Coordinating clothing for family photos is an important and can be overwhelming at times. I have been there myself. This is why I have made personalized wardrobe styling a priority as part of your booking. My knowledge and experience in what photographs well and what does not will help minimize the stress of wardrobe planning. I am here to help make it all come together because my biggest tip for beautiful images is wardrobe, wardrobe, wardrobe! So please do not overlook this important step in the process! Wardrobe can truly make or break the look of your images.

Step One: Start with YOU!


Let's be honest....the one booking the session (typically the momma, the wife, the girlfriend) is also the one coordinating and planning the photo session, am I right? Keeping in mind the other tips to follow, my first and BEST tip is to find something you love and you feel amazing in and we will build from there.  


 Before selecting wardrobe items for your session, it's essential to take into account both the season and location of the photoshoot.

Consider the following color schemes based on the season:

Spring and Summer


  • Softer, light, and neutral tones
  • Pastels
  • Floral patterns

Fall and Winter


  • Darker hues
  • Warmer tones
  • Rich, deep colors

Dress Recommendations: If you're on the lookout for beautiful dresses that cater to women of all sizes and shapes at a reasonable price, check out my go-to shop HERE! Long dresses, in particular, add a dynamic element to your images, showcasing movement and bringing life to the photoshoot. Not only are they visually appealing, but they also provide comfort for various activities during the session, such as walking, sitting, dancing and snuggling with your loved ones. . . all the things you are likely to do during a session with me!


Bonus Tip: Explore options on Poshmark for quality, gently-used dresses from the same designer and others at a discounted price. Many sellers offer dresses purchased specifically for photoshoots, providing a cost-effective and sustainable solution.


Buyer Beware: There are many scam sites out there. Please be cautious when purchasing from an unknown site and keep in mind there are a lot of online companies that ship from oversees and can take weeks for your item to arrive. It might not look as expected, be sized correctly and might not arrive on time (or at all). Please feel free to check with me before purchasing from an online store you are not familiar with as I can often locate if these are legitimate (many I already know who are not).

Step Two: Reconnect with me


Once you have selected one or two items that you love for you, reach out to me. Send me a message with a picture of the items. Bonus: if you have image(s) from online so I can clearly see the details of the item(s), even better!


I can give feedback and recommendations for choosing additional pieces for your family.

Step Three: Build your Final Look


From there, you have all the tools to build a perfect look for your family session. Continue below for additional Tips and Tricks for finalizing the look and bringing it all together.

Tip #1 : Start with You!


Sound familiar? Typically outfits for kids, husbands, boyfriends, etc are so much easier to coordinate! Starting with just you and building around it will be a lot less stressful.

Tip # 2 Coordinate . . . but do not match


Dressing your whole family in the same colors (ex. white t-shirts and khakis) is a trend that has come and (thankfully) is now gone! It does not show any personality or style. There are various routes you can take when choosing how to coordinate outfits:


  • To create a timeless look, stick to mostly solid colors or neutrals. You can choose to add a pop of color with accessories or one patterned item.


  • Be sure to not bring in more than one contrasting pattern as it can become too busy and take away from the polished look of your images. If you want to incorporate a patterned item, pull some of those same colors into other family members' clothing with solid pieces.
  • Bonus tip: Add in pieces with texture or add layers of coordinating colors

You already have your wardrobe decided. Now for babies and toddlers: This amazing shop is one I used personally for my daughter for years. They have great prices and fast shipping. You can see all their precious items HERE! For tweens and teens, click HERE. This shop has stunning options for your older girls.


For the men: You can never go wrong with jeans (blue jean or of coordinating accented color) and a solid button up, collared shirt or and solid Henley t-shirt. It can get really toasty during our Texas summers so a solid undershirt on guys is strongly recommended. Old navy and Amazon are always filled with great options for the men and boys.


For the young men and boys: Jeans and solid tops that tie into your color scheme are always simplest. Add suspenders or a button up shirt (left open) over a t-shirt to create more layers and textures.

Tip #3 - Comfort is Key



New clothing should be worn at least once before your session. You will quickly find out if it is uncomfortable. While a new dress or top is always great, it is not a necessity and you can definitely work with what you already own. Sometimes this can be even better when time or finances do not permit a new wardrobe. Why? Because your clothing reflects your true style. You also already know if it is comfortable. If you are uncomfortable, it will show in your photos. Be sure to play on your strengths! Choose clothing that enhances your family's best assets.


The coordination of outfits is important, but so is fit and comfort!


Tip #4 - You can NEVER be over-dressed!


I absolutely LOVE when clients take their wardrobe to the next level and really dress it up! Don't be afraid to get a bit fancy for your images if that is something that suits (you see what I did there, ha) your style or desired look in your gallery!


Tip #5 - Think Sky Colors for Beach Wardrobes


When planning your wardrobe for a beach session, think of the vibrant colors of the sunset skies to build your pieces around. You can never go wrong with varying shades of soft blues, pinks and corals with white accents.

Details, Details, Details


Jewelry, scarves, headbands, hats, vests or jackets are also a great way to polish off your look and an easy way to coordinate outfits. Just don't go overboard.


  • Do not forget about the right SHOES! This may seem like an insignificant detail, but shoes and socks can make or break your outfit arrangement. Be sure to keep socks to solid neutral lights or darks (whichever best coordinates with the color of the pants being worn). When appropriate, bare feet are best (in-studio and beach sessions). For those occasions, clean and pedicured nails are a must!

Please Do . . .


  • Play on your strengths. Choose clothing that enhances your family's best assets.
  • Avoid matching your surroundings too much (ex. a lot of green in a grassy/tree filled area).
  • Wear something you already own, if possible
  • Pay attention to even the small details: Clean, manicured nails, accessories, socks and shoes!


What about Holidays?


  • Most of my holiday sessions are more relaxed and casual (Pumpkin patches, Tree Farms, Vintage Trucks) so grab your most flattering jeans and your favorite boots and pair it with a solid top. You can add pops of color and textures by layering with scarves or jackets to really bring your outfit together.


  • For the gals: Long flowing skirts or dresses are options still to be considered. If you are wanting a more dressed up look, feel free to go as formal as you wish!


  • For the guys: As with any session, you can never go wrong with jeans and a solid long sleeve button up, collared shirt. Go with a short-sleeved, collared button-up or solid Henley if it's still a bit warm out. You might be taking holiday photos but we all know that just really 'second summer' here in Texas. Ha! Regardless of the season, be sure to leave the sneakers and tennis shoes at home and grab something a bit more 'Sunday best' like a nice pair of boots or leather shoes.


Please Do NOT wear:


OVERSIZED CLOTHING Steer clear of cargo shorts, baggy jeans and oversized clothing.

TOO MANY PATTERNS If incorporating a patterned item, select solid pieces for other family members that coordinate

THIN STRIPES OR PLAIDS Thin stripes and tight plaids distort in printed photos and appear zig-zaggy and thus should be avoided. 

MEN’S SHORTS Guys, unless we are at the beach, leave the shorts at home and opt for pants

BRIGHT WHITE Too much overall white has the tendency to wash out complexions. Choose ivory and creams instead.

BOLD COLORS Overly saturated colors can distract from the photo, so look instead for muted versions. For example, if you have a bright yellow dress, think about a mustard dress instead; burgundy instead of bright reds; pastels instead of bright pinks, etc.

NEON COLORS Neon colors can reflect onto your face, causing skin tone problems in your photos.

LOGOS Logos or text on clothing is distracting. Avoid shirts that have logos (even just a simple Nike check mark), it takes away from the polished look.

STRAPLESS/SLEEVELESS TOPS Unless you absolutely love your arms, avoid strapless or sleeveless tops. Sleeves are typically more flattering for everyone!

ATHLETIC SHOES White tennis shoes, athletic shoes, and character shoes (think Disney princess shoes) should all be avoided. Leather shoes, nice boots, sandals and wedges are all great options.

LOW-CUT AND OVERLY TIGHT ITEMS Low-cut shirts or dresses can shift during the session and leave you a little more revealed than you intended. Clothing that is overly tight and clings to you is uncomfortable and can leave bulges and bumps in places you don’t want.

BABY OUTFITS WITH DIAPERS PEEKING OUT An adorably cute moment with your baby can be ruined by the green-lined diaper that is hanging out of a little romper or dress. Avoid baby clothing that doesn’t completely cover those little Pampers. Consider a romper or be sure to add some matching bloomers with dresses to eliminate the worry.

TRANSITIONAL LENSES If you typically wear glasses, wear them for your session. But if you have polarized or transitional lenses, consider taking them off. Dark glasses will cover your eyes in the photos.

Once you have reviewed these tips, connect with me and let me help you build the best look for you and your family!