit more planning than a family of four. The same core idea applies: build a palette, not a matching outfit.

Coordinating Outfits Across Larger Groups

With more people, think in terms of a shared palette rather than one planned outfit. It doesn’t need to be neutrals. A palette of dusty blue, terracotta, and cream works just as well as sage, warm grey, and cream. Or let one jewel tone be the star: a rich emerald against warm neutrals like cream and tan reads as elevated without competing with itself the way two bold jewel tones side by side can. Pick two or three colors that work together, then give every household in the group that range to build from. A Pinterest board or a few reference photos sent to the group makes this far easier than trying to describe a color in words.

Coordinate by household first, then check the whole group. If three separate families are gathering, get each one internally coordinated the way you would for a normal family session, then make sure all three sit within the shared palette. That’s a much easier problem to solve than assigning twelve individual outfits yourself.

Vary the shades and depth within the palette rather than putting everyone in the identical color. A few lighter pieces and a few richer or deeper ones in the same family reads as intentional in a photo; a dozen people in the exact same shade, light or bold, tends to read flat either way. Varying texture is another great way to add depth and interest to family photos, especially when coordinating with a large group.

Shoes matter even more with a larger group. Send the shoe guidance above to everyone in the group, grandparents and littlest ones included.

What Grandparents Should Wear

Grandparents often just need a little more specific guidance than “wear something nice,” since that phrase means something different to everyone. A few things that help:

• Lean a touch dressier than everyday-casual. A blouse, a nice sweater, or a button-down in the family’s palette photographs beautifully, stepping it up just slightly from an everyday top makes a bigger difference in a group photo than people expect.
• Grandparents don’t need to default to beige either. A soft rose, dusty blue, or deep green works just as well as a neutral, as long as it sits within the group’s palette. The goal is coordinated, not muted.
• Shoes matter most for this group. A simple loafer, clean flat, or leather sneaker photographs far better than an athletic or outdoor shoe. Most importantly, they need to be shoes someone can actually walk in and be comfortable.
• One coordinating piece is usually enough. A whole new outfit isn’t necessary. Often just one piece in the shared palette, layered over something they already own and feel like themselves in, does the job.
• Send a photo, not just a color name. This is the single most useful thing you can ask for. A quick “here’s what I’m planning to wear” photo from every grandparent (and everyone realistically) ahead of time means you can gently redirect anything that’s not quite landing, before session day, not during it.

For extended family sessions especially, it’s worth having whoever’s organizing collect that quick photo from everyone in advance. It’s the one session type where a little check-in beforehand saves real stress on the day, and it’s a much easier conversation to have over text in advance rather than in a parking lot five minutes before the session starts.

Bay Area Layers and Microclimates

Layers Are Your Best Friend in the Bay Area

If you’re shooting outdoors in the Bay Area, plan for layers. Our microclimates are real and they move fast. A warm afternoon can become a foggy chill the moment the marine layer rolls in, and a breezy beach session at Baker Beach or Rodeo Beach is almost always cooler than you expect, even in summer.

The good news is that layers photograph beautifully. A linen jacket, a soft cardigan, a denim shirt tied at the waist — these add texture and visual interest to your photos while keeping everyone comfortable. The key is to choose layers in your same neutral palette so they coordinate rather than clash when they come off.

Practically speaking: bring layers you’re happy to be photographed in, not just layers you plan to shed. Golden hour beach sessions especially, bring something warm for every member of the family, kids included. A cold child is a miserable child, and a miserable child is the fastest way to derail a session.

Read more about my favorite Bay Area photography locations.

A Few Final Tips

Ironing and steaming

Steam or iron everything the night before. Wrinkled clothes photographs as wrinkled clothes — it’s one of those things that’s sometimes invisible in the mirror and very visible in a photo. Two minutes with a steamer the night before saves a surprise when your gallery arrives.

Confidence is everything.

The most important factor in your outfit is how it makes you feel. If you feel beautiful and comfortable, that shows up in every single photo. Choose something you love and the rest takes care of itself.

Texture is your secret weapon.

When everyone is wearing solids, texture is what keeps the images from feeling flat. Eyelet, ribbed knit, lace, silk, velvet — any fabric with visual dimension adds interest and depth without introducing pattern or color. You don’t need everyone in texture — one or two pieces in a group is plenty. A mama in a simple embroidered dress, a toddler in an eyelet romper, a baby in a ribbed onesie — small details that you barely notice in person but that the camera absolutely loves.

Bring a backup.

For families with young kids — pack a spare outfit for the little ones, particularly for a beach session. Having a backup on hand means a wardrobe situation never derails the session.

When in doubt, ask me.

If you’re still not sure what to wear for your family photos — or just want a second opinion on whether your combination is working — I’m always happy to look at outfit photos before your session. Send me a flat lay of what you’re planning and I’ll let you know if anything needs adjusting.

Ready to Book?

Ready to book a Bay Area photography session? Get in touch here — I’d love to hear about your family.

Rebecca Pattison is a lifestyle family, maternity, and newborn photographer based in Alameda, California, serving the greater Bay Area including the East Bay, San Francisco, Marin County, and the Peninsula.