Choosing the Perfect Outfit for Extended Family Pictures | Utah Extended Family Photographer

I love photographing large families! The bigger the better. I grew up in a small family, so I live my life vicariously through everyone else's large families!

Planning an extended family photo session is exciting. It’s a chance to gather multiple generations together, celebrate your family's story, and create photographs that will be treasured for years to come. While choosing a location and coordinating schedules can be challenging, one of the biggest questions families ask is:

"What should we wear?"

The good news is that dressing for family pictures doesn't have to be stressful. With a little planning and coordination, your family can look polished, timeless, and comfortable without appearing overly matched.

Here are my favorite tips for choosing outfits that photograph beautifully in every season.

Start with a Color Palette, Not Matching Outfits

Years ago, everyone wore identical white shirts and blue jeans. While that look was popular at the time, today's family portraits have a much more natural and sophisticated feel.

Instead of everyone wearing the same outfit, choose a color palette of three to five coordinating colors. This creates visual harmony while allowing each family member to express their own personality.

Some beautiful color combinations include:

• Navy, cream, soft blue, and tan

• Sage green, ivory, beige, and rust

• Dusty blue, blush, cream, and gray

• Burgundy, camel, cream, and olive

• Charcoal, navy, soft gray, and white

When everyone stays within the same palette, your photographs feel cohesive without looking overly coordinated.

Think About Your Home

One question people rarely ask is:

"Where will these photos be displayed?"

If you're planning to hang a large family portrait in your home, choose clothing colors that complement your décor.

Neutral homes often look beautiful with soft earth tones, creams, and muted greens.

Homes with cooler colors tend to pair well with navy, gray, soft blues, and whites.

Warm interiors often complement rust, burgundy, camel, olive, and rich neutrals.

Choosing outfits that work with your home's style helps ensure your portraits become artwork you'll love seeing every day.

Choose Timeless Over Trendy

Fashion trends come and go, but family portraits should feel timeless.

Classic styles age beautifully and keep the attention where it belongs—on the people in the photograph.

Consider choosing:

• Simple dresses

• Classic button-down shirts

• Sweaters

• Cardigans

• Well-fitting jeans or dress pants

• Midi dresses

• Long skirts

• Simple boots or dress shoes

Avoid clothing with:

• Large logos

• Bright graphics

• Neon colors

• Busy patterns

• Character clothing

• Distracting text

When looking back at your portraits twenty years from now, timeless clothing will still feel beautiful.

Mix Textures Instead of Patterns

Texture adds interest without overwhelming the photograph.

Beautiful textures include:

• Knit sweaters

• Linen

• Lace

• Cotton

• Velvet

• Corduroy

• Denim

• Chunky knit scarves

• Light layering pieces

Rather than everyone wearing patterned clothing, try mixing different textures with mostly solid colors.

If you include patterns, keep them subtle and limit them to one or two people.

Dress Mom First

Many people begin shopping for the children first.

Instead, start with Mom's outfit.

She is often the most difficult person to dress, and once her outfit is chosen, it's much easier to coordinate everyone else around it.

Choose something you feel beautiful and comfortable wearing. Confidence always shows in photographs.

From there, build the family's color palette using complementary colors and textures.

Coordinate Each Family Unit

Extended family sessions often include grandparents, adult children, spouses, and grandchildren.

Rather than dressing everyone individually, think of each immediate family as its own group.

Each family should coordinate within itself while still fitting into the overall color palette.

For example:

Grandparents might wear navy and cream.

One family could wear sage and tan.

Another family could wear dusty blue and gray.

A third family might incorporate rust and cream.

When everyone follows the same general palette, the entire group photographs beautifully while allowing each family to have its own style.

Avoid Everyone Wearing the Same Shade

One common mistake is putting everyone in exactly the same color.

If twenty people all wear navy shirts, the photograph can lose depth.

Instead, vary the shades:

• Navy

• Dusty blue

• Chambray

• Soft gray

• Cream

• Tan

The variation creates dimension and helps everyone stand out naturally.

Dress for the Season

Utah offers beautiful scenery throughout the year, and choosing clothing that matches the season helps your portraits feel authentic.

Spring

Spring sessions look beautiful with:

• Soft greens

• Light blues

• Cream

• Blush

• Lavender

• Beige

Light layers are perfect since spring temperatures can change quickly.

Summer

Summer photographs often shine with:

• Soft whites

• Sage

• Light blue

• Sand

• Dusty coral

• Pale yellow

Choose breathable fabrics and avoid heavy clothing.

Fall

Fall is one of the most popular seasons for family portraits.

Rich colors photograph beautifully, including:

• Burgundy

• Rust

• Olive

• Camel

• Mustard

• Cream

• Chocolate brown

• Forest green

Layering sweaters, scarves, and jackets adds warmth and visual interest.

Winter

Winter sessions often look elegant with:

• Cream

• Charcoal

• Navy

• Emerald

• Burgundy

• Soft gray

Coats, sweaters, scarves, and boots can become part of the overall style while helping everyone stay comfortable.

Don't Forget the Shoes

Shoes often get overlooked until the last minute.

Athletic shoes, bright sneakers, and flip-flops can distract from an otherwise beautiful outfit.

Instead, choose shoes that coordinate with the rest of your clothing.

Some excellent choices include:

• Dress boots

• Neutral sandals

• Flats

• Loafers

• Clean leather shoes

• Simple heels

Comfort matters, especially for outdoor sessions where walking may be involved.

Plan Ahead

One of the easiest ways to reduce stress is to gather everyone's outfits at least a week before your session.

Lay everything out together.

This allows you to see how the colors work together and gives you plenty of time to replace anything that doesn't quite fit the overall look.

Waiting until the night before often leads to unnecessary stress.

Comfort Creates Better Smiles

The best family portraits happen when everyone feels comfortable.

Children who are constantly adjusting scratchy clothing or shoes that hurt are less likely to enjoy the experience.

Choose clothing that fits well and allows everyone to move, sit, walk, and interact naturally.

When people feel comfortable, their genuine personalities shine through.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask Your Photographer

One of the greatest resources you have is your photographer.

An experienced family photographer has seen hundreds of successful outfit combinations and can help guide you toward choices that work beautifully with your location and the season.

Many photographers are happy to review outfit photos before your session or offer suggestions if you're deciding between a few options.

Creating Timeless Family Memories

Your clothing is only one part of your family portrait, but thoughtful outfit choices help create images that feel polished, natural, and timeless.

Remember, the goal isn't perfection—it's connection.

The laughter between cousins, the hugs from grandparents, the smiles of children, and the relationships you share are what truly make your portraits meaningful.

By choosing coordinating colors, timeless styles, comfortable clothing, and outfits that complement one another, you'll create photographs your family will proudly display for generations.

If you're planning an extended family photo session in Utah and have questions about what to wear, I'm always happy to help. Together, we'll create a look that reflects your family's personality while ensuring everyone feels confident and comfortable in front of the camera. The result will be beautiful, authentic portraits you'll treasure for years to come.

I would LOVE to work with you, and your Utah extended family photography! Please contact me to book your Utah family session today! To view more of my work, follow me on Instagram or check out my Extended Family page.