Colour schemes for your family photoshoot: What works & what doesn't

One of the questions I'm asked most frequently before a family session is: “What should we wear?” Choosing outfits that work well together — and work with your chosen location — makes a significant difference to how your photographs look. But it doesn't need to be complicated.

The key principle: you don't need to match. You need to coordinate. Matching outfits (everyone in the same colour) can look staged; coordinating outfits that work harmoniously together look natural and intentional.

The Foundation Rule: Choose a Palette, Not a Colour

Pick 2–3 base colours that work together, then let each family member wear something within that palette. Some can be the same colour (e.g. two children in cream), others can be an accent (e.g. a parent in a dusty rose). This creates harmony without uniformity.

Example palette for a family of four: Mum in dusty rose, Dad in warm beige, older child in cream, younger child in sage green. All warm tones, all soft — they'll sit beautifully together in photographs without looking like a school uniform.

Seasonal Colour Palettes

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Practical Styling Tips

• Start with the person who is hardest to dress (usually a toddler — limited choices) and build the palette around them
• Layers are great — scarves, cardigans, gilets add visual interest without competing with faces
• Avoid clothing you'd never normally wear — if Mum is always in jeans, a formal dress will look and feel wrong
• Iron and check outfits the day before — creased clothes are distracting in photos
• For outdoor sessions: practical, comfortable footwear (wellies, trainers) is absolutely fine
• Bring a spare outfit for toddlers — mandatory