Beach Family Photos Outfits for the Whole Family: 3 Easy Steps and Examples

Pulling together beach family photos outfits can be stressful. What goes together? What looks good on me? What looks good on camera? What will my kids actually wear? Ask anyone who has had family photos done, and they will probably tell you getting outfits picked out for everyone involved at least a minor headache and some last-minute shopping.

Here’s where my client closet is so valuable. When you book a session, you get complimentary access to my client closet included. It’s full of gorgeous, size-inclusive dresses for the ladies and an adorable variety of outfits for kids up to size 10. You will get to browse through and I will help you put options together that will look great and feel comfortable. It’s a huge perk!

If you decide not to use the client closet, or you’ve come across this post and are working with a different photographer, I’m going to suggest some simple steps to nailing your family’s outfits. Of course, these are not absolutely firm rules, but if you stick to the steps it will keep things super easy and foolproof. I’ll also share lots of examples from past beach family photos outfits that you can gain inspiration from or copy.

Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing Beach Family Photos Outfits

Step 1: Start with a Light or Muted Color Palette

The beauty of beach photos comes from the light, airy, pastel shades of the sand, sky, and water. Could you wear some darker, more saturated shades? Sure! But again, this post is about keeping things simple and foolproof. Here are some examples of color palettes in case you don’t know where to start when it comes to mixing colors. Basically, pick 2 colors (or 2 shades of a color) and add in neutrals like white, khaki, or gray for your beach family photos outfits. When I’m photographing families on the beach (usually my favorite spot, in Cape May!), I suggest adding small patterns and prints that incorporate the colors to add some visual interest.

Step 2: Choose One Key Outfit First

Now that you know what general types of colors to look for, pick your first outfit. Usually, this starter outfit is mom (who never gets to pick first!) but it could also be someone else if you have a special dress or shirt for a little one that you love. The reason I say to start with just one outfit first is because if you have one that you love already, it helps dictate the rest of your choices. It’s easy enough to find a solid colored shirt and some chinos for dad, anyways.

If the outfit you pick first has a pattern to it, there’s your color palette right there. Keep everyone else in solid colors from the pattern (tone-on-tone texture is fine, though) to avoid too many distracting patterns or clashing on camera. If you’ve picked a cream-colored dress for yourself first, then move on to the next key outfit for your family and see if that guides your color palette. Lay them all out together and see how they look.

Step 3: Try Everything On

I know, this one might seem obvious, but it’s an important step to mention. Once you’ve got outfits picked out, you need to make sure that wearing them makes you feel both comfortable and confident. Wearing something that is too tight, or needs constant adjusting, or just doesn’t make you feel good will just make it more difficult for you to feel comfortable and look happy in front of the camera. This is especially important for the little ones too – nothing is worse than a kid who puts up a huge fight an hour before your session. Getting their buy-in ahead of time will hopefully makes things smoother for the day of your photos.

Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing Beach Family Photos Outfits

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