What to Wear for Family Photos: Tips from your Abilene Family Photographer

Your session is booked, and now comes the question I hear from almost every family here in Abilene: what on earth should we wear? It is one of the things parents stress over most before a session, and I promise it is simpler than it feels. As a family and motherhood photographer in Abilene and the Big Country, I have styled a lot of sessions, and the same handful of ideas work almost every time.

Here is how I would walk you through it, roughly in the order I would take if we were standing in front of your closet together. Take what helps and leave the rest. (These tips work just as beautifully for maternity and extended family sessions.)

First, Let's Talk About Color

Here is the part I most want you to hear, because plenty of guides get it wrong: you do not have to wear all neutrals. A soft, tonal palette is lovely, but it is not the only beautiful option, and it is not always you. Color is welcome here. We just want to understand how it behaves in front of a camera.

The idea to know is color casting. Fabric throws its color onto whatever sits near it, and that includes skin. A bright, saturated piece can bounce its hue up onto a face and leave it looking a little green, flushed, or washed out. Outdoors we are already working with a bit of green reflecting up off the grass, so we simply try not to pile more on top of it.

The answer is not to skip color, but to choose slightly softened versions of the shades you love, and to keep the boldest, most saturated pieces lower on the body or off to the side rather than right beneath a chin. A muted rust reads rich and timeless. A bright coral reads as neon, and it will compete with your face the whole time.

Colors that love the camera

• Creams and warm ivory

• Camel and sand

• Sage and olive

• Rust and terracotta

• Soft mustard and ochre

• Dusty blue and slate

• Dusty rose and mauve

• Muted plum and berry

• Forest green, warm brown, and denim

Wear these with a light hand

• Bright, pure white: reflects a lot of light and can wash skin out. A warm ivory does the same job, but softer.

• True bright red: beautiful as a small accent, but a full red outfit casts a pink flush onto skin. A brick, rust, or berry gives you the drama without the flushed glow.

• Bright yellow and neon anything: the strongest reflectors of all. They tint skin and pull the eye off faces. Save neon for the soccer field.

• Electric or kelly green: outside, the grass is already reflecting green upward. A sage or olive sits with nature instead of shouting over it.

• Head to toe black: one black piece can be elegant, but a whole family in black tends to lose shape and blend together. Add other colors to soften it.

Coordinate, Don't Match

Every photographer says this, but what does it actually mean, and why does it matter?

Matching is everyone in the same thing: the same white shirt, the same jeans. Coordinating is softer. It means your outfits share a color family and a feeling without being identical, so each person still looks like themselves while the group still reads as one family.

Here is why it matters. When everyone is in a matching uniform, that sameness becomes the first thing the eye notices, and the look tends to feel dated the moment the trend passes. When you coordinate instead, the eye goes where it should, to your faces and the way you are together. It feels more natural in the moment, and it ages far better on your wall.

So how do you actually do it? Choose two or three colors for the group, let each person wear their own mix of them, and thread in a few soft neutrals so the eye has somewhere to rest. Then think about pattern. A little pattern on one or two people adds nice interest, as long as you keep the scale small: a thin stripe, a small gingham or plaid, or a dainty floral all work beautifully. What you want to avoid is the loud, large-scale version of any of those, along with big logos or graphics, since those pull attention off the faces and date quickly.

Styling tip. Build the whole palette around one person first, usually mom. Pick her outfit, then draw two or three colors from it for everyone else. You are coordinating around an anchor rather than matching, and the group ends up looking pulled together with none of the effort showing.

Texture and Fit

If color sets the mood, texture is what keeps an image from looking flat, and it is one of the easiest ways to make simple, timeless outfits feel elevated. Knits, linen, muslin, denim, corduroy, and anything soft and flowing catch the light and add gentle depth and movement. If you're torn between two cream pieces, reach for the one with texture. A cozy cable knit adds depth and softness that a simple tee just can't.

Fit matters just as much. I know the urge with growing kids is to size up for another season of wear, but the extra fabric bunches, bags, and pulls the eye. Something that fits today will always look more polished than something you are hoping to grow into. Lean toward classic shapes over trends, and picture the outfit on your wall once your child is grown. The pieces you would gladly wear again next year and the year after are almost always the right choice.

Use Layers as Easy Outfit Changes

Styling tip. Layers do two jobs at once. They add the depth like we just talked about, and they keep everyone comfortable when there is a chill in the air (rare around here, I know, but a girl can dream). A cardigan, a denim jacket, a soft wrap, or a hat gives an outfit dimension. Here is the bonus: adding or removing a layer reads as a whole new look with none of the wrestling, which is a small miracle when there is a toddler who would never hold still for a costume change in the middle of a field.

Cover Those Little Booties!

If your little girl is wearing a dress, put something underneath it. Kids sit in the grass, get tossed in the air, and roll around, and skirts don't stay put. Babies and toddlers can wear a diaper cover or matching bloomers. Older girls can wear simple shorts in a color close to their dress.

Don't Forget the Shoes

Shoes turn up in more frames than people expect, so give them the same thought you gave everything else. Keep them comfortable, suited to the weather, and in natural materials when you can. Leather and suede are classic and photograph beautifully. I would skip the bright athletic sneakers, the flip flops, and anything with a busy logo or a light up sole.

One last thing: think about where we are shooting. If we are downtown, sidewalks or well manicured lawns like the golf course or college campus, wear the sandals or heels you love. If we are heading into the field or woods, closed-toe shoes are the way to go. A quick local warning for anyone new to the Abilene area: the stickers and burrs out here cling to everything (shoes, bare feet, the hem of a dress), and they genuinely hurt. Honestly, just about everything in Texas is a little prickly. When in doubt, closed-toe shoes are usually the safest choice.

And if your session at home? Skip the shoes altogether. Bare feet feel cozy and real, and nobody wears sneakers on the couch anyway. Those little toes peeking out are some of my favorite details to capture.

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

When you book with Sage & Bloom, outfit planning is part of the experience. I'm always happy to help you pull it together, whether you're starting from scratch or just need a second opinion on one piece.

If you ever feel stuck, send me pictures of what you're considering. Lay a few options out on the bed, snap a photo, and I'll tell you what I love and what I might swap. Most of the time it only takes a small change (a different shirt for dad, a softer color for one of the kids) to make everything feel like it belongs together.

I'd much rather you email me a quick question than spend a week second-guessing your closet. That's what I'm here for!

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, none of this needs to be stressful. The families I photograph always look best when they are comfortable and dressed like themselves, not like a catalog. So wear what feels like you, dress the kids in what keeps them happy, and let comfort lead the way. When everyone feels like themselves, that is exactly what the camera catches, and it is what will make these images still feel like you long after this season has passed.

If your little one has school pictures coming up too, I put together a separate guide on what to wear for school photos with tips made for that clean, classic backdrop.

About your photographer

Hi, I'm Mandy, the photographer behind Sage & Bloom. I'm a newborn, maternity, and family photographer based in Abilene, Texas, serving families throughout the Big Country and West Central Texas. I also offer fine art school portraits on simple ivory or black backdrops, so the focus stays on your child and their true personality shines through.

My style is true to life and relaxed. I photograph newborns with baby-led posing (only natural positions your baby is already comfortable in), and I use gentle guidance to bring out the real connection between you and your people. Most sessions happen on location, either in your home or somewhere outdoors that feels like you.

I'm a mom of three, so I know how fast these years go and how much it matters to have photos you'll actually be proud to keep and display. My job is to guide you through every step, from what to wear to which images belong on your walls, so you can just be present with your family.

If you're planning a session in or near Abilene, I'd love to hear from you.