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Getting dressed for photos is harder than I thought. Family holidays, trips, dinners, and the random “we should look nice for once” outings all turn into debates over what people will wear.
One person has an outfit with a shirt they hate, another grows out of shoes between breakfast and lunch, and me? It’s kind of an outdated opinion at this point, but I used to think it was cute to have the whole family match in plaid.
Coordinating outfits for the whole family will take some effort and planning. First, consider the function the family match is for. For instance, if it’s meant for an outdoor picnic, you would want to choose comfortable and breathable fabrics. This is the same case for indoor events with warmer weather.
However, if it is fall or winter, that is a whole different ball game. You can use so many different fabrics to make interesting layers and stay warm. To achieve this, just use a couple of hats and scarves that provide some visual interest. A combination of function with style can give you a nice end look, but also allow you to be comfortable.
Choosing what to wear for family pictures requires putting thought into the place you are going and the season. If you are going to a colorful park in spring, wearing light and bright colors will add to the mood. If you are going to an autumn photoshoot with a rustic background, earthy colors will go great with the background.
Try wearing burnt orange or olive green. To make your family portrait look better, wear clothes with different fabrics. Wearing different materials keeps you comfortable and able to move easily. This is especially helpful when you are doing activities during a playful family portrait.
Denim, navy, and marigold make this outfit stand out! The marigold piece adds some warmth to the look so it doesn’t look flat. Warm colors keep it from reading as an apple-picking-and-Saturday-morning-chores outfit.
This is great for family photos, or outings when you want to add some color, but it doesn’t feel like a huge effort. It solves the problem of “everyone has jeans but no one coordinates”. You can wear white sneakers, brown boots, or slip-on canvas shoes with it depending on the weather.
To make your outfit even better, consider finishing touches like accessories. You can wear beaded bracelets and scarves that coordinate with the outfit’s marigold color. For kids, patterned socks and fun hair clips will add excitement to their outfits without losing the look. The accessories will also be great for family pictures.
2. Forest Green and Rust for Fall Photos
Rust and forest green have that spooky season feel without being pumpkin suit level. They are reminiscent of colors you would find on leaves and bark (nature’s free set design). These shades work really well with the natural world around us.
When it comes to fall photos, school events, or road trips to Thanksgiving dinner, comfort is key. These colors, along with some dark denim, will get the job done with some gold or faux leather touches and your go-to suede boots.
The combination of layering with rust or forest green will help conquer those in between days we face in the fall. Families can adjust their outfits based on how warm or cold it is by pairing sweaters or vests and light jackets.
This type of layering helps outfits look more put together and solves the comfort problem. Different textures can make the looks more interesting, like a chunky knit sweater paired with a sleek denim jacket. This will also provide great visual variety in the photos.
3. Cherry Red and Charcoal for Holiday Cards
Cherry red and charcoal are a great combination for the Christmas holiday card season. The red and black color scheme does not rely on snow for a seasonal feel, and the colors look great on photo prints. This combination answers the problem of the seasonal color without the novelty sweaters. Also, the kids can wear black loafers, plain boots or Mary Janes, or just black flats.
Accessories can elevate this look for the holidays even more! Think about including pieces like a patterned scarf or a warm hat that matches the theme. Younger kids especially will enjoy festive mittens or socks since it keeps them warm and adds a fun touch to the outfit. Plus, it “pulls” all the outfits together for family photos and adds a great seasonal touch to the pictures!
4. Lavender and Sage for Spring Brunch
The lavender and sage colors are soft and will not be too sleepy. Spring outfits can often go that way. This is elegant enough for Easter brunch, garden parties, and pastel family get-togethers.
Plus, it provides some structure and helps with the problem of wanting warm-weather clothes that feel dressy without feeling heavy. It works best with woven flats and loafers as well as light denim or soft gray jackets.
5. Chocolate Brown and Sky Blue for Polished Casual
While depth is added to the outfit with the chocolate brown color, the sky blue provides some freshness and keeps the outfit from becoming too heavy. These colors are also versatile enough to be worn to casual lunches, museums, and city photo shoots, as they uplift the wearers’ faces, and chocolate brown balances the rest of the outfit.
The outfit addresses the concern of ‘neutrals look boring on camera’. Lastly, it can be paired in a stylish way with cognac shoes, denim, and light silver jewelry.
6. Black and Camel for City Days
I love the combination of black and camel. It’s nice and neutral like a dishwasher that dries plastics. Good for city trips, meals, family winter photos with nice buildings in the background. Good for making everyone look nice for something with a lot of walking, snacks, and maybe a lost mitten. It goes with black boots, a camel coat and a bright patterned scarf.
7. Coral and Turquoise for Beach Photos
If the beach is calling your name and you want to make your beach outfit a little bolder than just an all-white look, go for the coral and turquoise instead of the all-white plan. It’s sure to make a great holiday outfit, warm-weather birthday party, and dinner date at the beach.
With the sand and water, you won’t be color clashing with the scenery. You will look fab! Don’t forget to add your leather sandals, espadrilles, and your slightly travelled straw hat to your beach bag!
8. Black with Cobalt Accents for Foolproof Coordination
Everyone has base pieces in basic black, so adding in some cobalt accents will elevate your outfit instead of looking like a last-minute decision.
This outfit is ideal for looking put-together when the laundry is dirty, studio photos, winter sports, or anything where you might get a little messy. Mini scarves, sneakers, cardigans, and hair accessories in cobalt paired with the black pieces will allow the color to take center stage.
9. Olive, Copper, and Cream for a Cozy Cabin Look
Olive and copper exude an outdoor aesthetic while avoiding a fully rugged costume vibe. The light cream shades do brighten the palette but are not the star of the show. Perfect for cabin weekends, bonfire evenings, or laid-back autumn family photos. When paired with hiking-style boots and dark denim, along with some textured socks, this outfit keeps the whole thing looking effortless.
10. Cobalt and Silver Gray for Modern Photos
The outfit looks great with cobalt blue since it adds to the design without overshadowing the other colors. The silver gray is modern and helps the blue shine, which is fab when you’re sharing family outfit ideas. It’s perfect for the museum, winter birthday parties, and holidays that don’t feel like holidays. It also matches grey sneakers, black boots, and smart coats.
11. Mustard and Plum for a Rich Autumn Palette
Mustard and plum are a surprising combo, but isn’t that what we like most about it? And what about the feeling of finding a nice pair of scissors, exactly where they belong? Just right, right?
Mustard gives some warmth and plum adds a nice balanced mature richness to the fit. If you’re over orange, it’s great for orchard visits, fall birthdays, and family photos. Style with dark brown boots, some corduroy, and a little floral or plaid print.
12. Turquoise and Lemon for Summer Festivals
The colors lemon and turquoise are great for summer and outdoors. These colors are happy and bring joyful feelings. They work well in open and airy places like the outdoors, festivals, theme parks, and farmer’s markets. Lemon and turquoise can even signal summery vibes for outdoor vacations.
With this combination, you can get creative to break away from the “laundry day” look that summer outfits can tend to fall into. For this, you can wear denim shirts (tied at the waist or layered if needed), bucket hats, and canvas shoes or sandals.
Deep navy softens the look of black, and antique gold is just shiny enough to add interest without crossing the line into gaudy. This works well for formal portraits and milestone anniversary celebrations, and for holidays that call for dressing up.
It addresses the issue of formal family dressing by providing everyone with a dignified base with a hint of detail. Finish the look with navy tights, smart shoes and velvet ribbons or gold pocket squares.
14. Pine Green Plaid with Dark Denim
When combining dark denim with pine green plaid, the outfit establishes a great outdoorsy and festive vibe. Outfits should be coordinated, though. If everyone wears the same plaid shirt, we’ll end up with a lumberjack choir!
This combination works the best when going to tree farms, winter markets, and laid-back holiday card pictures, along with other great combinations, such as black boots and knit beanies and sweaters to break up the plaid.
15. Orange and Indigo for Pumpkin Patch Photos
It is nice that burnt orange and indigo do not combine too literally. This palette works practically because kids’ denim is durable enough to withstand dirt, wagon rides, and the sticks that kids always collect during rides. They look seasonally appropriate, but they solve the seasonal problem by wearing real clothes. Finish with brown boots, canvas high tops, and a few striped items.
16. Eggplant and Moss for Moody Outdoor Photos
Colors of moss and eggplant are calming and complementary to one another. In wild and outdoor settings, the two colors can be used with ribbed knits (mixed), corduroy, wool, and brushed cotton. For outdoor fall photos, nature walks, or gatherings that are not red-themed holidays, pair with brown shoes (dark brown are best) and avoid shiny accessories.
17. Powder Blue and Cranberry for Winter Brightness
Cranberry is a pop of color, and powder blue is charming and fun, showing a brighter side of winter. Powder blue is perfect for snowy photos and for family and church gatherings in winter. Together, powder blue and cranberry add liveliness to winter outfits. Pair with navy gloves, grey boots, and a soft (not itchy) scarf. Itchy scarves ruin everything.
18. Charcoal with Golden Yellow Accents
Charcoal is always a great base and golden yellow adds some personality to the outfit. This combination, along with urban surroundings, is great near murals and anywhere with a playful, busy background. It also avoids the color coordinating problem as well as the problem of everyone wearing a loud color from head to toe. It is completed with black sneakers, gray boots, and one or two striped items.
19. Emerald and Tan for Polished Holiday Gatherings
Emerald is made for the holiday season, and tan gives that warm, cozy, calming family feel. It is a great color combo for holiday dinners, winter family photos, or family get-togethers at someone’s house, shoes off at the door kind of thing.
They also solve the problem of being too dressed up or too casual because they land right in the middle. Finish with brown loafers, and some suede boots and gold toned accessories.
20. Raspberry and Khaki for Spring Photos
Spring photography will look amazing with the raspberry option, particularly paired with lighter pastel options. Additionally, if the location has a lot of grass or picnic blankets, khaki green will be earthy and practical. This will be best suited for family photos, spring holidays, or outdoor birthday parties. Sneakers, or simple sandals, and light jackets in olive or denim will work.
21. Kelly Green and Bright White for Game Day
The bright white helps it pop and kelly green is full of spirit! Use for family outings, game days, and any school spirit events. Solves the problem of looking matchy when everyone wants to wear a hoodie! Also great for school activities. Pair with denim and clean sneakers, plus a baseball cap. Your crossbody will fit perfectly too!
22. Brick Red and Indigo for School Events
Brick is friendlier than fire engine red, and denim gives us another easy repeat across the family. This works well for school concerts, informal ceremonies, or family evenings where you want to be nice, but not too dressed up.
It helps with the “we have to be ready in 10 minutes” problem because denim is a common piece in the majority of wardrobes. Finish with brown belts and sneakers, plus one plaid or striped layer.
23. Lilac and Chocolate for Transitional Weather
Lilac and brown are great colors because they create a good contrast. These colors can be worn in the fall and in the spring just because of how the season changes and how the weather fluctuates. Using a lighter neutral color helps keep it from being too pastel. Using this color combination, you can wear lightweight brown boots and loafers, and coats that can be removed in warmer weather.
24. Slate Blue and Cognac for Smart Casual
Cognac has warm tones that keeps it from being too corporate while slate blue has a calm and collected effect, and together they create a good combination. Family portraits in libraries, historic venues and casual dining locations are perfect for this combination.
It smartly solves the looking-good problem without needing really formal clothes. The outfit could be leather boots or loafers, denim and one patterned scarf that combines both colors.
25. Mint and Peach for Warm Spring Days
Spring is a time for mint green and peach. These colors will never wash you out, and you can pair them with other colors really easily. These colors are ideal for garden visits and family lunches outdoors during the spring break holiday.
These colors solve the problem of dressing intentionally in the heat. They can be worn with tan sandals and white sneakers, and some light denim is a good idea for the air-conditioning ambush.
26. Aubergine and Charcoal for Evening Events
The dress creates a nice silhouette in aubergine, which is a dark purple and elegant color that is not too showy, and charcoal brings the whole group together. It works for the theater in the winter, for weddings, and for nicer dinners.
This color combo solves the problem of evening dressing when a black dress is too predictable. Pair this dress with classy boots, simple flats, and silver or pewter jewelry.
About the Author
Rachel Meyers
Contributing Fashion Creator · Amazon Influencer
Rachel Meyers is a contributing fashion creator for The Better Fit, filming try-ons from Orem, Utah. She has spent three years in the Amazon Influencer Program and is an All-Star contributor in the Viral Vue creator community, and her storefront, Rachel's Reviews and Fun Finds, leans into women's fashion and shoes. Rachel is also a certified life and health coach, and that double life shapes how she reviews: she cares less about how a piece photographs and more about how it feels on a school run, at work, or on the third wear. Her latest try-ons land on YouTube at @rachelsfunfinds.