Five Tips for Choosing the Best Colors to Wear for Family Photos

Five Tips for Choosing the Perfects Colors to Wear for Family Photos

Wondering what colors to wear for family photos? Color plays a huge role in shaping the emotion and overall look of your images. The colors you choose can either beautifully complement your family’s personality and the story behind your photos—or become a distracting element.

With these 5 simple tips, you can create a cohesive, timeless look for your next family photo session, whether it’s outdoors, in your home, or on the beach.

Quick Tips for Choosing Colors for Family Photos

Including a thoughtful color palette helps your photos feel coordinated and natural. The best colors for family photos are typically soft, coordinating tones that complement the season, your location, and your family’s personality.

Stick to soft, muted tones or subtle patterns
Let each family member feel comfortable in their outfit
Avoid overly bright colors or logos that distract
Coordinate without matching perfectly
Consider the season, location, and your home décor

When everyone feels comfortable, and the colors complement each other, your family photos will look effortless and timeless.

Choose Colors that Match the Season

Consider the time of year when choosing a palette for family pictures, especially for outdoor sessions. Seasonal colors can create a cohesive, natural feel in your photos. Think:

Spring: pastels, soft neutrals, blush tones
Summer: light blues, creams, soft greens
Fall: rust, mustard, burgundy, navy
Winter: deep jewel tones, neutral layers

Planning a Fall family photos session? Be sure to check out this post with lots of inspirational style boards for great color to wear for fall sessions.

best colors to wear for family photos during fall in NJ

Choose Colors That Complement Your Photo Location

Whether you’re shooting in a park, at the beach, or in your home, consider colors that enhance your surroundings. Neutral tones, soft pastels, or subtle patterns usually work best.

Tip: Avoid shades of green that are too similar to the spring and summer foliage. Instead, choose contrasting or complementary colors. Urban settings typically feature brick or cement buildings that provide rich texture. Consider colors and patterns that will complement or contrast with the city scenery.

Choose Colors That Reflect Your Family’s Personality

Color conveys emotion and sets the tone of your family portraits. Do you want your images to feel timeless, cozy, playful?

Calm and Serene: soft shades of blue, grey, and green evoke a sense of serenity and calm.
Energy, Joy, and Vibrancy: bolder colors like mustard, teal, or purple
Nostalic and Romantic: blush, rose, and cream.
Classic and Timeless: earth tones, and neutrals

Choose Coordinated Colors Instead of Matching Outfits

Whether you’re planning to update a gallery wall in your living room, or add a stunning fine art canvas above your master bed, be sure to choose a palette that will work with the decor in your home. A red and green palette may seem like a fun choice for the holiday cards you’re planning to send out, but will look out place on your walls come spring and summer.

Aim for two to three complimentary colors for family members rather than overly matching.

Use Simple Color Palettes for a Balanced Look

Color theory can be a powerful tool for creating visually appealing family photos. Here’s how to apply it:

Analogous Colors: These are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel (e.g., blue, green, and yellow-green). They create a harmonious and soothing look.
Complementary Colors: These are colors opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g., red and green, blue and orange). They create high contrast and can be bold and eye-catching.
Triadic Colors: These are colors evenly spaced around the color wheel (e.g., red, yellow, and blue). They create a vibrant and energetic look.
Monochromatic Colors: These are different shades, tints, and tones of the same color (e.g., different shades of blue). They create a sophisticated and elegant look.

Color Palette Inspiration

Classic and Timeless: Neutrals with pops of navy or burgundy.
Soft and Romantic: Pastels like blush, mint, sage and lavender.
Bold and Modern: Bright colors like burnt orange, mustard yellow, and teal.
Earthy and Natural: Browns, greens, and golds.

Family of four in coordinated outfits for a New Jersey family photo session. — Spring Family Photoshoot in Mindowaskin Park, Westfield, NJ

Final Note: Consider Skin Tones

Selecting clothing colors that complement your skin tone can significantly enhance your appearance in family photos. Here are some tips:

Identify Your Skin Undertones

Warm Undertones: Your skin has a golden, peachy, or olive cast. Veins appear greenish.
Cool Undertones: Your skin has a pink, rosy, or bluish undertone. Veins appear bluish-purple.
Neutral Undertones: You have a balance of both warm and cool undertones.

Best Color Choices for Specific Skin Undertones

Warm Undertones: Choose colors with yellow or orange undertones like:

Earthy tones: brown, olive, mustard, terracotta
Warm reds: brick, coral, orange-red
Soft pastels: peach, cream, ivory

Cool Undertones: Opt for colors with blue or pink undertones like:

Jewel tones: sapphire, emerald, ruby
Cool pinks: rose, magenta
Classic neutrals: navy, black, white

Neutral Undertones:

You’re lucky! Most colors will look good on you. Experiment with both warm and cool tones.

Additional Tips for Choosing the Perfect Colors to Wear for Family Photos:

Contrast: Create visual interest by contrasting your clothing color with your skin tone.
Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try different colors. You might be surprised at what looks good on you.
Consider Hair and Eye Color: Hair and eye color can also influence which colors flatter you.

The most important thing is to choose colors that make your family feel comfortable and confident and flatter your skin tones. Need more personalized assistance? I offer complimentary styling assistance when you book a session with me.