what to wear for family photos: a practical guide
Keep it simple and coordinated rather than matching exactly - think complementary tones instead of everyone in the same colour. Solid colours and soft patterns photograph better than busy prints or logos, and a bit of layering gives us more to work with across the session.
coordinated, not matching
Everyone in identical white shirts and jeans looks staged, and staged is the opposite of what a documentary-style session is going for. Instead, pick 2-3 colours that sit well together - think a palette rather than an outfit - and let each person wear their own combination within it. Muted, warm, or earthy tones tend to photograph well against both beach and home settings; very bright or neon colours can pull focus away from faces.
what to avoid
Busy patterns, large logos, or text on clothing - they date photos quickly and distract from the people wearing them.
Stark white or all-black outfits for the whole group - fine in small doses, harder to expose well across several people at once.
Brand new, stiff shoes - especially for kids, if there's any chance of a walk involved (a beach session, for instance).
Anything anyone feels uncomfortable or self-conscious in - genuinely more important than any colour rule. Discomfort shows up in photos more than an imperfect outfit choice ever does.
layering helps
A jacket, cardigan, or scarf that can come on or off gives a session some visual variety without a full outfit change, and it's practical for Sydney's weather, especially if we're shooting near the water where it can be cooler than inland.
location-specific notes
For a beach session (Coogee, Bronte, or one of the specific spots like Giles Baths or Koojah Cliff): consider clothing you don't mind getting a little sandy or splashed, and skip anything that's difficult to walk or climb in if we're heading toward the rocks rather than just standing on sand.
For a session at home: this is the one setting where “wear what you'd actually wear” genuinely works in your favour, particularly for newborn sessions, the point is capturing real life, not a styled version of it.
still not sure?
Send me a photo of what you're considering before the session and I'm happy to give feedback - it's a normal part of planning and takes two minutes over text or email.
Have a look at the family photography page to see examples of how this looks in practice, or get in touch to start planning your session.