Picture Planning – The Best Colors to Wear for Outdoor Family Photos
When it comes to coordinating outfits for family photos, the right color palette can enhance the overall harmony of your pictures, complement natural backdrops, and ensure everyone looks their best.
Choosing outfits that follow a color palette is key to creating timeless and visually stunning memories. The right colors can also flatter the whole family and make everyone shine, while the wrong colors can do the exact opposite (whatever it takes, we do not want you to end up on this list).
Let’s explore top tips and classic combinations of family photo outfit ideas to help you dress your family for picture-perfect results.
Neutrals
If you have no idea what to wear for a family photo shoot, lighter neutrals such as cream and gray will never let you down. These failsafe colors are often considered to be the best colors for family photos because they look effortlessly chic against a variety of outdoor backgrounds, from picturesque grass fields to woodsy areas.
If you’re worried about your neutrals being too plain or boring, consider pairing them with a seasonal accent color. For instance, light gray and cream bottoms add an easy-pairing base for the understated hues of a button-down shirt from our collection of sport shirts. Accents of burnt orange and brick red celebrate the changing leaves of autumn, while pastels help to highlight the new growth of spring.
White
Although white is considered neutral, this versatile color definitely deserves its own special mention, especially if you’re organizing what to wear for outdoor family photos. Not only is white arguably one of the most visually captivating colors for family photos, but it’s also the go-to color for photo shoots by the sea.
When you’re coordinating family outfits, the clean and classic look of crisp, white tops and khaki shorts is sure to look amazing for a beach photoshoot. You can dress the girls in flowy, white dresses and outfit the little guys in boys’ oxford shirts and boys’ khaki chino shorts for a timeless look that never goes out of style.
Skip the shoes to give your family photos a fresh, natural vibe. Plan to shoot your family photos at sunset or sunrise for that golden hour lighting.
Blue
When you're planning what to wear for family photos and want to add a bit of color while still keeping it classic, blue is one of the best colors to wear for family photos. This ultra-calming hue is a fan favorite all around the world and looks particularly stunning against green and orange backgrounds (think autumn leaves and lush meadows).
To keep your photos from looking too dark, consider dressing everyone in various shades of blue. For instance, the ladies can wear collared shirts in navy blue, while the guys will look sharp in light blue sport shirts. Pair your blue tops with classic blue denim for a look that works perfectly for spring, summer, and early fall.
Earth Tones
As a general rule, any “natural” color is usually a safe idea for family photo outfits. Sage green, various shades of brown and muted shades of yellow and orange are all earthy tones that photograph well.
Unlike neutrals, which are hard to mess up, you do need to be a little careful with earth tones in your photographs. Overdoing it on a single color (i.e., reds and yellows) can throw off the entire picture and be too distracting. For example, when you’re thinking about holiday family photo outfit ideas, resist the urge to put everyone in red tops. It’s a good idea to make eye-catching hues an accent color rather than the dominant color.
Patterns and Prints
Okay, patterns and prints aren’t actually colors. That being said, they can make your family photos look stunning when incorporated into the shot in small doses—the keywords here being “small doses.” Keep it low-key with your prints and patterns, and you can’t go wrong.
Pro tip: Select one of our plaid sportshirts for him, highlighting the colors in the plaid by selecting those colors for the rest of the family outfits.
Keep with the Decor
If you’re creating a family photo for a season card, anniversary, or big announcement, you have some freedom in selecting your color scheme. That said, if you’re organizing a family photo that you’ll frame and mount in your home, try to choose something that will harmonize with your decor and interior wall colors. Also, consider keeping the theme ‘evergreen’ so you can enjoy it all year round.
Classic and Comfortable Clothing Is Key
In the end, it’s easier to coordinate outfits for family photos when you have a selection of comfortable and timeless classic clothing. By investing in quintessential pieces, you can always find something perfect for everyone. After all, the best color schemes for family photos are the ones that celebrate every family member, creating moments that last a lifetime.
